Rush attack, defense propels Nevada past Solon in Class 3A state football semifinal

CEDAR FALLS – For the second straight week, Nevada stared into the face of a Goliath-like foe.

The Cubs produced two giant-sized victories, cutting down the top-two ranked teams in Class 3A.

“I would say it definitely puts a chip on our shoulder, but I think we've been underdogs ever since these seniors have been playing,” Nevada running back Austin Waldera said. “We got a few under classmen with us and we like it, so let's keep it going.”

Waldera rushed for 233 yards and Drake Hinson ran for two touchdowns, help eighth-ranked Nevada to a 29-10 win over No. 2 Solon in a 3A state semifinal football game Saturday night at the UNI-Dome.

The Cubs (10-2) advance to the championship game for the first time in school history, facing No. 4 Sioux City Heelan (10-2) Friday at 1 p.m.

“It feels great,” Nevada’s Gavin Egeland said. “The job’s not done. We have to do it for our community and students. They all showed out. We’re going to work together and we’re going to pull this one off.”

Nevada handed No. 1 Clear Lake its only loss of the season in the quarterfinals. The Cubs led throughout and was the only team to get the better of the Spartans (11-1), using a deliberate and effective rush attack powered by Waldera and wreaking havoc with their defensive front.

Nevada opened the game with a methodical 70-yard drive on 10 plays in 3:51, resulting in a 6-yard TD run by Caldera and a 7-0 lead less than four minutes into the game.

The Cubs pulled away with two similar drives in the second half. They covered 82 yards on 12 plays late in the third and went 94 yards on 11 plays in the fourth for the game’s final points. Hinson capped both with scoring runs of 1 and 22 yards.

“When we had some opportunities, which is uncharacteristic of us on defense to (not) get off the field, they were able to convert,” said Solon Coach Lucas Stanton, noting Nevada’s 6 of 12 third-down conversions was higher than the Spartans allowed all season. “While we were in some situations we wouldn't like to be in on (defense), we still have to get ourselves off the field on third down.

“That's how they've been, especially in the playoffs. They've been very opportunistic as a football team and we had some chances. It just didn't go our way tonight, unfortunately.”

Nevada finished with a 274-3 advantage in rushing yards. The Cubs outgained the Spartans, 356-129, in total offensive yards.

“This is what we wanted to do,” Waldera said. “It means a lot to us, but we knew we were coming out on top of this game. We came out and played smashmouth football. What we do best, so it's nice.”

Solon struggled to find a rhythm on offense. The Spartans managed just six total first downs. Solon quarterback Eli Kampman was hurried and under pressure most of the game.

“Their rush was really good,” Kampman said. “They wrecked the play in ways that we couldn't hold on the ball long enough to let the play develop. They played really well on the edge.”

Stanton added, “They're just good athletes on the edge that we didn't really have any answer for them. … They were just able to kind of tee off, especially when we got down and had to pass.”

Solon connected on a long touchdown pass from Kampman to Cody Milliman in the final minute of the first half. It was a broken play from the start, but Kampman was able to adjust in the middle of the play.

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Kampman pulled the ball down, started left and reversed field. Kampman threw on the run, placing the ball over an out-stretched arm of a Cubs defender and into the breadbasket of Milliman, who turned and ran in for the last seven yards. Solon pulled within 13-10 with 54 seconds left in the second quarter.

“Sometimes you just got to figure out something from nothing,” Kampman said. “So, it's kind of what we did there.

“I was just keeping my eyes down field and looking through my options. Decided to go for the deep ball.”

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Solon was within three and was set to receive the second-half kickoff. The Spartans were confident and optimistic at the break.

“The confidence was super high,” Solon’s Maddox Kelley said. “We were thinking we're not out of this game at all.”

Nevada snagged one of its three interceptions that led to Gavin Egeland’s 42-yard field goal for a 16-10 lead 90 seconds into the third.

Egeland added another advantage for the Cubs. He was 3-for-3 in field goals, making kicks from 38 and 45 yards in the second quarter. The latter was his career long.

Egeland made all four of his previous attempts this season and 30 of 31 extra points. He has come a long way from missing all four field goal tries last season.

“My team around me is great – snapper and holder,” Egeland said. “They just put the ball down and I just kick it. Soccer player at heart. It’s not too hard. Ball through two yellow sticks.”

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Solon parlayed a fumbled punt into a Ryan Locke 26-yard field goal to get on the scoreboard in the second quarter.

“They were in the backfield a lot,” Kelley said. “I think that, ultimately, was like their success.”

The Spartans made their 18th state semifinal appearance and fifth in the last nine seasons. They record the most wins since going 11-1 in 2021.

“I’ll remember of this team for the rest of my life,” Kampman said. “We were truly a family, and those are my guys.”

Maddox echoed Kampman’s sentiments about the team’s camaraderie.

“My team did great,” Kelley said. “We grew so much from the start of the season. I think that's what it was. I think it was our teamwork and us playing together. We played like brothers, not just teammates.”

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Stanton huddled the Spartans on the field after the postgame ceremonies. He had a direct message to his players, emphasizing if they applied the same focus and determination to life that they did to the football season they would experience success.

“Like I told them, one game doesn't define who they are as individuals or this team,” Stanton said. “We played a really good football team tonight and it wasn't our night.”

NEVADA 29

SOLON 10

AT UNI-DOME

NEV SOL

First Downs 21 6

Rushes-yards 47-274 18-3

Passing yards 82 126

Comp-att-int 7-16-1 13-24-3

Total yards 356 129

Fumbles-lost 2-1 1-0

Punts-avg. 2-55.5 6-44.2

Penalties-yards 2-20 5-29

Nevada 7 6 9 7 -- 29

Solon 0 10 0 0 -- 10

NEV – Austin Waldera 6 run (Gavin Egeland kick)

NEV – FG Egeland 38

SOL – FG Ryan Locke 26

NEV – FG Egeland 45

SOL – Cody Milliman 51 pass from Eli Kampman (Locke kick)

NEV – FG Egeland 42

NEV – Drake Hinson 1 run (pass failed)

NEV – Hinson 22 run (Egeland kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Nevada: Waldera 36-233, Hinson 8-45, Team 3-(minus 4). Solon: Maddox Kelley 5-6, Kampman 12-0, Team 1-(minus 3).

PASSING – Nevada: Hinson 7-16-1-82. Solon: Kampman 13-24-3-126.

RECEIVING – Nevada: Waldera 2-20, Cedar Smith 1-18, Lucas Brown 2-17, Egeland 1-14, John Nelson 1-13. Solon: Milliman 3-53, Kaden Hoeper 3-34, Kelley 5-28, Owen Bock 2-11.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com