Derrick Loveless and the Solon Spartans will compete in Class 3A football the next two seasons. Solon won the last three Class 2A state championships and carries a 41-game win streak. (The Gazette)

A new challenge awaits Kevin Miller and his football juggernaut at Solon High School.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association released its district assignments for the 2010 and 2011 seasons, and the Spartans will compete in Class 3A.

“We knew we’d be right on the (2A/3A) bubble. We figured we’d either move to 3A now, or in two more years,” Miller said.

Solon has won the last three 2A state championships and carries a 41-game winning streak.

“It’s a challenge, but with challenge comes opportunities,” Miller said. “We’re going to need more depth, and we’re going to have to work harder than we’ve ever worked before.”

The Spartans were assigned to 3A District 6. They’ll compete with Benton Community, Clear Creek Amana, Grinnell, Mount Vernon, South Tama, Washington (Iowa) and Williamsburg.

That means Highway 1 rivals Solon and Mount Vernon will meet in a district game and will not play in Week 1, as they have in recent years.

In other news of note:

* Once a Class 4A powerhouse, Newton has dropped to 3A. The Cardinals will compete in 3A District 8.

That leaves 47 schools in 4A — 23 in the west side, 24 in the east. Sixty-eight percent of them will advance to substate play.

* Like Solon, Center Point-Urbana has been promoted to 3A. South Winneshiek, the 2009 1A state runner-up, is elevated to 2A.

* Midland is the area’s only newcomer to the eight-man game.