Solon claims big victory on emotional night

SOLON – Sometimes football is about more than a just a game.

Football can be cathartic and a vessel to show appreciation.

Players and coaches from Solon and Washington (Iowa) met at midfield as one large mass during a postgame moment of silence in honor of the late Carson Ryan, a Washington football player who died in a hunting accident at the end of September at the age of 17.

The emotions continued as a long line of Spartan seniors embraced teammates, family and friends in a Senior Night tradition.

“My dad always tells me a story from Coach (Ed) Thomas, who was his coach at Aplington-Parkersburg,” said Solon senior Eli Kampmann, the son of former Hawkeye and NFL player Aaron Kampmann. “He said every day you get is a gift. This reminds me of that.”

On the business side of things, Class 3A No. 2 Solon defeated Washington (Iowa), 42-0, in a Class 3A District 4 high school football game Friday night at Spartan Stadium. The Spartans won their third straight game against the Demons and improved to 7-0 overall and 3-0 in the district.

Solon Coach Lucas Stanton said he and the Spartans community have been in Washington’s shoes, dealing with personal loss. He talked with Demons Coach Kelly Williams to offer support, reciprocating what the Washington community showed to him.

“This is a perspective thing,” Stanton said. “I don’t have the words to describe it, but you feel for that team, community and family.”

The players understood the significance of coming together after competition concluded.

“Tonight showed it’s bigger than football,” Solon senior Kyler Jensen said. “It showed that everyone can come together as one we can make things better.”

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Solon (6-0, 3-0) was in control from the opening drive. The Spartans went 95 yards on 11 plays for their first drive. Quarterback Eli Kampmann capped the possession with a 1-yard sneak for the first points of the game.

The Spartans quick-strike ability surfaced on the first drive of the second quarter. Kampmann hit Owen Bock on a swing pass and Bock did the rest. He weaved and juked his way into open field and then got a couple key downfield blocks to make his way over the final five yards of a 65-yard TD reception and 14-0 lead.

“I liked our first drive on offense,” Stanton said. “I thought we were executing well. Then, our defense and special teams gave us some short fields.”

Solon broke the points dam shortly after for three more scores in a 6:35 span.

A fumble and bad punt snap gave Solon the ball at the Washington 3 and 10 on consecutive series. Maddox Kelley scored on a 1-yard run and then added a 10-yard TD catch and run.

The Spartans special teams joined into the fray. Tripp Johnson blocked a Demons punt and Simon Einwalter scooped it up for a 15-yard return and 35-0 halftime advantage.

Solon forced three fumbles and allowed just 72 offensive yards. Washington (3-4, 1-2) managed just 11 rushing yards.

“We always try to run to the football and strip it,” Jensen said. “We practice that every single day.”

Kampmann added a 5-yard TD pass to Cody Milliman early in the fourth. Kampmann capped a stellar night, passing for 186 yards and three scores and rushing for 48 and a TD.

“It’s what we know we’re capable of doing but we still need to play to a higher level,” Kampmann said. “The way we played tonight won’t cut it in the postseason, so we’re going to step it up and be better, even if we had a dominant win.”

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