Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

There are no style points in playoff football surviving and advancing is all that matters.

Getting the finish you want in the fourth quarter is a lot easier when you get stats like Solon has had in two postseason games.

Solon has outscored its first two playoff opponents 47-0 in the first half while advancing to the Class 2A quarterfinals under first-year head coach Lucas Stanton.

Seventh-ranked Solon (7-2) returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown in its postseason opener against Oelwein and scored a touchdown on the game’s opening drive Friday in a 37-21 win over Independence.

“We’ve been able to establish early on what we want to do in these games,” Stanton said. “That has been important for us.”

What the Spartans have wanted to do in back-to-back playoff wins is the same thing they did during five consecutive wins to close the regular season – run the football.

Solon has done that well enough in wins over Oelwein and Independence but the key for the early postseason success has been strong starts that set the Spartans up with early leads.

Against Oelwein sophomore Sean Stahle returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and the Spartans turned a fumble on the ensuing kickoff into another touchdown and a 13-0 lead just minutes into the game.

Last week Solon led Independence 6-0 after opening the game with a touchdown drive and scored two second-quarter touchdowns in a span of less than 30 seconds while building a 20-0 halftime lead.

“Our mentality the whole year has been to come out and send a message right away and get the momentum quick,” Solon sophomore quarterback Blake Timmons said. “We’ve always wanted to run the ball so we want to do that quick and early.”

Continuing its run of strong playoff starts could be critical for Solon if the Spartans are to return to the UNI-Dome for the second consecutive season.

Solon will travel to fifth-ranked Waukon (7-1) in the 2A quarterfinals and the Indians have had their own early-game success this season.

Waukon has outscored opponents 104-7 in the first quarter this season after allowing its first first-quarter points all year in a 46-14 win over Monticello last week.

The Indians have outscored teams 262-24 in the first half this year including 84-14 in two playoff wins.

1,000 Yard Watch: A pair of area players are closing in on the elusive 1,000-yard mark this season.

Solon senior running back Jackson Ryan rushed for 121 yards in the win over Independence last week and now needs just 14 yards to crack the 1,000 yard rushing mark this season.

Ryan enters the quarterfinals with 986 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground.

While 1,000-yard rushers has been the focus for the past several weeks Regina senior receiver Alec Wick is closing in on become the first area 1,000 yard pass catcher this season.

After a 210-yard outing against Alburnett the senior wideout needs just 14 yards to reach the 1,000 yard plateau.

Wick has 986 yards and 14 touchdowns this season.

Highly Ranked Receivers: Speaking of receivers each of the three Your Prep Sports area teams still alive in the playoffs feature one of the top pass catchers in their respective classes.

Wick has been among the most productive receivers in the state this fall ranking fourth in all classes with 986 receiving yards.

The 986 yards and 14 touchdowns for Wick are tops in Class A and he ranks second in Class A with 51 receptions.

Solon senior Colton Hoffman and West High senior Grahm Goering have been nearly as impressive.

Hoffman ranks third in 2A with 11 touchdown grabs and has caught 27 passes for 646 yards.

Despite being limited to six games this season, Goering still ranks second in Class 4A with 10 touchdown receptions and 11^th with 474 receiving yards on 25 receptions.

More Marcus Morgan: The West High senior quarterback was outstanding again in a win over Dubuque Hempstead accounting for four touchdowns in a 38-24 victory.

In just six games this season Morgan has passed for 1,420 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushed for 207 yards and six more scores.

Morgan ranks second in Class 4A behind Ankeny Senior Jase Bauer in passing touchdowns and is third in 4A behind Bauer and Hempstead senior quarterback Aidan Dunne in total touchdowns.

Stingy Spartans: The Solon defense turned in another stellar performance against one of the top running backs in Class 2A on Friday.

Solon limited Independence standout Marcus Beatty who entered averaging 205 yards per game on the ground to 81 yards on 17 carries in a 37-21 win.

The Spartans allowed Beatty just 25 yards in the first half while building a 20-0 lead.

It was the third time this season Solon has corralled a back that ranks in the top five in rushing in 2A.

South Tama senior Payton Vest finished with 51 yards against Solon after entering putting up 151 while Oelwein senior Gage Voshell ran for 82 after entering averaging more than 172 per game.

Defensive player of the week: Grahm Goering continued to do damage on offense on Friday with a pair of touchdown receptions among seven receptions.

Two of the biggest catches Goering had were on defense as he twice ended Dubuque Hempstead drives with interception.

The senior added 2.5 tackles, including two solo stops, in a 38-24 win over the Mustangs.

Best of the rest:  Solon senior linebacker Carson Shive had a team-high six tackles including five solo stops and a sack in a 37-21 win over Independence.

Regina junior linebacker Sam Aitchison had a team-high 8.5 tackles with eight solos in a 28-7 win over Alburnett.

West High junior defensive lineman Mason Applegate had 5.5 tackles including a sack and three tackles for loss in a 38-24 win over Dubuque Hempstead.

Offensive player of the week: With the biggest games of his career approaching Regina quarterback Ashton Cook appears to be playing his best football.

Cook completed 19-of-29 passes for 391 yards and three touchdowns on Friday in a 28-7 win over Alburnett.

The 391 yards were a season-high for Cook who threw touchdown strikes to Alec Wick, Theo Kolie and Levi Quinlan in the win.

Best of the rest: Regina senior receiver Alec Wick caught 10 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown in a 28-7 win over Alburnett.

West High senior quarterback Marcus Morgan completed 21-of-32 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for 44 yards and two scores in a 38-24 win over Dubuque Hempstead.

Solon sophomore quarterback Blake Timmons completed 9-of-12 passes for 172 yards and rushed for 69 yards and a touchdown in a 37-21 win over Independence.

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