Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Solon used smothering defense and some opportunistic special teams to secure a spot in the state semifinals.

Maddox Kelley returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown and Simon Einwalter recovered a blocked punt in the endzone for a touchdown both in the first quarter and Solon held on for a 21-6 win over Winterset (7-4) in a Class 3A quarterfinal on Friday at Spartan Stadium in Solon.

Solon improved to 11-0 on the season with the win and advanced to the Class 3A semifinals for the third time in the past five seasons.

The Spartans will face Nevade (9-2) in a 3A semifinal on November 15 at 7 p.m. at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.

Nevada defeated top-ranked Clear Lake 24-14 in a quarterfinal on Friday.

Solon jumped to a 14-0 lead less than five minutes into the game.

Kelley picked off a pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown to give the Spartans a 7-0 with 9:09 remaining in the first quarter.

On the ensuing Winterset possession James Thomsen blocked a punt and Simon Einwalter recovered in the end zone for a touchdown to put the Spartans up 14-0 with 7:43 remaining in the opening quarter.

Solon senior quarterback Eli Kampman found Kelley for a 10-yard touchdown pass with 11:06 left in the second quarter to give the Spartans a 21-0 lead.

That was all the scoring the Solon defense would need.

Solon limited Winterset to 211 total yards in the win.

Winterset cut the lead to 21-6 on a 10-yard touchdown run by Wyatt Swanson with 7:32 remaining in the third quarter but could get no closer.

Kampman completed 10-of-18 passes for 86 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 84 yards on 23 carries.

Kelley rushed for 42 yards and caught five passes for 59 yards.

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