Remember my last post? When I said the road was clear to a 6-0 district record for Xavier? When I said I couldn't really see anybody challenging the Saints in District 4? And how everybody couldn't shut up about Xavier running the table in 3A for years and years to come? Remember?
Nobody told Western Dubuque. Instead, the Bobcats did an outstanding job of scouting and preparation, brought the hammer down on defense, and pulled out a 7-6 stunner of a victory over Xavier at the Saints' homecoming. So - 3A football is pretty good, right? Assuming the entire class would fold up like wet cardboard in the face of Xavier domination was just downright disrespectful. I'm not exactly happy that the Saints dropped a district game - this game film is a road map for anybody else who wants to stop the Xavier offense - but it puts the lie to the idea that nobody can compete with big bad Xavier. Which was a point I have trying to make since the Saints decided to move to 3A last winter.
To the game. You knew something was up when the first quarter ended scoreless. This was typically the point where Xavier led by four touchdowns, so yeah, this was different. The Bobcat defense seemed to be baffling the Saints offensive line, shutting down the run game while harassing Bryce Schulte all game. Schulte ended up 0 of 7 passing and was sacked five times.
Meanwhile the Xavier defense was its typical strong self. They actually gave up a few first half first downs, but also intercepted Nolan Baumhover twice while chasing him as doggedly as Western Dubuque chased Schulte. The interceptions, though, did not lead to any points (although one was returned to the end zone, a penalty erased that score). However, the defense came through in the second quarter. The ball was knocked loose from the Bobcat running back, and Nic Ekland took it 50-some yards for the touchdown. The snap on the extra point try was botched, though. No one really thought that was a big deal at the time. Xavier would surely pile on some points now.
The second half started with a Xavier drive, but that stalled near midfield. Then Western Dubuque started driving, from their own 20, moving down the field. The Bobcats mounted an incredible 14-play drive, converting a couple of third downs, then a huge 4th and 4 at the 29 turned into a first down when Baumhover threw to Andrew Meyer for 7. On the next play Baumhover hit Mitch Kramer on the hip and Kramer ran down the sideline into the end zone. This extra point was good, and the Saints trailed a 3A opponent for the first time ever.
Still, you just knew Xavier would get points. The tide looked like it might turn late in the third quarter when the Saints defense held again (after a bad punt snap gave Western Dubuque fantastic field position) and forced a 27-yard field goal try, the Bobcats' first of the season. Well, it would have been the first if they actually tried it, but they instead went with a fake and lost yardage.
The Saints failed on fourth down over and over ... I think six times they turned the ball over on downs. One time came in the middle of the 4th quarter, ending a 13-play 68-yard drive. After Schulte was sacked for the fifth time on 3rd and long, his 4th down pass to the end zone was bobbled and knocked away. Xavier started their next drive with a terrific punt return, down to the Bobcat 21. The Saints could not get a first down, though, and Sean Murphy lost two yards on third down. That might have hurt, as Dallas Klein missed the 35-yard field goal wide left with 1:30 on the clock.
Again the Xavier defense held, forcing a three and out that used only 17 seconds thanks to all three time outs. The Saints would get the ball back. The punt return team had been money all season, including this game. There wasn't a lot of time left, but a good return should give Klein another chance. Jordan Perry's punt was a low spinner, as he'd kicked all night. It skipped off the ground ... and off the hands of Camden Stovie. A scramble for the ball, and Western Dubuque came up with it. Game over.
So, a shocker for most observers. Give credit to the Bobcats, as they knew what to do on defense, confused Xavier, and flew to the ball with abandon. Western Dubuque as a district has had a lot of recent tragedy, with four incoming freshmen killed by a drunk driver last summer, and at least three students losing parents to cancer recently. You can't say that was what made the difference, but you also can't ignore the toughness and resiliency of these players. I think a big factor was, they really wanted this game more, and it paid off.
So a district loss for Xavier. Unexpected, but not a disaster. I will talk about the playoff picture in my next post. Spoiler alert: Xavier still has an excellent shot at taking the district title.
I already edited this once ... it's almost like I wasn't even there at the game. :( It wasn't an interception TD return that got called back by penalty, it was a punt return, which is what I first said. I hadn't noted it on my play sheet, since it got erased. Anyway, it was in the first half and would have given Xavier a one-touchdown lead, but ... the illegal block penalty brought it back.
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