Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Solon

Head coach: Kevin Miller (18th season, 174-32)

Assistant coaches: Brent Sands, Mark Sovers, Brad Wymer, Chris Croy, Aaron Hadenfeldt, Curt Miller, Aaron Kampman, Dan Coons, Bryan Woods, Tanner Butler, Mike Ferguson

Last season: 11-1 (Class 3A Semifinals)

Returning Starters: Cam Miller, Jr., QB; AJ Coons, Jr., WR; Coal Flansburg, Sr., LB; Adam Bock, Sr., RB/LB; Rocky Lensing, Sr., OL; Kale Altman, Sr., OL; Dillon Hoit, Sr., S; Aidan Dall, Sr., K.

Other returning letterwinners: Ryan Geistkemper, Sr., LB; Hunter Kula, Sr., RB; Maso Stahle, Sr., RB/DE; Jackson Pipolo, Sr., WR/DB; Colton Spillman, Sr., WR/DB; Hunter Brown, Sr., OL/DL; Andy Devalk, Sr., OL/DL; Ethan Kochanny, Sr., OL/DL; Jerrod Hilton, Sr., OL/DL; Kyle Puettmann, Sr., OL/DE; Clay Gerdin, Sr., TE/DE; Ben McAtee, Sr., WR/DB.

Newcomers to watch: Seamus Poynton, Jr., WR/DB; Michael Broghammer, Jr., OL/DL; Thomas Brandt, Jr., RB/DB; Joe Stahle, Jr., WR/DB; Trey Stebral, Jr., WR/DB; Cole Arduser, Jr., WR/DE; Jax Flynn, Jr., RB/LB; Tyler Locke, Jr., TE/DE; Nolan Pattison, Jr., OL/DL; Miles Fuller, Jr., TE/LB; Collin Linden, Jr., OL/LB; Lucas Walker, Jr., WR/DB; Hayes Diersen, Jr., OL/DE; Brady Stotler, Jr., OL/LB; Matt Rehnke, Jr., WR/DB; Luke Haganman, Jr., WR/DB; Sully Steen, Jr., OL/DL; Cael O’Neil, Jr., K/WR/DB; True Eidahl, Jr., WR/DB; Nathan Steffens, Jr., WR/DB; Christian Moore, Jr., WR/DB.

Playoff history: 28 appearances (1984-1988, 1990-1995, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005-2017). Solon won state titles in 1988, 2007, 2008, 2009 (2A) and 2010 (3A).

District: Class 3A, District 6

District favorites: Solon is a heavy favorite to earn the automatic playoff berth as the District 6 champion with Washington and Mount Pleasant likely the top challengers.

Circle the date: September 13 at Davenport Assumption. Solon closes out non-district play with a Thursday night trip east to take on perennial power Davenport Assumption.

Headliner: Senior linebackers Coal Flansburg (6-1, 235) and Adam Bock (6-1, 215) give the Spartans a pair of Division I linebackers patrolling the middle of the defense.

Unsung hero: With all the talent on last year’s roster it was easy to overlook the season that AJ Coons put together. Coons caught 23 passes for 552 yards and eight touchdowns a year ago. It will be significantly more difficult to look past the 6-foot-4 junior wideout this season.

Keep an eye on: Junior Cam Miller (6-1, 200) was solid as a sophomore, passing for 1,831 yards and 25 touchdowns with just six interceptions and returns with a better grasp of the Solon offense this fall.

Biggest question: Can the Spartans reload up front? The offensive and defensive lines were hit hard by graduation with Iowa recruit Tyler Linderbaum the most notable absence up front. Solon has lone prided itself on being stout on both lines and the play of the rebuilt lines will be a big factor in how far the Spartans go.

Quotable: “I think our success will be predicated on what happens on the offensive and defensive lines. I feel skill wise we’ve got some pieces with Adam (Bock) and Coal (Flansburg) and AJ (Coons) as a receiver and Cam (Miller) is back at quarterback so we have some pieces there. I think our success will be dependent on how the line develops both offensively and defensively.”

2018 Schedule

Aug. 24: Mount Vernon

Aug. 31: @West Liberty

Sept. 7: Marion

Sept. 13: @Davenport Assumption  

Sept. 21: @Fort Madison*

Sept. 28: Washington*

Oct. 5: Mount Pleasant*

Oct. 12: @Keokuk*

Oct. 19: Fairfield*

*- District Game