The Xavier Saints' 2016 season kicked off under overcast skies, in temperatures not usually seen in late August in Iowa. Considering Xavier's last three season openers had to deal with weather delays of one form or another - including last year's complete cancellation thanks to nonstop lightning - this pleasant Friday evening was a delightful change of pace.
Not so pleasant, though, was the opponent for this non-district opening game - the rather daunting Regals of Iowa City Regina, coached by former Iowa Hawkeye and NFL player Marv Cook, winners of six consecutive state championships. losers of only two games in the past six seasons. These Regals came to Saints Field needing to replace most of their ball handlers from last year's 13-1 squad, but returned three big 270-pound linemen in the middle of both the offensive and defensive lines.
Xavier, meanwhile, returned their entire backfield (quarterback Bryce Schulte, fullback Erik Rodriguez and tailback Maliki Wilson) along with three offensive linemen who had received all-district honors in 2015 (Sam Meyers, Max Johnson and Ryan Jasper). While the Saints' defense was a little less experienced, Xavier certainly had the horses to try to improve on last year's second-round playoff exit.
This matchup turned out to be all that anyone expected. Xavier took the early lead on their second play, a 68-yard run by Wilson (the first of many long runs for the speedy senior - he ended up breaking the school's single-game rushing mark with 293 yards) and never trailed, but Regina had an answer for every Saints touchdown to keep within dangerous striking distance. The Regals answered Wilson's long score with a 70-yard TD run by Brady Bigley, but the tying extra point was missed.
In the second quarter, a blocked punt set up Regina in the red zone, and with 1st and goal at the 4 it looked like the Regals would be able to take the lead. The Xavier defense stepped up big time, with a tremendous goal line stand that kept Regina out of the end zone, with Schulte capping it off by bringing down Jake Phillips for a loss on 4th and goal from the 1. Xavier took over and put together perhaps the drive of the game, moving all the way downfield, the big play a 32-yard pass from Schulte to Brett Burns. Schulte finished off the drive from 3 yards out to put Xavier up 14-6.
Remember when I said Regina always had an answer? Three plays later, Tommy Rapp found Isaac Vollstedt open downfield, and Vollstedt evaded tacklers and outraced everyone for a 53-yard touchdown. Coach Cook elected to go for two and the tie, but Xavier's defense (still feeling their oats after that goal line stand) stopped the try, keeping it 14-12.
Regina threatened again late in the first half, moving from their 31 to Xavier's 20, but a Rapp pass into traffic in the end zone was intercepted by Josh Gerke.
The second half started much like the first. On Xavier's fourth play, Wilson ran over the right side, found a little room, then saw Bigley in his way in the defensive backfield. Wilson lowered his shoulder and charged into Bigley, standing him straight up before shucking him away and dashing the rest of the 31 yards to the end zone. Xavier was up by 9, 21-12.
That didn't last long. Again, three plays later, Regina answered. And again, it was a big play from Rapp to Vollstedt. This time Vollstedt got a fantastic block downfield just after catching the pass, springing him down the left sideline and resulting in a 47-yard score. Back to two points, 21-19.
The teams exchanged possessions the rest of the third quarter, but the big concern for Xavier came after a 20-yard Wilson run. It looked like he might break free for another score, but a Regina defensive back went low and took out his legs. Wilson did not get up, even after some minutes of attention from the trainer and Xavier coaches. Once he got up, he got to the sideline only with plenty of assistance, barely putting any weight on either leg. I got to tell you, it looked really bad.
While Wilson was being worked on on the Xavier sideline into the fourth quarter, Regina got the ball back and moved into Xavier territory. Remember when the Saints stopped the threat late in the first half with an end-zone interception? This time Rapp tried to set up a screen, but McClain Burger sniffed it out, stepped in front of the receiver and picked off the pass near midfield. This turnover resulted in another strong drive from Xavier. Wilson even got back into the game (apparently only suffering from muscle cramps: I say "only" knowing they were no doubt very painful, but not something to lose a season over), but Rodriguez was leading the charge this time. Schulte finished it off once more with a 10-yard TD run, and the Saints were back up 28-19 with only 3:50 left to play.
Once again, you need to remember things from earlier in this game. Because once again, Regina responded. This time with a 7-play, 76-yard drive (the key play a 36-yard pass from Rapp to Jack Jensen down to the 4) and put the ball into the end zone to cut it back to two points again, 28-26, with 1:55 on the clock. Of course Regina was going to try the onside kick, and it nearly worked - except the Regals were really, really offside on the attempt. After the penalty, they went with the pooch kick, but Xavier was able to make the catch.
And then, Maliki Wilson. He carried for three yards, then for one. Then he swept to the right, broke through the front seven, and dashed down the Xavier sideline. Michael Conlon gave chase, looking to have a good shot at pushing Wilson out of bounds around the 20. Wilson extended a rather powerful stiff arm, stopping Conlon in his tracks and breaking him free for what turned out to be a 62-yard TD run to make it 35-26 with 50 seconds left. It was Wilson's third score of the game and put him over Brendan Miller's school mark of 271 yards set in 2013.
Regina tried to throw their way back downfield (once again, again) but Nolan Butkowski intercepted a Rapp pass with only a few seconds left to finish things off.
Not particularly a well-played game in every facet - Xavier ended up with several penalties, Regina had several great opportunities for big pass plays that were either dropped or just off-target - but a very entertaining matchup and a tremendous test for both squads as they head into the 2016 season. Next week the Saints face an old MVC foe, Linn-Mar, as the Lions turn out to be the first metro 4A team willing to put Xavier on their schedule since district football came to eastern Iowa in 2014.
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