Record-setting Heelan rolls past Washington in 3A title game

CEDAR FALLS – Trent Solsma, Philip Jacobson, Connor Niles and their buddies played a video game in real life Thursday night, and blew the machine to bits. Blew Washington to bits, too.The Sioux City Heelan quarterback-receiver trio were unstoppable and record smashing in a 47-14 romp in the Class 3A state championship game at the UNI-Dome.Heelan and/or Heelan players tied or set 14 offensive records, including four all-class marks. Solsma threw for 453 yards and six touchdowns, more than any quarterback in any state championship game.Jacobson had five TDs (four receiving and one rushing) to tie the all-class record. Niles had 193 receiving yards to break that 3A mark.“They're a well-coached team, a lot of athletes,” said Washington Coach Randy Schrader. “It really comes down to being able to tackle in space, and we couldn't tackle in space. I thought we had a good scheme. But they got some of their athletes out on the edges, made some catches, and we missed some tackles. It kind of got away from us.”For Washington (12-2), the highlight of the game was taking a 7-6 lead late in the first quarter on wingback Carl Sivels' 36-yard touchdown run on a 4th-and-1 play. Mason Quigley's extra point put the Demons ahead for the only time.And for only a minute and 16 seconds. Heelan passed right back down the field, with a 53-yard catch and run by Niles putting the Crusaders inside the Washington 10. On second down, Solsma looked to the right corner of the end zone but deftly came back over the middle to a crossing Jacobson for the 6-yard score.“Honestly, it's all credit to the coaches and receivers,” said Solsma, who put together back-to-back 3,000-yard passing seasons. “Those guys run some amazing routes and just get open, which makes it a lot easier on me. And the line, too. This was just a whole team effort.”Solsma is an incredibly accurate thrower, consistently hitting his guys in stride. He completed 23 of 30 passes.But, as Schrader pointed out, guys like Jacobson and Niles have escapability to turn short passes into long gains.“Trent is a fantastic quarterback,” said Jacobson, lobbing plaudits right back at his signal caller. “He knows how to make a read and throw it to the right man.”Nearly lost in his offensive gaudiness was that Jacobson also intercepted two passes.“They've got some really good receivers, and coming into the game, we knew that,” said Washington's Alex Coker. “It was tough. They made some good moves, did a nice job.”Coker injured his shoulder on a long kickoff return late in the second quarter and didn't play the second half. The Demons definitely missed their leading rusher and best player, but his full availability wouldn't have provided a different outcome.Heelan (14-0) scored three TDs in 2:18 early in the third quarter to make it a 47-7 game and get the continuous clock rolling. Solsma made his exit a short time later, to a standing ovation from the Crusaders' faithful.“We've got a lot of kids that can play football,” said Heelan Coach Roger Janssen. “I'm sure their (college) opportunities will come. I told these guys ‘We've got to get on the big stage, get to the Dome, where people can watch you. Put those numbers up against quality football teams.'”In an odd twist, Heelan didn't set the 3A record for most points in a championship game. That mark of 49 still belongs to Harlan and Decorah, the latter of which, ironically, came last season against the Crusaders.“That's what we worked for all offseason,” Jacobson said. “To come back here and be the other team. To win the state title.”Here are the official game statistics:

S.C. Heelan 47, Washington 14

AT AT UNI-DOME

TEAM STATISTICS

Washington

S.C. Heelan

First downs

15

18

Rushes-yards

49 - 222

23 - 45

Passing yards

68

453

Comp-Att-Int

5 - 13 - 2

23 - 30 - 0

Total yards

290

498

Fumbles-lost

1 - 1

0 - 0

Punts-average

4 - 39.8

3 - 37.7

Penalties-yards

3 - 19

4 - 25

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing:  Washington – Daryn Seibelius 14-72 , Tanner Knupp 11-46 , Carl Sivels 4-43 , Alex Coker 10-30 , Garrettt Covington 7-23 , Jacob Green 1-5 , Ethan Hansen 2-3

S.C. Heelan – Tony Tobin 10-14 , Tyler Cropley 1-14 , Nick Bousquet 6-10 , Philip Jacobson 2-8 , O'Brien Jensen 1-4 , Jordan Reynolds 1-3 , Trent Solsma 1--1 , Drew Kasperbauer 1--7

Passing:  Washington – Daryn Seibelius 5-13-2-68

S.C. Heelan – Trent Solsma 23-30-0-453

Receiving:  Washington – Gage Redlinger 2-41 , Tanner Knupp 2-18 , Carl Sivels 1-9

S.C. Heelan – Connor Niles 9-193 , Philip Jacobson 7-128 , Brett Buchmann 3-69 , Tyler Cropley 2-22 , Joe Kayl 1-34 , Austin Suhr 1-7

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Washington

7

7

–

14

S.C. Heelan

13

13

21

–

47

SCORING SUMMARY

SCH-Connor Niles 80 pass from Trent Solsma (kick failed)

Wash-Carl Sivels 36 run (Mason Quigley kick)

SCH-Philip Jacobson 6 pass from Solsma (Jason Sloniker kick)

SCH-Jacobson 9 run (Sloniker kick)

SCH-Jacobson 29 pass from Solsma (pass failed)

SCH-Jacobson 22 pass from Solsma (Sloniker kick)

SCH-Jacobson 44 pass from Solsma (Sloniker kick)

SCH-Brett Buchmann 56 pass from Solsma (Sloniker kick)

Wash-Daryn Seibelius 15 run (Quigley kick)