Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

A 34-7 loss to Davenport Assumption in the season opener didn’t sit all that well with members of the Solon defense.

Giving up 408 total yards while allowing 301 rushing yards in the week-one loss was an even tougher pill to swallow for the usually stingy Spartans.

After allowing the most rushing yards in a game since 2015 in the opening-night loss to the Knights the focus for Solon was simple heading into week two – tackle.

“When we missed tackles last week they scored,” Solon senior linebacker Brett White said. “We had to make tackles we had to get lower and we had to wrap up.”

he Spartans came up with a defensive gem in week two.

Solon limited Clear Creek Amana to just 198 total yards on 4.1 yards per play in a 7-3 win over the Clippers at Spartan Stadium.

“I think our blitz scheme was really good and we studied film a lot and knew a lot of what they were going to do,” White said. “We say we don’t make robots we make plays.”

After allowing 301 rushing yards in the loss to Assumption the Spartans held Clear Creek Amana to 85 yards on the ground.

Perhaps even more importantly the Spartans limited Clear Creek Amana to 3-of-13 on third down conversions and came up with three fourth down stops in the second half.

“We emphasis a lot on defense getting off the field on third down,” Solon coach Lucas Stanton said. “We measure our third down efficiency and that is one of our goals each week to hold them to 33 percent or less on third down. We put them in those situations on practice and they know how to rise to the occasion.”

White was his usual impressive self at inside linebacker, posting eight tackles including two for loss and forcing and recovering a fumble.

However, White had plenty of help on Friday.

Senior outside linebacker Brayden Moore had a team-high nine tackles with two for loss and came up with a pair of stops on fourth down plays.

“Brayden Moore is a heck of a player and he played his tail off today,” White said. “It’s awesome knowing you have a guy like that outside that can make plays.”

Jack McCarty, Eddie Johnson, Austin Knight, Barret Schade, Cole Carney, Oliver Owens and Mason Scott all had parts of a tackle for loss for Solon which had 11 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

“It’s just learning to love physicality,” Solon senior defensive end Ben Kampman said. “That’s a big thing for us.”

News and Notes

Big Man touchdown: Liberty High defensive lineman turned short-yardage running back Dantrell Skinner got his first touchdown of the season on Friday.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Skinner scored on a 1-yard run in a 41-14 win over City High finishing with three carries for six yards to go with four tackles including half a tackle for loss.

Over the past two seasons Skinner has converted six of his carries into three touchdowns.

Bounce Back For Beckman: After matching his career total with four interceptions in a season-opening loss to West High, Liberty High senior quarterback Graham Beckman had a much more typical performance in week two.

Beckman was back to being his usual razor-sharp self in a 41-14 win over City High on Friday completing 26-of-32 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns without an interception.

The 6-1, 194-pound Beckman also rushed for 14 yards and a touchdown in the win.

Big Night for Naeve: Two weeks into the season there have been few players in the state more productive than Regina senior Jackson Naeve.

After producing 107 yards from scrimmage and three total touchdowns in a week-one win over West Liberty Naeve one-upped himself on Friday.

Naeve had 183 yards from scrimmage, scored five touchdowns and made seven tackles in a 51-19 win over Mid-Prairie.

The senior receiver/running back had nine receptions for 151 yards and three touchdowns, rushed seven times for 32 yards and two scores and led the Regals with seven solo tackles.

Players of the Week

Offensive player of the week: Liberty High junior running back Sutton Koller did it all in a win over City High rushing for 61 yards and a touchdown and catching 11 passes for 113 yards in a 41-14 Lightning win.

Defensive player of the week: Liberty High senior linebacker Gavin Benton had a team-high 5.5 tackles including two for loss as the Lightning held City High scoreless in the second half of a 41-14 win.

Special teams player of the week: West High junior punter Evan Anderson averaged 41 yards per punt on five punts in a 31-17 loss to Urbandale.

Helmet Stickers

Offense: Liberty High junior receiver Dallas Miller had 10 receptions for 95 yards and three touchdowns in the win over City High.

Offense: Regina senior quarterback Gentry Dumont completed 17-of-29 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns in a 51-19 win over Mid-Prairie

Defense: West High junior Mason Woods had 5.5 tackles including two tackles for loss and caught six passes for 80 yards in a 31-17 loss to Urbandale.

Defense: West Branch senior Trenton Schutte had 7.5 tackles, including five solo stops and half a tackle for loss in a 9-7 loss to Dike-New Hartford.

Special teams: West High sophomore place kicker Adam Salem continued his strong start to the season going 2-for-2 on PAT attempts and connecting on a 37-yard field goal.

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