Solon defense shines in 21-14 win over No. 1 Williamsburg

SOLON — Senior linebacker Brett White shared the Solon defense’s unofficial motto.

He noted the “we have to pick our guys up” attitude of the defense’s workmanlike effort to overcome adversity.

“We know we have to go grit it out and that’s our main goal,” White said. “We’ve got to win for our team. We just go out there and play for our team.”

Multiple times the defense hoisted the team on its shoulders Friday night, canceling out short fields and turnovers, limiting scores and putting up points of their own in the No. 7 Spartans’ 21-14 victory over top-ranked Williamsburg in a Class 3A District 5 battle at Spartan Stadium. Solon (6-1, 3-0) won its sixth straight game and took control of the district title race.

“Our resiliency has been key with these guys all year from Week 1 to now,” Solon Coach Lucas Stanton said. “It’s never easy and they know that. I’m proud of the toughness they show. They never fold. They stick together.”

The defense shined in the first half, matching the Raiders’ points.

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Photos: Williamsburg at Solon high school football

Solon was forced to play most of the half on its side of the field with little rest after two muffed punts gave Williamsburg (5-1, 2-1) extended possessions. The Spartans allowed just seven points — an 8-yard touchdown pass from Kellen Cockrell to Clayten Steckly for a 7-0 lead.

Solon’s defense answered. Brett White’s sack of Cockrell popped the ball loose and Barret Schade picked it up and rumbled 60 yards for the tying TD.

“I was right there and just picked it up and ran,” Schade said. “I couldn’t do it without my team. They helped me out.”

Schade scored his first defensive TD. When he scooped up the ball and had a wide-open field in front of him, one thing echoed in his mind.

“I was like ‘Run as fast as you can,’” Schade said. “I didn’t want to get caught from behind.”

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The teams exchanged possessions without much of a threat. Williamsburg moved into Solon territory with less than two minutes before half but the Solon defense came up big to set up the Spartans’ best possession before the break.

Jack McCarty intercepted a Derek Weisskopf pass, giving Solon the ball on its own 36 with 1:21 left. Six plays later, Conlan Poynton plunged in from 1 yard out for a 14-7 lead with 2.7 seconds left before the break.

Poynton led Solon with 141 yards rushing on eight carries.

“He’s been awesome,” Stanton said. “I’m proud of him and the way he’s stepped up for us.

“He’s the kind of kid that gets stronger as the game goes. He embraces it and it’s nice to have that option.”

The score was set up by good rushing gains by Poynton and quarterback Tyler Bell. It was Bell’s 40-yard pass to Eddie Johnson, who bullied his way down to the 1 with six seconds remaining. Stanton was content with a field goal but his team lobbied to go for it and won.

“It was great for Ty to find Eddie and Eddie made a great catch,” Stanton said. “The run was a lot of heart and guts to get down there.

“Our kids said we want to score. We want the touchdown and want to send a message. I believe in our kids 100 percent when they talk to me like that.”

Williamsburg tied the game after the break. Weisskopf hit Steckly for a 28-yard score, making it 14-14 with 8:51 left in the third.

Solon’s defense came up big again in the fourth, setting up the winning score. Cole Carney intercepted a pass at the Raiders 13. Four plays later, Johnson scored on a 1-yard run for the final score.

“It does a lot because that’s a really good team,” White said. “That’s a state championship team, right there. They have a lot of dawgs. This gives us confidence to launch our team.”

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com