Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

SOLON – All the chatter about Solon season has been centered on what the Spartans have done on defense.

And with good reason.  

The Solon defense was historically good during a 9-0 regular season, posting six shutouts and allowing just three touchdowns while scoring six touchdowns of its own.

All the defensive talk is fine with the top-ranked Spartans but that doesn’t mean they aren’t excited for a chance to show what they can do on offense.

Friday’s Class 3A playoff opener against Decorah (7-2) at 7 p.m. at Spartan Stadium will provide that chance.

“We definitely hang our hat on defense, it’s where it starts,” Solon senior Payton Bandy said. “But this is definitely going to be an opportunity to show the state what we can do on the offensive side of the ball as well.”

Solon put up solid if not spectacular offensive numbers during the regular season averaging 40.2 points and 368 total yards per game.

One of the biggest tests of the season to date for the Spartans will come Friday against a Decorah defense that is holding opponents to 10.1 points and 251 yards of offense per game.

“They are physical, they are tough and they are going to come right at you and we are looking forward to that,” Solon senior running back Kendrick Harris said. “We like to compete against the best, that’s what we play for.”

Decorah has faced some of the best in Class 3A this season, with district losses to third-ranked Cedar Rapids Xavier (21-13) and No. 7 Waverly-Shell Rock (17-7).

The Vikings allowed an averaging of 356 yards per game in those two losses and haven’t given up more than 393 yards of offense in a game this season.

“All year they have been doing great stuff on defense,” Bandy said. “They are quick on both sides of the ball, they are fundamentally sound they are good with their hands so it’s going to be four quarters.”

According to Solon head coach Kevin Miller to be successful against a Decorah defense that has allowed less than seven points in five of its nine regular season games the Spartans must do what they’ve done all season.

That starts with being balanced.

Solon enters the postseason averaging 204 rushing yards and 164 passing yards per game and has had multiple rushing and passing touchdowns in eight straight games.

“They are sound fundamentally, they are in good position, they play with good technique great pad level, they tackle really well and they play really hard so it’s going to be a challenge,” Miller said. “We are going to have to diversify and spread it around a little bit just like we have all year long we have to utilize the different playmakers we have.”

Sophomore quarterback Cam Miller is the one responsible for getting the ball to the Spartans’ playmakers and the first-year starter has done that well.

Miller is completing 59 percent of his passes while throwing for 1,446 yards and 21 touchdowns with just four interceptions.

Bandy and Harris are just two of the weapons Miller has at his disposal.

Bandy and sophomore AJ Coons each have 19 receptions and have combined for 782 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Harris has rushed for 90 yards or more and scored a touchdown in five straight games while junior Hunter Kula has rushed for 747 yards and nine touchdowns.

“I think we’ve gotten better every week,” Harris said. “We can still be better, we are focusing on getting better every day and every game and that’s our focus this week.”