Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

SOLON – There are several factors that helped Solon go from a three-loss squad that fell in the Class 2A quarterfinals to an unbeaten 3A semifinalist this fall.

Among the most notable of those factors has been the growth of junior quarterback Blake Where One of the areas Timmons has improved the most in his second season leading the Solon offense is his ability to remain calm and controlled at all times.

Timmons put that improvement on display last week leading Solon (11-0) to a 23-19 come-from-behind win over fifth-ranked West Delaware in the 3A quarterfinals.

“The area he has grown the most would probably be from a mental side, a leadership role and confidence wise,” Solon second-year coach Lucas Stanton said. “He did not get rattled at all at West Delaware.”

The stats for Timmons last week were solid.

Timmons accounted for 191 total yards and two touchdowns in the road win, throwing a touchdown pass and running for another.

It was more how Timmons went about compiling his stat line that impressed.

The junior helped Solon rally from an early 12-0 deficit and directed a scoring drive immediately after the Spartans fell into a 19-9 hole in the fourth quarter.

“I feel a lot more comfortable this year and I think playing other sports helps with that too,” Timmons said. “I’m in those same situations in other sports and it just carries over to football and makes me a lot more comfortable.”

Timmons has been comfortable all season.

As a sophomore Timmons passed for 1,078 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushed for 639 yards and eight more scores.

He has improved on those numbers this season throwing for 1,442 yards and 19 touchdowns with just five interceptions.

Timmons has rushed for 893 yards and 10 touchdowns this season while averaging better than eight yards per carry.

The increase in production has been a byproduct of a more confident Timmons who spent the offseason working on becoming a better leader.

“This year I’ve worked on stepping up and being a better leader this year,” Timmons said. “That is just picking guys up and always having a positive attitude and trying to lead the team the best I can.”

While Timmons has gotten better at remaining calm it was actually his energy and excitement that helped the Spartans get the win at West Delaware.

After playing primarily offense throughout most of his first two seasons the 5-foot-10, 175-pound Timmons has filled in at safety over the past several weeks.

“I played defense up until last year and I always like hitting people so it was could to get back out there on defense,” Timmons said. “I enjoy it.”

Timmons had a career-high six tackles against West Delaware, including five solo stops, several of which ended with an excited Timmons showing emotion after the tackle.

“That was really fun and I think some of the other guys just fed off that,” Timmons said. “That’s what we need is energy and that helps everything out.”

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