Wrapping Up The Year

The last three games of Xavier's regular season feature a recent 4A playoff team (which is also the only 3A team that's ever handed Xavier a regular season defeat), a team that just moved up to 3A two years ago that has never faced Xavier, and a rising metro squad that's just missed the playoffs the last two years.

WESTERN DUBUQUE BOBCATS

Friday, October 5

at Saints Field, Xavier High School, Cedar Rapids

Broadcast on KMRY AM/FM (LIVE)

Western Dubuque returns to 3A after two seasons as a 4A school; in fact, if the state had left 4A with 48 members instead of cutting that class to 42, they'd probably still be there. It's not like they struggled with the big schools, with winning records both seasons and even a district title and playoff berth in 2016. But Xavier fans probably still associate the Bobcats with one specific game, the 2014 homecoming contest at Saints Field, Xavier's first year in 3A - the weird, rainy game where Bryce Schulte didn't complete a single pass and somehow Western Dubuque came away with a 7-6 win. To this day that remains the only regular season defeat by a 3A school that Xavier has ever suffered (they also have losses to 1A Regina and playoff losses to Pella and Decorah, but still ...).

Now Western Dubuque moves back to 3A and back into Xavier's district. The Bobcats have a solid 21-15 regular season mark over the past four years (.583) with playoff appearances in 2014 and 2016. Coach Justin Penner took over as head coach in 2014 after five years at Carroll Kuemper and four seasons at Mason City - and he'll have a bit of a rebuilding job on offense this year.

Drake George will be back as the team's leading receiver (57 catches and 12 TDs last year), but there's not a lot of other statistical returnees. Sam Goodman was 3 for 9 passing; Ben DeSollar ran for 152 yards and Ben Bryant added 89 more; other returning players caught only three more passes.

On defense things look more experienced. Three of the top four tacklers are back, led by Jason Simon-Rassler (59.5 tackles, 3 sacks), DeSollar and Zack Butcher. Butcher also led the team with three interceptions and was the punter last year, averaging over 31 yards a kick.

Xavier is 1-1 against the Bobcats, with a 35-12 win in Epworth in 2015 evening the mark after that one-point loss the year before.

CENTER POINT-URBANA STORMIN' POINTERS

Friday, October 12

at Center Point

Broadcast on KMRY AM/FM (LIVE)

A new opponent for the Saints, Center Point-Urbana is a longtime 2A program that got moved up to 3A in 2016 - but even though they're just a few minutes apart on I-380, the two schools were put in different districts (don't get me started on how the IHSAA draws their district lines). CPU has been, well, let's say mediocre in recent seasons: after a 6-3 record and a playoff game in 2014, they haven't won more than 4 games in a season since, going 16-20 over the past four years (.444).

The Stormin' Pointers do bring back some experience from last year's 4-5 squad, led by quarterback Caleb Andrews, who passed for 999 yards and ran for 85 more. Alex Wade led the team in rushing as a sophomore, with 506 yards, and Devin Smith ran for 122. Maverick Gatrost (there's a guy for the All-Name team) was the top receiver with 22 catches, while Wade had 17.

Three of last year's top six tacklers return, with Brandon Moore, Max Chesmore, and Gatrost combining for 133 tackles (Gatrost had four sacks). Two of last year's juniors have kicking experience - Logan Peterson was 10 for 13 on extra points, while Tristan Miller was 4 out of 5. Gatrost was last year's punter, averaging nearly 34 yards per kick.

Xavier has never faced CPU on the football field, and while it will be a short trip up the interstate in mid-October, it will be a fresh experience all around.

MARION INDIANS

Friday, October 19

at Thomas Park, Marion

Broadcast on KMRY AM/FM (LIVE)

Marion is a team on the move, and the move is up. The Indians went 1-17 in 2014-15, leaving longtime coach Tony Perkins (at 104-59) one game short of the school coaching record held by Les Hipple. Perkins retired after 2015, with Tim Lovell taking over. Lovell led the team to a 5-4 record in 2016 and then just missed the playoffs with a 6-3 mark last year (making Marion 12-24 over the past four seasons, or .333).

Marion has a real star coming back this year in Trevor Paulsen. Paulsen threw for 1448 yards and 19 TDs last year. He also rushed for 322 yards and 6 more scores, and was the team's punter. While leading rusher Chris Mohwinkle has graduated, JuCorey Higgins and Patrick Bleadorn return with their combined 573 yards rushing (along with Paulsen) providing some oomph in the ground game. The Indians do lose 82 receptions to graduation, with four returning players having a total of 18 catches between them.

Some solid players are back on the defensive side, including Nicholas Cole and Nate Miller (who had four sacks each) along with Dalton Cannon, Connor Whalen, and Higgins. Carson Gorton got a bit of time kicking extra points as a sophomore last season, making 9 of 13.

Xavier easily handled Marion in 2014-15, with wins of 37-6 and 55-0, but those were very different Marion football teams than what we've seen the past two years. I expect Coach Lovell will have his team ready to fight on their home field to close out the season, and it's quite possible that there might be a playoff spot on the line for the Indians as well.