Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Solon

Head coach: Lucas Stanton (4^th season)

Assistant coaches: Aaron Kampman; Brad Wymer; Dan Coons; JT Timmons; Marcus Schnoor; Mark Sovers; Matt Turner; Matt Vandeberg; Noah Sigwarth; Pat Swancutt; Rory Siddell; Tory Hackert; Zach Trevino

Last season: 8-3 (Class 3A second round)

Returning starters: Brett White, Sr., LB/RB; Ben Kampman, Sr., DE/TE; Nash Kotar, Sr., DB/WR; Brayden Moore, Sr., LB/RB; Barret Schade, Sr., RB/LB; Mason Scott, Sr., OL/DL; Marcus Richard, Sr., OL/DL; Grant Wilson, Jr., OL/DL; Kaleb Behrends, Sr., OL/DL; Grant Knipper, K/DB/WR

Other returning letterwinners: Jack McCarty, Sr., WR/DB; Austin Knight, Sr., WR/DB; Keenan Kruse, Sr., LB/TE; Carter Grimm, Sr., OL/DL; Trevor Myers, Sr., OL/DL; Ryan Walsh, Sr., DL; Gavin Sieverding, Sr., WR/DB; Cole Buffington, Sr., WR/DB; Eddie Johnson, Jr., RB/DE; Oliver Owens, Jr., LB/TE; Cole Farnsworth, Sr., WR/DB; Milo Ashbacker, Sr., DB/RB

Newcomers to watch: Cole Carney, Jr., RB/DB; Tyler Bell, QB/DB; Conlan Poynton, Soph., QB/DB

Playoff history: 33 appearances (1984-1988, 1990-1995, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005-2022). Solon won 2A state titles in 1988, 2007, 2008 and 2009 and won a 3A title in 2010.

District: Class 3A, District 5 (Benton Community, Fairfield, Grinnell, South Tama, Williamsburg)

District favorite: One of the toughest districts in Class 3A, District 5 features four teams that were .500 or better last season and three 2022 playoff qualifiers in Benton Community, Solon and 2A runner-up Williamsburg which makes the move to 3A. Solon hasn’t lost a district game since 2015 and that consistence and homefield advantage in the head-to-head matchup between the two teams make the Spartans a slight favorite over Williamsburg for the district crown.

Circle the date: October 6 vs. Williamsburg. Solon hosts WAMAC rival Williamsburg in what will likely be the district title game. Williamsburg defeated Solon 38-25 in Williamsburg last season and has won two of the last three meetings between the two teams.

Headliner: Senior linebacker/running back Brett White (6-0, 205) is among the best players in Class 3A. A three-year starter, White led Solon with 77 tackles including 15 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks last season and rushed for a team-leading 922 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Ready for a breakthrough: Senior Nash Kotar will look for a long-awaited breakthrough after sustaining a season-ending injury just two games into his junior season. Expect the 6-foot, 185-pound Kotar to be a major contributor at receiver, defensive back and in the return game after making five receptions for 32 yards in a shortened season last fall.

Unsung hero: Senior lineman Mason Scott is one of four returning players with starting experience on the offensive line after starting every game at right guard last season. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Scott will be key piece of an offensive line that Solon expects to be a major strength this season.

Keep an eye on: Senior linebacker Brayden Moore (5-10, 185) was an all-district performer last season and should have a bigger role on both sides of the ball this season. Moore ranked fifth on the team with 33 tackles including four for loss last season and rushed for 61 yards on 10 carries but should see all of those numbers rise this season.

Remember the name: Tyler Bell. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound junior is in the mix for snaps at quarterback and has the athleticism to make plays with his arm or his legs.

Biggest strength: The defensive front seven. Solon has a pair of stars to building around in returning all-staters White and senior defensive end Ben Kampman in a stout group of returners in the front seven. Moore is back at linebacker along with emerging seniors Barrett Schade (5-10, 190) and Keenan Kruse (6-1, 190) while senior Kaleb Behrends (6-4, 265) returns on the defensive line along with Kampman (6-3, 210) who led the Spartans in tackles for loss (15) and sacks (7).

Biggest question: How quickly can the first-year starter at quarterback get up to speed? After having just two starting quarterbacks over the past six seasons (Cam Miller and Blake Timmons) the Spartans find themselves in the unfamiliar spot of breaking in a new quarterback. Whoever wins the starting job will have plenty of talent around them at the skill positions and on the offensive line.

Quotable: “It’s not only our size it’s our speed on defense,” Solon coach Lucas Stanton said. “It’s evident when we are running to the football that we have good team speed. You can have average team speed and if you have all 11 guys running to the football it makes you seem faster and when you have the actual speed that I think we have and the way they pursue the football I think that’s going to be a great strength of ours.”

2023 Schedule

Date/Opponent/Record in 2022

August 25: at Davenport Assumption (4-5)

September 1: Clear Creek Amana (3-6)

September 8: Central DeWitt (6-4)

September 15: at Mount Vernon (12-1)

September 22: at Grinnell (5-5)

September 29: Benton Community (6-4)

October 6: Williamsburg (12-1)

October 13: at Fairfield (4-5)

October 20: South Tama (1-8)

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating.