I've dropped the ball ... Iowa high school football schedules for 2021 and 2022 have been out for, what, almost a month now? And I haven't gone over what this fall looks like for Xavier football yet? Yeah, well, that's how things go sometimes.
Things are definitely interesting. After last year's long and strange trip, we're back to 2-year cycles for classification/districts/schedules and a familiar 9-game schedule. Well, mostly. Let's recap.
In early 2020 the IHSAA released a one-year trial classification and schedule, as they planned to institute a new "grouping" system for Class 4A in an attempt to make competition a bit more level. The other classes weren't affected by that, but the plan was a test, so instead of the two-year cycle we've been familiar with for decades, this was going to be a one-year thing. Until the COVID-19 pandemic hit, shutting down businesses and activities last spring and throwing a wrench into everybody's plans for the year. Eventually the IHSAA said they'd hold off on the 4A restructure, and for 2020 all non-district games would become optional. The regular season also was shortened, in order to just put everybody into the playoffs.
Now it's 2021. The IHSAA has made one bold move: creating an entire new class, Class 5A, with the 36 largest schools by enrollment. That move had domino effects through the rest of the classes, as the enrollment breakpoints were changed - most of what was 3A last year is now in the new 4A, and so on. They also re-instituted the grouping system originally proposed for last season, just for Class 5A. Also, for the smaller classes (2A and below), the playoffs were expanded from 16 teams to 32, meaning just an 8-game regular season in those classes (teams that don't make the playoffs have the option to match up for a 9th game if they choose). Again, they're back to the 2-year cycle, so everything will be the same in 2022, except that the home fields will flip. This will no doubt throw a wrench into my thinking back to past seasons, as I've always been used to even years being the first of a cycle (it's always been that way) ... from now on, though, it's the odd year that's the first one. Arrgh. Stupid 2020.
I've rehashed most of these topics in my previous posts on districts, but now the schedules have been released, and there's even more to talk about. Specifically, look at Xavier - every Class 3A state champion since 2014 is on their schedule (Pella in 2014, 2015, and 2016; Xavier themselves in 2017 and 2018; Western Dubuque in 2019; and North Scott last year). The Saints face two teams that they have a losing record against (they're 3-8 against Cedar Rapids Washington and 0-2 against North Scott) - in all the years of Xavier football since 1998, the Saints have all-time losing records against only six teams, and that includes two teams they've only faced in the playoffs! North Scott has ended Xavier's season with playoff victories the last two years running (9-3 with a late TD on a cold wet night in Eldridge in 2019, and a 17-10 overtime win in last year's semifinal). CR Washington, by the way, is back on the schedule for the first time since Xavier moved from 4A to 3A after the 2013 season, and the Saints have won only one game against the Warriors since 2006. So there's a lot of interesting storylines here!
Here's what Xavier is looking at going into 2021:
XAVIER SAINTS
Last year's record: 10-1, lost in 3A semifinals
It was a COVID year, and it was just weird. Xavier managed to play its full schedule of 7 regular season games, unlike many other teams in Iowa, going undefeated and winning their district for the sixth time in seven years in Class 3A. It wasn't exactly smooth, though - following a comeback win over Western Dubuque in the opener, the Saints barely held on at Linn-Mar, then cruised through the rest of the regular season (including a dominating win over a dangerous Grinnell team). The Saints faced dogfights in the playoffs against Wahlert and a rematch with Grinnell, then had to come back to tie North Scott in their semifinal game before losing in overtime.
At least at this point, Alex Neal looks like the QB; he got significant playing time last year (but not many chances to throw, passing for just 40 yards and a score). Will Hiserote, Aiden Henry, and Connor Murphy are the leading returning rushers (87,62, and 43 yards respectively). Nobody on this year's squad caught more than 3 passes last year. On the defensive side, the Saints always rebuild into a rugged squad, plugging new guys into their system year after year. Aidan McDermott and Christian Stanek are the leading returning tacklers. Xavier will have to find a new kicker and punter as well.
Let's look at the 2021 opponents team-by-team:
WESTERN DUBUQUE (at Xavier, August 27)
Last year's record: 5-4
Selected returning players: Spencer Zinn, 596 yards rushing, 5 TDs; Dakota Hoffman, 28 tackles, 2 sacks; Dominic Frost, 25.5 tackles
The Bobcats have always been a tough test for Xavier, right from 2014 when they defeated the Saints at Saints Field in their first year of 3A district play. After a hard-fought state championship win over Western Dubuque in 2018,Xavier dropped a tight contest in Epworth as the Bobcats made their way to the state title in 2019. Now Xavier and Western Dubuque face off in a season-opener at Saints Field, just like last season, when Xavier fell behind early but pulled away for a 38-21 win. The Bobcats lose a lot of key personnel from a 5-4 team, but head coach Justin Penner knows how to get his squad ready to compete and they always play hard against the Saints.
WEST DELAWARE (at Manchester, September 3)
Last year's record: 10-2
Selected returning players: Wyatt Voelker, 1294 yards rushing, 18 TDs, along with 91 tackles and 4 sacks; four other juniors combined for 1012 yards rushing and 20 TDs; Kyle Cole, 30 catches for 426 yards, 5 TDs; Jadyn Peyton, 52 tackles, 2 sacks; Connor Funk, 40.9 punting average, 57/65 on extra points
In my opinion the Hawks were one of the best teams in Class 3A throughout the course of the season. Outside of a loss to Decorah, West Delaware allowed just 32 points over 8 games, with 4 shutouts (they played a Week 0 game, so West Delaware was one of the few teams in Iowa to get 8 regular season games last year). After cruising through three playoff games, the Hawks dropped a 24-21 decision to eventual champion North Scott in the quarterfinals, a game where West Delaware was driving for a tying or winning score late before turning the ball over. For 2021/22, the Hawks remain in 3A (while most of their old competition is part of the new 4A) - but they return a powerful rushing attack and some dominant players on the defensive side of the ball. This game is going to be a true challenge for Xavier in Week 2.
DUBUQUE WAHLERT (at Loras College, Dubuque, September 10)
Last year's record: 6-3
Selected returning players: Bryce Rudiger, 435 passing yards and 6 TDs; Ryan Brosius, 386 yards rushing; Carson Cummer, 10 catches for 248 yards; Kaiden Knockel, 54 tackles
Head coach Jamie Marshall appears to be getting things turned around for the Golden Eagles. From a winless season the year before he arrived, to a 3-6 mark in 2019, to a winning 6-3 record last year, Wahlert is on the rise. While Xavier has seemed to have Wahlert's number (the Saints haven't lost to the Golden Eagles since 2002), their meeting in the playoffs last year turned out to be a struggle - Xavier needed a clutch 4th quarter drive and a field goal with under 3 minutes left to take a 17-14 victory.
The classification restructuring for this cycle actually has Wahlert moving all the way to Class 2A, essentially a drop of two classes from last year (and remember, back in the MVC days prior to 2014, Wahlert played a 4A/biggest class schedule).
NORTH SCOTT (at Xavier, September 17)
Last year's record: 9-1, 3A state champions
Selected returning players: Grayson Juel, 279 yards passing, 4 TDs; Darnell Butler, 502 yards rushing, 4 TDs; Oliver Hughes, 37 catches for 393 yards, 4 TDs, 41.5 tackles, 4 interceptions - also 38.8 punting average, 7/9 on field goals; Jakob Nelson, 23 catches, 389 yards; Ryan Campbell, 42.5 tackles, 4 sacks; Connor Corson, 35.5 tackles
North Scott had an odd 2020, missing out on a key district game with Davenport Assumption due to COVID issues, then also getting a pass through the first round of the playoffs when Burlington had quarantine problems. The Lancers weren't exactly dominating on their road to the championship - they barely escaped a 5-4 Central DeWitt team during the course of the season, they slipped by Assumption 13-10 when they finally met in the playoffs, then knocked off West Delaware in the quarterfinals by taking advantage of a fumble when the Hawks were driving for a winning score. Their third straight heartstopping escape in the playoffs came with an overtime win over Xavier in the Dome ... yet when the dust settled, North Scott ended up as the state champions with only a loss to 4A Pleasant Valley marring their record.
The opposite of Wahlert, I guess, North Scott has been a thorn in Xavier's side recently, ending the Saints' season in both 2019 and 2020. The Lancers were originally on Xavier's non-district schedule for last season, too, until the COVID changes eliminated that game, but it's on for 2021, and it'll be yet another challenge. Oliver Hughes is a do-everything kind of talent for North Scott, and there's plenty of experience back on both sides of the ball.
