At The 1/3 Mark

Has it been three games already? The high school football season is a third gone? Just doesn't seem possible, yet here we are.

Also, not to make too much of this weather forecasting thing, but boy has the NWS been off with their 7-10 day forecasts for Fridays. This week they say low 70s and a slight chance of rain, so you can count on either 1) a drenching cold downpour, or perhaps flurries; or B) low 90s with humidity to match. Book it!

On to last week, though. Xavier continued their death march of power programs to start the season, facing Solon (but finally at home). The Spartans won four straight state championships between 2007 and 2010, with just one loss in those four years. Old news, you say? Well, they were first or second in their district the past two years, and 11-2 last season. Plus they kicked off 2014 by ending Iowa City Regina's record winning streak, so, yeah - a power program in the area.

Unfortunately, Solon had to face Xavier without their top running back, Brandon Kramer. Add to that the fact that their varsity roster is actually smaller than Assumption's (just 38, including 3 or 4 sophomores), plus a wet, chilly night with rain falling in the first half, and it wasn't exactly a recipe for success for an offense that typically spreads out 4 wide and throws the ball.

The Xavier defense came to play. Not even backup tailback Colton Hansel, who is so hot right now, could ambi-turn his way into a Solon offensive drive. Dylan Eller started the scoring with his 3rd interception of the year, taking this one 25 yards to the end zone. Bryce Schulte ran 21 yards for a score, Jay Kortemeyer added a TD run (and another 170+ yards rushing) and it was 21-0 at halftime. Solon had managed only three first downs, two of those on an early drive following a Xavier fumble. Things didn't ease up in the second half, even with another Saint fumble early. Nic Ekland had a nice 34-yard TD run, and the only other Spartan first down came with the backups in the game. The final was a shutout, 28-0 for Xavier.

The defense is salty, even after replacing 10 starters from last year. Ekland is everywhere, Nick Kellen and Nick Lang plug up the middle, Thomas Ickes is doing a great job at linebacker, and Eller and Sean Murphy are hitting hard in the backfield. With a combined score of 58-6 so far against 3A opponents, the D is going to provide plenty of cushion for an offense that's still finding its way. The ground game continues to look pretty good, but it just doesn't feel like everything is coming together yet.

The string of powerful opponents continues this week as the Nomads play their third road game in four weeks at Central Clinton-DeWitt. The Sabers alternate between winning and losing seasons, and this year they are due for a winning one. They already knocked off a 4A program, blowing out Clinton in week one, and are only a last-minute touchdown by Wahlert last week from being 3-0. DeWitt Central runs the triple option, and they love to run it, averaging close to 300 yards per game on the ground over the past 13 games. This will be a different kind of offense for the Saints to face, but assignment football is key against the option, and Xavier has always been good at that.

After this week, Xavier gets four of the last five games at home, facing a pretty bad Maquoketa team, a so-far average Western Dubuque and Dubuque Wahlert, then after the non-district Regina match it's a Marion team that can't find their way yet. A win at DeWitt this week goes a long way towards cementing Xavier at the top of District 4, and winning the district gets you at least two home playoff games. With programs like West Delaware, Decorah, Pella, and Newton lurking in November, that could be quite the benefit.