Xavier Football

Saints free to choose 3A football

The Xavier Saints have until Dec. 20 to inform the Iowa High School Athletic Association if they want to drop from Class 4A to Class 3A for football next season.

There will not be any penalties attached if the Saints decide to switch to Class 3A.

Xavier has received permission from the Mississippi Valley Conference to switch from 4A football to 3A and still retain full membership in the league in other sports, although it would no longer play an MVC football schedule at the 3A level.

Read more...

Nelson, Vega top all-state football

Matt Nelson and Daniel Vega of Xavier High School have been named to the Des Moines Register Elite All-State Football Team on the defensive line.

Nelson and Vega also were named first team all-state in Class 4A on the Register's 100th all-state squads. Xavier kicker Ryan Persick was named second team all-state in Class 4A as a punter.

The Saints finished 12-2 this season and reached the championship game of the Class 4A playoffs. Nelson, Vega and Persick are seniors.

Kennedy junior Terrance Hall was named second team all-state in Class 4A at linebacker.

Prairie junior Bryce Meeker was named second team all-state in Class 4A on the offensive line.

No.1 Dowling too strong for Saints, 44-13

CEDAR FALLS - Years from now, or perhaps sooner, the Xavier Saints will truly appreciate what they accomplished the past two years with a 25-3 record and two straight trips to the Class 4A championship game.

Right now, however, the emotions are a little raw, the sting a little too sharp.

Dowling quarterback Ryan Boyle picked the Saints apart Friday night with one of the most sensational performances in championship game history as the top-ranked Maroons rolled to a 44-13 victory before about 10,000 fans in the UNI-Dome.

Boyle ran for four touchdowns, passed for two touchdowns and accounted for 365 yards of total offense against the top-rated defense in the entire state.

Read more...

Saints hope to finish job in 4A finals

Sean Ickes remembers the pep assembly. Colton Turner remembers the swift bus ride to Cedar Falls. Logan Clarahan remembers his butterflies. Matt Nelson remembers the noise in the UNI-Dome.

"It was loud at the Dome," Nelson said. "It was really loud last year."

It will get loud again Friday night when the fourth-ranked Xavier Saints (12-1) face top-ranked West Des Moines Dowling (13-0) in the all-Catholic school finals of the Class 4A playoffs.

Read more...