Xavier Football

Xavier - Football

Schulte pays tribute to his late father

Wed - 20 Nov Written by Jim Ecker

Xavier Coach Duane Schulte rarely shows any emotion on a football field. He's humble, low-key, devout in his religious beliefs, a strong family man and quick to credit others.

In many ways, he sounds like his father.

Greg Schulte died this past summer at 82. He and his wife, Jean, were married for 60 years and had nine children. "They were rock-solid together," Schulte said this week.

Greg Schulte, a farmer for many years, never went to high school. His formal schooling ended after the eighth grade, but his knowledge extended well beyond any classroom.

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Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 November 2013 15:14

Xavier - Football

'Singing Saint' picks football over music

Mon - 18 Nov Written by Jim Ecker

Harry Daubitz, the Singing Saint, had to make a tough choice this week.

He was selected to perform at the All-State Music Festival in Ames Saturday night, but he also plays football and the Xavier Saints have a date with Dowling in the championship game of the Class 4A playoffs Friday night in Cedar Falls.

He could have practiced for the Music Festival for part of the day Friday in Ames and gone straight to Cedar Falls for the game, but that would have meant missing the bus ride from Xavier to the UNI-Dome with his teammates.

He missed the bus ride last year as a junior when the Saints played in the state finals due to the Music Festival, but he didn't want to do it again.

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Xavier - Football

Xavier selling tickets for state finals

Mon - 18 Nov Written by Metro Sports Report

Xavier High School will be selling tickets this week for the Class 4A state championship football game that will be played Friday night at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.

The Saints (12-1) will face Dowling (13-0) at 7:06 p.m. Friday.

Tickets will be sold at the Xavier Activities Office on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 7:45 a.m. until 3 p.m. each day. Tickets also will be sold Friday from 7:45 a.m. until 1 p.m.

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Xavier - Football

Persick gets his kicks (and tackles)

Fri - 15 Nov Written by Jim Ecker

CEDAR FALLS - Ryan Persick is not one of those kickers who ducks for cover after he boots the ball.

He's willing to sacrifice his body when the situation occurs, just like everybody else who plays football for the Xavier Saints.

Persick had a big night for the Saints Friday as they topped Bettendorf, 31-7, in the semifinals of the Class 4A playoffs.

Persick drilled a 37-yard field goal, went 4-for-4 on PATs, punted nine times for a 42.2-yard average, executed a perfect coffin-corner kick that bounced out of bounds at the 1-yard line, and belted a pair of kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.

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Xavier - Football

Gardner's 3 TDs spark Saints into 4A finals

Fri - 15 Nov Written by Jim Ecker

CEDAR FALLS - Wes Gardner has not shaved in several weeks, giving the Xavier High School senior a reddish-brown beard and a certain glow to his face.

It's a superstition that's coincided with the Class 4A playoffs. After what happened Friday night, there's no reason to grab his razor now.

Gardner scored three touchdowns in three distinct aspects of the game as the fourth-ranked Saints spanked No.10 Bettendorf, 31-7, in the semifinals at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.

Gardner tallied on a 17-yard interception return, a 4-yard run from scrimmage and a 63-yard punt return to spark the Saints into the state championship game next Friday night in the Dome.

Xavier (12-1) will face top-ranked Dowling Catholic (13-0) at 7:06 p.m. Friday for the title.

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