Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

SOLON – Blake Timmons is the type of player that is all about the team.

So when Timmons approached Lucas Stanton prior to the start of the season with a request the Solon head coach was all ears.

In typical Timmons fashion his plea to the head coach was to help the team – in any way possible.

“He came to me before the season and he flat out told me, ‘I’ve got one shot at this I don’t want to come off the field’,” Stanton said. “He wants to do whatever he can to help us win.”

A three-year starter at quarterback Timmons has accounted for 71 touchdowns and nearly 5,500 yards of offense in his high school career.

Stanton granted the preseason request of his do-everything senior adding more defensive and special teams responsibilities for Timmons in his final prep season.

Timmons has delivered in a big way helping Class 3A seventh-ranked Solon to a 6-2 record that includes a five-game winning streak and a District 5 title.

“I love playing football and I wanted to be as big of a part of every element of our team that I could,” Timmons said. “Really any way I could help our team that’s what I wanted to do.”
As with any coach Stanton had some initial apprehension about putting his starting quarterback on defense.

During a semifinal run a year ago Timmons saw his defensive snap count rise.

This year the 5-foot-10, 190-pound Timmons has become a leader in the defensive secondary and has a team-high three interceptions, all coming in a 51-7 senior night win over Grinnell last Friday.

“We knew he was a good defensive back but as a sophomore we didn’t want to put too much on his plate and last year with the experience we had in the secondary we used him in emergency situations,” Stanton said. “Now, late in the year he is playing really well and it’s tough to take him off the field.”

Timmons has done a little bit of everything for Solon this season.

He is still the offensive leader for Solon, accounting for 20 total touchdowns.

Timmons is completing 52 percent of his passes while throwing for 804 yards and six touchdowns and has rushed for 509 yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging 5.8 yards per carry.

It’s everything else he has added to his plate this season that makes Timmons senior season so impressive.

He has four tackles and the three interceptions on defense, has caught a pass, returned two kicks and is averaging 41.1 yards per punt on 23 punts.

“Being a quarterback on the offensive side of the ball I can understand coverages a little bit better,” Timmons said. “Our coaches put us in great positions, watching film and we have a great game plan every week.”

Solon closes the regular season on Friday at Keokuk (2-6) and will host a playoff game the following Friday as the Spartans hope to make another late postseason push.
If they do, Timmons will almost certainly be a big reason why.

“I love playing, if its’ offense or defense or anything,” Timmons said. “I really do and it’s just about having fun and being an athlete.”

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