Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

SOLON – When looking for sources of leadership within a football program the search often starts at the top with the head coach.

Solon has that in the form of now second-year head coach Lucas Stanton who has settled in after a COVID-altered initial season.

For on-field leadership the onus often falls to the quarterback.

The Spartans can look there as well with returning starter Blake Timmons back with a year of experience under his belt.

For Solon to reach its peak this season it will look to pull leadership from a spot not always associated with guidance at the high school level – the trenches. Specifically senior standout two-way linemen Cayden Knipper and Gage Marty.

“Those two are key for us because they do a really good job of leading,” Stanton said. “They aren’t super vocal guys but they have become more vocal but they really lead by example on and off the field.”

Line play is of the utmost importance at any level of football.

Just as Solon which has had a long history of strong play on both the offensive and defensive lines.

However, the big guys up front aren’t always looked at as team leaders.

That’s not the case for Solon this season where Knipper and Marty are leading the way for a large and talented group of first-year varsity starters.

“We know we have to be leaders not only on the lines but on the team,” Marty said. “I think since Cayden and I were starters from last year there is some carry over with the communication and we are just trying to help guys out when they are wrong and just really help with the communications and try to get them knowing what they are doing.”

Knipper and Marty both excelled in their first season as full-time starters last fall.

On offense the duo played a key role in helping the Spartans rush for 235 yards per game while averaging 5.6 yards per carry.

Marty and Knipper are the only two returning starters on the offensive line from a year ago but have liked what they have seen from the group so far.

“I think we are kind of underdogs this season, no one is really expecting that much out of our line but I think we are set and I think we are going to do great,” Knipper said. “We are fast and we are physical.”

Both will be key for the Spartans on the defensive front as well this season after combining for 30 tackles including eight for loss a year ago.

“They will both be anchors on both sides of the ball, so them being in shape is critical,” Stanton said. “We have some good guys in the number two spots that can spell them if need be but they are both in great shape.”

The 6-foot-3, 235-pound Knipper is perhaps at his best on defense where he is a nightmare for opposing offensive lineman with his length, speed and strength at the defensive end spot.

Knipper had 20.5 tackles including five for loss a year ago.

Also a contributor for the Solon basketball team, Knipper spent the offseason working on his speed and agility.

“It’s definitely a faster pace so this year I’ve been working on my hands a lot,” Knipper said. “At defensive end I have to get off blocks and I’ve been working on that and then just working on blocks and speed pulling and getting through the holes.”

Marty is the rock in the middle of both the offensive and defensive lines.

The 6-foot-1, 240-pounder is a two-time medalist at the state wrestling tournament who uses his combination of speed and power to overwhelm opponents.

“I think that’s where we are going to succeed is with our athleticism and our speed,” Marty said. “I think we are going to be a lot faster than a lot of lines.”

Marty and Knipper showed what they could do on the field last season but it may be what the duo does away from the field that helps Solon reach its potential this fall.

New to the leadership role, Marty and Knipper have taken to the position well.

“That’s why I say they lead by example because that is what we preach to the team is improvement every single day, get better every day,” Stanton said. “When you have your team leaders that are your hardest workers the rest will follow.”

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