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 …

MARION — David Parry lives here. Most of his family is out there.
So his decision to attend Stanford University of somewhat of a homecoming.
An all-state lineman at Linn-Mar High School, Parry orally committed to play football as a preferred walk-on at Stanford. He visited the campus last weekend.
“Both of my parents were born and raised in San Francisco, and all of my cousins, aunts and uncles are out there,” said Parry, who stands 6-foot-2 and 295 pounds.
Oh, and the academics program doesn’t hurt, either.
“David is a very goal-oriented kid. He …

Linn-Mar lineman David Parry visited the University of Iowa last weekend, but did not make an oral commitment.
“He had a really good visit. We’ll just wait and see,” said Linn-Mar Coach Bob Forsyth.
Parry has a visit lined up this weekend at Stanford, may visit the Naval Academy, and has several Ivy League schools on his list.
“Dave is an extremely gifted kid academically,” Forsyth said.

CEDAR RAPIDS — It wasn’t just football that turned Andre Dawson toward the University of Northern Iowa.
It wasn’t just the business school.
It was Mom.
Dawson, an all-state running back at Cedar Rapids Washington, orally committed to play at UNI in a press conference at Washington Thursday afternoon.
“It’s hard for Mom to travel, so this put a smile on her face,” Dawson said.
Hilda Dawson is a breast-cancer survivor who still had medical issues related to the chemotherapy and radiation treatments she has taken.
“Andre told me that he loved me more than he loved …

Cedar Rapids Washington offensive lineman Matt Huffer has committed to play football at the University of South Dakota.
A left tackle on offense and a defensive end, Huffer (6-foot-7, 240 pounds) was a first-team all-stater as the Warriors finished 9-3 and reached the quarterfinals of the Class 4A playoffs.
“They have a nice indoor facility. I mean, it’s not as good as the UNI-Dome, but it’s nice,” said Huffer, who also considered UNI, along with South Dakota State, Augustana (S.D.), Northwest Missouri State and Nebraska-Omaha.
“I’m going to be a criminal justice major, and …

Will Roth, who quarterbacked Linn-Mar to a 9-2 record and a spot in the Class 4A playoffs, has committed to the University of Northern Iowa.
Roth stands 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds. He picked UNI over North Dakota.
“UNI is a great fit for me,” said Roth, who plans to major in accounting and finance. “I really liked the coaches. Their offensive coordinator (Mario Verduzco) is one of the best quarterback coaches in the county.”
Roth passed for 1,686 yards and 11 touchdowns with eight interceptions as the Lions won a Mississippi Valley Conference divisional …

WINTHROP — Mike Stafford, who coached East Buchanan to football prominence, has vacated his coaching post.
“When he retired from teaching two years ago, he made us aware that he would coach one or two more seasons,” said East Buchanan athletics director Pat Schloss. “Saturday, he informed us that this would be his last season.”
Stafford was the head coach at EB for 27 years, compiling a 165-95 record. The Bucs were 6-4 this season, earning a Class A substate berth.
He coached the Bucs to 14 postseason appearances. They advanced to the …

CEDAR FALLS — It’s been a memorable year even if the ending was forgettable.
South Winn’s bid for its first state title ended with a 35-0 loss to No. 2 Council Bluffs St. Albert in the Class 1A state championship game Saturday at the UNI-Dome.
“We played hard. We had fun,” South Winn senior Jordan Andera said. “It’s disappointing it has to end this way, but that’s football. Someone has to win. Someone has to lose. I think we met up with a better team and that’s part of the game.”
The high-powered …

CEDAR FALLS — A shootout for a while. A blowout in the end.
Iowa City High collected seven sacks and four takeaways, Ellis Jordan scored three touchdowns, and the top-rated Little Hawks sent No. 4 Marshalltown — and its humongous fan base — home disappointed, 42-14, in the Class 4A football final last night at the UNI-Dome.
“It was a great effort by our whole defense,” said John Chelf, who intercepted two passes. “We had some trouble with our coverages early, but once we got that squared away, we were all right.”
More …

CEDAR FALLS — Ellis Jordan had one of his best football games in his finale wearing an Iowa City High jersey.
The senior running back powered the Little Hawks in the first half and delivered the knockout blow in the fourth quarter, as City High beat Marshalltown, 42-14, for the Class 4A championship last night at the UNI-Dome.
Jordan rushed for 172 yards and three touchdowns, scoring on long runs of 40 and 68 yards igniting the Little Hawks in the first.
“That was huge,” City High Coach Dan Saber said about Jordan …