CEDAR RAPIDS WASHINGTON (at Xavier, September 24)
Last year's record: 3-5
Selected returning players: Reid Ortiz, 146 yards passing; Michael Blank, 122 yards passing, 7 catches; Jabari Dobbs, 457 yards rushing, 5 TDs; Miles Thompson, 197 yards rushing; last year's top four tacklers (including Watts McBride, 70.5 tackles)
The Warriors are back on Xavier's schedule after a 7-year gap, following the Saints' move to Class 3A in 2014. Last year Washington opened the season 3-0, including a surprising win over Cedar Rapids Kennedy, but were not competitive in the following five losses (three by shutout). The big question, I suppose, is how a former 4A program will compare to the former 3A schools in the All-New-And-Improved Class 4A? Washington returns quite a few players, including their leading rusher and most of the defense - that experience should set them up for a chance at a good record in the district.
PELLA (at Pella, October 1)
Last year's record: 6-3
Selected returning players: Nolan Clayberg, 442 yards rushing, 5 TDs, 35 tackles; Aidan Pollock, 198 yards rushing; Reece Thoreson, 11 catches for 126 yards; Preston Rowe, 8 catches for 153 yards;
Pella has been a consistent powerhouse in Class 3A for years, including consecutive state championships in 2014-16. The Dutch also have something of a rivalry built up with Xavier - after Pella easily defeated Xavier in the 2014 semifinals, the two had an epic rematch in the Dome in 2016, with Xavier losing on a last-play TD catch by the Dutch. Xavier has evened the overall record at 2-2 with a state championship victory in 2017 and yet another tense nailbiter of a playoff game in 2018. Pella uncharacteristically started slow last season, dropping their first two games, but bounced back to win their district, putting together six wins in a row before dropping a 6-0 playoff decision to Grinnell. The Dutch look to have a bit of rebuilding to do; outside of the team's leading rusher and two good receivers, there's not a lot of experience.
CLEAR CREEK-AMANA (at Xavier, October 8)
Last year's record: 4-4
Selected returning players: Ben Swails, 169 yards passing, 3 TDs, 42.5 punting average; Gage Freeman, 253 yards rushing, 8 catches, 37.5 tackles; Harrison Rosenberg, 19 catches for 337 yards, 4 TDs
The Clippers were expecting big things in 2020, with Division I prospect TJ Bollers, but they couldn't really find their footing. After starting 1-2, Clear Creek-Amana did put together three wins in a row, but were upset by Marion in the first round of the playoffs. Ben Swails and Gage Freeman, not the first-team QB and RB, actually picked up a lot of experience in their game against Xavier last September, so the Saints won't be surprising to them. CCA has a new coach this season as well (Matt Haddy, former basketball coach at Mount Vernon), so maybe the Clippers will be revamping things for 2021.
NEWTON (at Newton, October 15)
Last year's record: 0-8
Selected returning players: Zayvier Arguello, 518 yards passing, 526 yards rushing, 5 TDs; Nathan Maki, 349 yards rushing, 3 TDs, 8 catches; Keith Moko, 16 catches for 208 yards, 3 TDs; Reese Hammons, 57.5 tackles; Braydon Chance, 31 tackles, 1.5 sacks
But for a 2-point loss at Oskaloosa, the Cardinals were outmatched in all of their games last season in Andy Swedenhjelm's first season as coach. On the positive side, Newton was a very young team in 2020, and all those players got a year of experience under their belts. The Cardinals actually took the early lead on Xavier with a long TD run by Zayvier Arguello, so they weren't afraid to go after the Saints. Arguello, last year's leading passer and rusher, looks to be back on the starting unit, and Newton returns their top three receivers and top three tacklers as well.
OSKALOOSA (at Oskaloosa, October 22)
Last year's record: 2-6
Selected returning players: Keaton Flaherty, 591 yards passing, 3 TDs; Daryl Fane, 94 yards rushing; William Schultz, 17 catches for 336 yards, 4 TDs, 35.3 punting average; Colin Snitker, 31 tackles; Blake Westercamp, 22.5 tackles
The Indians struggled last year, with only a 2-point win over winless Newton and a one-score win over winless Ottumwa on the positive side of their record. Keaton Flaherty and William Schultz had some good times on offense for Oskaloosa last year, and should expand on that in 2021 after that year of experience. It was a lot of seniors that teamed up for that 2-6 record, though - but that might be a positive for this year if the new starters can flush that season and restart this fall fresh.
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