For the third consecutive year, the Xavier Saints made their way into the state playoff semifinals, meaning their season got to end at the UNI Dome. In fact, 7 of the previous 9 seasons had ended in the Dome (4A champions in 2006, losses to Cedar Falls in 2007 first round and 2008 quarterfinals, a loss in the 2009 semis to Iowa City High). Only first-round playoff losses in 2010 and 2011 did not finish the year on the north end of Interstate 380. The last two years, in fact, Xavier advanced past the semis into the 4A championship game. This year, though, as a new member of Class 3A, the Saints weren't so fortunate.
Instead, Xavier faced an unbeaten Pella squad that had been ranked number 1 in the state pretty much all season. The Dutch had started the year shutting out last year's runner-up team Washington 35-0, and it just went on from there. Pella had scored over 70 points in one game, and over 50 in five. They had won every game by double digits (the closest was a 17-6 win over Carlisle), led Class 3A in scoring, and had not allowed more than 14 points in any game all year. Their three top rushers (Noah Clayberg, Quinton Murphy and Nathan Henry) each had 800 yards or more coming into the semifinal, and both Clayberg and Murphy averaged over 11 yards a carry. The Dutch also featured a Division 1 talent on the line, with University of Cincinnati recruit Garret Jansen playing offensive and defensive tackle.
Meanwhile, Xavier was coming in beat up. Leading rusher Jay Kortemeyer was still out with an injury. Starting fullback and defensive team leader Nic Ekland suited up (and even got in a few plays), but with a broken leg he'd suffered 10 days earlier he wasn't able to contribute much.
While there were some parallels to earlier Xavier opponents here (Iowa City Regina, perhaps), including some wins (such as the victory over Bettendorf in last year's semis), everybody knew this was going to be a tough match. Could Xavier's defense stop this high-powered Pella attack? Could the Saints get out fast again, as they had in all three previous playoff games with 14-0 first quarter leads? Would Xavier's special teams prove to be dominant?
The answer would be no on all three counts. It was Pella that came out of the box fast, with a 27-yard Clayberg run on the first play setting the tone. Although the Dutch didn't score on that first drive, they did reach the end zone on their next two possessions, making it 14-0 Pella by the time Xavier had run six offensive plays for a total of minus 6 yards. Xavier's special teams didn't get much room to do anything, with Pella kicker Seth Johnson routinely reaching the end zone on kickoffs, and while Connor Foley continued to punt well, the Xavier punt teams gave up plenty of yards on returns.
Xavier did hold Pella to a field goal midway through the third quarter (again, total yards for Xavier at this point: minus 8), then coupled a good return on the kickoff and the Saints' first 1st down of the game to actually move into Pella territory. Bryce Schulte got sacked immediately after that, though, and Xavier would not cross the 50 again until the 4th quarter. The Saints did intercept Clayberg in the end zone on the ensuing possession, but being unable to pick up a first down, gave Pella another short field and another field goal before the half.
The third quarter wasn't much better for Xavier. They did get a sack of Clayberg on Pella's first possession, but again were unable to get a single first down in the entire quarter. Meanwhile, the Dutch responded with a grinding 13-play drive, converting three 3rd downs on the way, to pick up another touchdown to make it 27-0 late in the third.
After being pinned at the 1 midway through the fourth quarter on a great pooch punt, Xavier's best play of the entire game was a 40-yard pass from Schulte to Nick Stark. The Saints actually got two more first downs on this drive, reaching the Pella 31 before Schulte was sacked on both 3rd and 4th downs. I believe Pella sacked Schulte 7 times in the game, and forced an intentional grounding call as well, which is pretty much another sack.
Pella is a fast, talented, athletic team with a quick defense and an offense that does a lot of things out of the shotgun. It will be very interesting to see how they match up against Bishop Heelan of Sioux City in the championship ... Heelan is defending their 3A title, with their only loss this season in the first game to 4A Sioux City East. The Crusaders absolutely demolished Creston in the other semifinal, forcing turnovers galore and showing an explosive offense. It should be a fun game.
Of course, I thought Xavier might give Pella a competitive game, and see how that turned out.
So, Xavier's season ends at 9-4, the most losses since a 5-5 season in 2011. Looking forward to next year, Bryce Schulte, Nick Stark and Sean Murphy will return with a year's experience under their belts. Joe Constant, Caleb Billick and Bryce Charipar saw considerable time on the field this year, with big contributions. Add on athletes from this year's 8-1 sophomore squad (with a couple of dandy running backs), and the Saints will be looking for another successful season in 2015.
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