Xavier High School - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Xavier tailback Maliki Wilson (34) stiff-arms a Waverly-Shell Rock defender during the Class 3A playoffs Wednesday night at Xavier. The Saints won, 14-7. (MSR photo by Joe Bishop).

Defense lifts Saints by Waverly

Wed - 28 Oct Written by Tom Fruehling

Out-of-sync on offense for most of the night, unbeaten Xavier had to depend on its defense to escape with a 14-7 opening-round playoff win over Waverly-Shell Rock on Wednesday night at Saints Field.

It wasn’t pretty. The Class 3A fourth-ranked Saints racked up 13 penalties, 11 of them for false starts.

“We had so many penalties, it just took away our rhythm,” moaned Xavier coach Duane Schulte. “Penalties just killed us.”

The defense saved them, though.

The always-rugged Go-Hawks managed just 54 yards (all on the ground) in the first half, and their only first down came on their very first possession. They punted five straight times and then were intercepted by Bryce Charipar, a game-saver for the Saints all night.

Meanwhile, Xavier was able to squeeze out a 14-0 halftime lead.

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Last Updated on Wednesday, 28 October 2015 23:39

Saints spike Vinton in regional

Mon - 26 Oct Written by Mark Dukes

Ellie McDermott collected 14 kills Tuesday night as the Xavier Saints topped Vinton-Shellsburg, 25-13, 25-18, 23-25, 25-23, in the quarterfinals of the Class 4A regional volleyball tournament at Xavier.

The Saints earned a date at top-ranked West Delaware in the semifinals Thursday night.

Jess Callahan dished out 30 assists for the Saints. Amy Olberding had 25 digs and Charlotte Richards had 22.

McDermott served four aces and Anna Parr had three. Richards finished with 11 kills and Lexi Noonan had three blocks.

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Football playoff pairings set by IHSAA

Sat - 24 Oct Written by Metro Sports Report

It took until 2 a.m. Saturday morning, but the first round of the high school football playoffs were finally announced by the IHSAA.

Six Metro teams have qualified for the playoffs for the second straight year. Four of them are set to play home games in the opening round Wednesday night, although Jefferson's "home" game will be in Mount Vernon due to overcrowding at Kingston Stadium.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy and Cedar Rapids Washington both claimed Class 4A district championships and will play in a doubleheader at Kingston.

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Maliki Wilson carries for Xavier in the first half against Marion on Friday at Marion. (MSR photo by Ken Gilchrist).

Xavier rolls overmatched Indians, 55-0

Fri - 23 Oct Written by Mike Condon

It couldn't have gone much better Friday night for the Xavier football team.

Facing an undermanned, but game group from Marion, the Saints came in focused. Coming off an emotional 38-35 come-from-behind win over Class 1A power Iowa City Regina, Xavier showed no hint of a letdown.

The Saints scored on their first drive, took a 31-0 halftime lead, then got the game to continuous clock status on the opening play of the second half on a fumble return for a score.

When was finally finished, Xavier had a 55-0 win at Marion and an unbeaten regular season. Standing at 8-0 and a Class 3A, District 4 championship in hand, the Saints move on to the opening round of the playoffs on Wednesday at Saints Field as a No. 1 seed.

The Indians finish a 0-9 and will look to end a 17-game losing streak in 2016.

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Last Updated on Friday, 23 October 2015 22:25

Maddie Bach wins 3A district title

Thu - 22 Oct Written by Metro Sports Report

FAIRFIELD - Maddie Bach of Marion ran away with top honors at the Class 3A district country meet Thursday in Fairfield.

Bach covered the 5K course in 18 minutes, 20.2 seconds. She beat Joy Ripslinger of Davenport Assumption to the finish line by 24 seconds.

Marion placed third in the team standings, so the entire team will compete at the state meet in Fort Dodge Oct. 31. Davenport Assumption won the race with 48 points. Fort Madison edged Marion for second place, 81-82.

The top three teams and top 15 individuals qualified for the state meet.

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