Spinning Round Like New School Records

This wasn’t looking to set up as a record-setting season for Xavier back in August. Hopes were high, sure, with the defending state 3A champions bringing back some key parts from last year. There was speculation the Saints would be really good again, perhaps even better than 2017.

Let the record show not only are the 2018 Saints looking like a cut above the 2017 state champs, in some respects this may be one of the best Xavier teams ever. And they’ve made their mark in the school record book to stake their claim. Let’s go through some of the new records this year’s squad is making.

WIN STREAK

• Xavier actually surpassed their old win-streak record several games ago, and are currently at 22 games and counting. The Saints’ last loss came in the 2016 semifinal, when Pella mounted a furious drive and scored on the final play to defeat Xavier 34-30.
• Xavier also has a 36-game regular season win streak going into the 2019 season. Their last regular-season loss came in Week 8 of the 2014 season, when the Saints lost to Iowa City Regina. Xavier won the next week against Marion; opened the 2015 season with a game against West Des Moines Dowling that was canceled by weather; then went 8-0 in 2015, 9-0 in 2016, 9-0 in 2017, and 9-0 again this year.
• The Saints have lost one district game in five years of 3A play (7-6 to Western Dubuque in 2014).

TEAM SCORING (added Oct. 26)

• With so many other numbers to total (plus trying to do this in the middle of three other things, like, you know, work) I totally spaced off the fact that Xavier’s offense set a new regular-season scoring record this year. The previous record (383 points), set in 2012, has been surpassed by this season’s total of 395 points. The 13-game record of 531 was also set in 2012; Xavier can move above that by scoring over 34 points per game in four playoff games.

TEAM DEFENSE

• The regular season record for fewest points allowed was shattered - Xavier gave up just 28 points in nine games, blowing past the 2006 mark of 47. The Saints allowed four touchdowns (with just one successful point after) and a field goal. Only 3 points were scored in the first quarter (by Decorah); just 6 in the second (by West Delaware); and zero points were allowed in the third. The other 19 points all came in the fourth quarter (another West Delaware TD plus scores by Iowa City Regina and Dubuque Wahlert). The record for fewest points allowed in 13 games is 88, set in 2006. If Xavier gives up fewer than 15 points per game and plays 4 playoff games, they'll set a new record.
• The Saints defense also set new regular season marks for fewest rushing yards allowed (458, beating the 2006 record by some 50 yards) and fewest total yards allowed (1168, topping the 2013 record by over 200 yards). The mark for fewest rushing yards in 13 games is 909, and fewest total yards in 13 games is 1831. That makes those marks pretty tough to hit, requiring the Saints to give up less than 110 rushing yards per game or 166 total yards per game over four playoff contests.
• While I don’t know if there’s an actual regular season record for most shutouts, this year’s team posted five, including three in a row to end the season (and almost shut out all five district opponents in a row, save the late TD scored by Wahlert). Five shutouts in the regular season matches the 2013 squad, who holds the overall shutout record with 8 in 14 games.

BEN CONRAD

• Conrad is becoming one of the most prolific kickers in Xavier history. He tied one school record in 2017 with three field goals in a game (vs Independence). This year he has been perfect on extra points (52-52). The 52 PATs are a new regular season school record. Add to that his 9 field goals (also a regular season record) and he has 79 kicking points, another regular season record. For 13-game season records, including playoffs, Ryan Persick had 11 field goals in 2012 along with 66 extra points and 93 kicking points.
• Conrad also has, I believe, five field goals of 40 yards or longer in his career, which is remarkable for a high school kicker. He tied the school record for longest field goal with a 48-yarder against Maquoketa, and also had field goals of 47 and 45 yards. His only miss of the year came on a 46-yard attempt vs. Dubuque Wahlert.
• For career records, Conrad still is behind Ryan Persick (2011-13); Persick had 120 career extra points (Conrad currently has 106), 23 field goals (Conrad has 18), and 189 kicking points (Conrad has 160).

QUINN SCHULTE

• Schulte has totaled up some impressive scoring records, thanks to three years of varsity play (as a receiver his sophomore year in 2016 with his brother Bryce at quarterback, Quinn caught 52 passes for 546 yards and 5 TDs). He is tied with Will Martin for career touchdowns, with 42, as well as career points, with 252. His 37 career rushing TDs are just two behind Martin's 39. He also tied Martin for the school regular season rushing touchdown mark, with his two scores against Marion giving him 17 for the season.
• In total yards (rushing, receiving and passing) Schulte is moving up on his brother Bryce's career mark of 5103 yards. Quinn has 4670 going into the 2018 playoffs, putting him just 433 yards back (he's averaging over 205 yards of total offense per game this season).
• While Schulte's passing yards and TDs don't quite measure up to his brothers' Reggie and Bryce, it's kind of interesting to see how many scores Quinn has accounted for. While he's scored 42 himself (37 rushing and 5 receiving), he's also thrown for 35 ... so he's been involved in 77 touchdowns in his three seasons at Xavier. I don't think anybody keeps track of that as a record, but it's an impressive number.