Solon prevails in wild, back-and-forth 3A state football quarterfinal game against West Delaware

SOLON — Momentum swings, haymakers, and no stones left unturned.

With a trip to the UNI-Dome on the line, second-ranked Solon and West Delaware emptied their playbooks and delivered a classic Class 3A quarterfinal. For the third year running, the second-ranked Spartans ended West Delaware’s season, booking their 17th trip to the state semifinals with a wild 36-35 victory Friday night at Solon.

Back and forth all night, the result hung in the balance until the bitter end. A few defensive stops, a huge turnover, and a clutch fourth-down conversion made the difference.

A Solon (10-1) team that started the season slow finds itself back in familiar territory.

“It was pretty frustrating, week one,” Solon coach Lucas Stanton said of the Spartans’ 34-7 loss to Davenport Assumption. “I’ve probably been quoted as saying this quite a few times. We just challenged them. We knew they were better than that. It was before the Mount Vernon week. I told the team ‘I think we’re destined’. I truly believed that. There’s just something they have.”

Late in the game, West Delaware (7-4) found itself seizing control.

Junior quarterback Brent Yonkovic torched Davenport Assumption last week to the tune of seven touchdowns and 490 yards of offense. For an encore, he was a monster. Yonkovic put up another 359 yards of total offense and accounted for all five West Delaware scores. But the Spartans were able to bottle him up at times.

With a 35-27 lead early in the final quarter, Yonkovic and the West Delaware offense took over at their own 15. Threatening to salt the game away, the Spartans needed a stop.

Yonkovic, who had been so calm in the face of third-and-long all night, took the snap on third-and-4. The Spartans swarmed him for a 7-yard sack, and Solon took over at the Hawks’ 41.

Out of the wildcat, the Spartans moved the ball inside the Hawks’ 10, but the drive stalled out at the 3. A Grant Knipper field goal cut the margin to 35-30. Then the Spartans caught the break they had been waiting for.

Sophomore special teams player Kyler Jensen had been flagged for an offside penalty on a previous kickoff. He redeemed himself. Jensen hit the returner and forced a fumble. The Spartans pounced on it at the West Delaware 36.

“I was just coming back from making a mistake,” Jensen said. “I just wanted to make a play and be a difference in the game. It’s just awesome. I just really wanted to play in the dome.”

On third-and-8 from the 34, Solon quarterback Tyler Bell found Brett White for a 20-yard gain. On fourth-and-6 from the 10, Bell found White streaking across the middle for an 8-yard gain and an enormous first down.

Conlan Poynton scored from a yard out to put the Spartans ahead 36-35.

“Just go be a dog,” White said. “I always think I’m open. I don’t think anyone can guard me. I was really gassed tonight, honestly. Receiver really takes it out of me. I’m used to running back, not running wind sprints. It’s awesome though.”

White, a star linebacker, had caught five passes all season, working his way back from an injury. He caught five balls against the Hawks.

“(Bell) just found me tonight,” White said. “He has never thrown like that ever. He was just locked in tonight.”

Yonkovic had one last chance as the Hawks took over at the Solon 22 with 3:11 to play. White and Ben Kampman combined to drop him for an 8-yard loss on first down. The Spartans contained Yonkovic for a few short runs and he was hurt on third down. Sitting out fourth down by rule, the Hawks’ hook and lateral play came up 6 yards short and the Spartans entered victory formation.

Solon 36, West Delaware 35

West Delaware 7 14 14 0 - 35

Solon 14 13 0 9 - 36

S – Conlon Poynton 1 run (Grant Knipper kick).

S – Eddie Johnson 25 pass from Tyler Bell (Knipper kick).

WD – Brent Yankovic 26 run (Christian Timmerman kick).

WD – Yankovic 18 run (Timmerman kick).

WD – Yankovic 3 run (Timmerman kick).

S – Brett White 65 pass from Bell (Knipper kick).

S – Johnson 2 run (kick failed).

WD – Cash Hauser 53 pass from Yankovic (kick failed).

WD – Yankovic 10 run (Yankovic run).

S – Knipper 20 FG.

S – Poynton 1 run (run failed).

WD, S

First Downs 15, 15

Rushes-Yards 38-111, 33-99

Comp-Att-Int 11-21-0, 18-24-0

Pass Yards 269, 286

Total Yards 380, 385

Penalties-Yards 1-1, 1-5

Fumbles-Lost 2-1, 3-0

Punts-Avg 5-35.2, 6-29.1

Rushing – West Delaware: Brent Yonkovic 27-96, Macoy Roling 7-11, Conrad Smith 1-minus-4, Haze Seibert 2-7, Memphis Voelker 1-1. Solon: Eddie Johnson 13-54, Conlan Poynton 20-45.

Passing – West Delaware: Yankovic 10-20-263-0, Keegan Jackson 1-1-6. Solon: Tyler Bell 18-24-286-0, Poynton 0-2-0-0.

Receiving – West Delaware: Smith 2-92, Seth Jackson 6-96, Cash Hauser 2-71, Voelker 1-10. Solon: Nash Kotar 5-68, Johnson 3-42, Grant Knipper 5-62, Brett White 5-114.

Comments: nathan.ford@thegazette.com