No. 1 Solon forces five turnovers, escapes Benton Community, 28-21

VAN HORNE — Ball security. Ball hawking. Both are a priority, according to Cody Milliman.

“Every day in practice, we work 15 minutes on ball security and 15 minutes on punching the ball out,” Milliman said. “It’s a big thing we’re enforcing.”

Milliman pulled what he happily called “a trifecta” — a recovered fumble, a forced fumble and an interception — for three of Solon’s five takeaways, and the Class 3A top-ranked Spartans escaped with a 28-21 win over Benton Community in a non-district football game Friday night at Bobcat Stadium.

“Our defense is a big part of the things we do as a team,” Milliman said. “Everybody runs to the football.”

Solon (4-0) prevailed despite a yardage disadvantage of 291-225. Credit the takeaways (and primarily Milliman), and credit kicker Ryan Locke, who shook of an early missed PAT to convert three short field goals.

Locke was good from 23, 22 and 24 yards.

“(The extra point) just felt off,” Locke said. “So I was kicking into the net, and I got a lot of (support) from my teammates.”

Facing a 21-18 deficit heading into the fourth quarter, Solon made the winning plays late.

A 9-yard punt gave the Spartans a short field, and they capped a five-play, 22-yard drive with Eli Kampman’s 1-yard quarterback sneak to put them in front, 25-21, with 7:00 left.

On the second play on the next defensive possession, the Spartans recovered a fumble at the Benton 33. They settled for Locke’s third field goal for a 28-21 advantage with 2:30 to go.

Benton (2-2) marched to the Solon 29 before coughing it up again, with Milliman forcing the ball out.

The Spartans ran out the clock, and that was that.

Benton knocked off No. 1 Solon, 21-20, here last season, and the Bobcats appeared to be poised to pull it off again at times Friday.

They held a 14-6 lead in the second quarter, and led until the final 7 minutes, but turnovers were their undoing.

Carson Nolan completed 18 of 23 passes for 143 yards, and ran for 65, but was intercepted twice.

His counterpart, Eli Kampman of Solon threw for 131 yards and ran for 52. Milliman proved to be a quality two-way performer, snagging five receptions for 71 yards.

Class 3A District 4 favorite Solon opens district play next week at Fairfield. Benton welcomes Charles City in 3A District 2 action. `

Solon 28, Benton Community 21

At Van Horne

TEAM STATISTICS

First downs: Solon 15, BC 20

Rushes-yards: Solon 27-94, BC 37-148

Passing yards: Solon 131, BC 143

Passing: Solon 12-23-0, BC 18-23-2

Total yards: Solon 225, BC 291

Fumbles-lost: Solon 1-1, BC 5-3

Punts-average: Solon 2-41.5, BC 2-22.5

Penalties-yards: Solon 4-50, BC 9-79

SCORING SUMMARY

Solon 6 9 3 10 — 28

Benton Community 7 7 7 0 — 21

SOL — Maddox Kelley 1 run (kick failed)

BC — Eli Patterson 10 pass from Carson Nolan (Drew Ballard kick)

BC — Carson Nolan 7 run (Ballard kick)

SOL — FG Ryan Locke 23

SOL — Kelley 1 run (pass failed)

SOL — FG Locke 22

BC — Nolan 6 run (Ballard kick)

SOL — Eli Kampman 1 run (Locke kick)

SOL — FG Locke 24

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

Solon — Eli Kampman 13-52, Einer Stecher 5-27, Maddox Kelley 7-20. Team 2-(minus 5). Benton — Carson Nolan 18-65, Elias Bieschke 13-62, Brody Timmerman 4-16, Owen Von Ahsen 1-6, Team 1-(minus 1).

Passing

Solon — Kampman 12-23-0-131. Benton — Nolan 18-23-2-143, Team 0-1-0-0.

Receiving

Solon — Cody Milliman 5-71, Kaden Hoeper 3-19, Kelley 3-8, Tripp Johnson 1-35. Benton — Timmerman 6-47, Eli Patterson 4-38, Evan Martin 3-26, Von Ahsen 3-21, Grant Volesky 2-12.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com