Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Second-year Solon head coach expected a tight, down-to-the-wire battle in the regular season meeting with perennial power Davenport Assumption in September.

That scenario never materialized as Solon jumped to a 24-3 halftime lead and cruised to a 38-10 win in its final non-district contest September 16 in Davenport.

“Really, we expected this the first game,” Stanton said following his team’s 24-17 win over the Knights on Friday in the opening round of the Class 3A playoffs. “We know the type of program they have.”

The exact scenario Stanton expected in the first meeting materialized in the rematch on Friday and the Spartans were ready.

Just as it did in the regular season meeting, Solon jumped to a 14-0 lead but had to hold off a second-half charge from the Knights to advance to the quarterfinals for the third consecutive season with a 24-17 win.

“They are a good program with tradition,” Stanton said. “Coach (Wade) King has been there for a while and it’s always tough to beat a team twice.”

Solon (10-0) held Davenport Assumption (6-4) to 160 yards on 4.2 yards per play in the regular season meeting while limiting to the Knights to just 80 yards on the ground on 22 carries.

Senior tailback John Argo had 14 carries for 66 yards in the first meeting.

On Friday Argo rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown and also caught two passes for 45 yards as the Knights rushed for 248 yards and finished with 315 yards of total offense on 6.3 yards per play.

“They went 4-1 since they lost to us and were doing some good things,” Stanton said. “The Argo kid is a heck of a football player so we expect a tough game.”
Solon knew a challenge was coming and the Spartans were ready.

It was the first game decided by fewer than 17 points for Solon since a 28-14 win over 2A quarterfinalist Williamsburg (7-3) in week three.

Solon rushed for 235 yards, 123 coming from junior tailback Sean Stahle, and finished with 349 yards of total offense.

Junior quarterback Blake Timmons passed for 114 yards and rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown.

Senior Jacob Timmons and junior Michael Pipolo each had interceptions that stopped first-half Assumption drives.

“They are a very good program and we knew nothing was going to be easy against them,” Jacob Timmons said. “They were playing hard to the end.”

News and Notes

Rosenberg the Receiver: Clear Creek Amana senior Harrison Rosenberg had five receptions for 66 yards a touchdown in a loss to Winterset on Friday to close the season with a touchdown reception in seven consecutive games.

Rosenberg had more than 60 yards receiving six times during his stretch of seven games with a touchdown catch and had five or more receptions four times.

The senior finished the season with 46 receptions for 855 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Undefeated Tracker: As the state semifinals approach the number of undefeated teams is quickly shrinking.

There are only 15 remaining unbeaten teams in the state with Solon (10-0) the lone remaining undefeated team in the Your Prep Sports area.

Solon is one of four remaining undefeated teams in Class 3A, joining Harlan, Humboldt and Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley.

Class 1A has five remaining unbeaten teams entering the quarterfinals on Friday while Class A has one and eight-player has four.

Players of the Week

Offensive Player of the Week: Solon junior running back has developed a knack for coming up with big performances when the Spartans need one the most.

Stahle rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries and also set up a field goal with a 64 yard kick off return as the Spartans held off Davenport Assumption 24-17.

Defensive Player of the Week: Every week City High senior Gable Mitchell finds another way to impact the game.

The top receiver for the Little Hawks this season, Mitchell didn’t have a reception in the postseason opener against Urbandale but intercepted three passes and made five tackles on defense and also completed a pair of touchdown passes in a 47-21 win over the J-Hawks.

Special Teams Players of the Week: City High senior Jamari Newson flipped momentum on Friday with a 99-yard kick off return for a score following an Urbandale touchdown as the Little Hawks advanced with a 47-21 win over the J-Hawks.

Helmet Stickers

Offense: Clear Creek Amana senior quarterback Ben Swails completed 13-of-20 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-17 loss to Winterset.

Offense: City High senior running back Joey Bouska ran for 63 yards and two touchdowns and also caught three passes for 33 yards and a score in a 47-21 win over Urbandale.

Offense: West Branch junior Carver Boelk completed 16-of-30 passes and threw for a career-high 271 yards in a 24-7 loss to Dyersville Beckman.

Defense: City High junior linebacker Ben Kueter had four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks among his 10 total tackles in a 47-21 win over Urbandale.

Defense: Solon senior defensive back Jacob Timmons had four solo stops, including two tackles for loss, among his 5.5 tackles and also picked off a pass in a 24-17 win over Davenport Assumption.

Defense: Regina senior defensive lineman Aidan Udell had 11 solo tackles and a team-high 11.5 stops in a 21-7 loss to MFL Mar-Mac.

Defense: Clear Creek Amana freshman Brody Clubb had nine solo stops among his team-high 10.5 tackles in a 24-17 loss to Winterset.

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