The Xavier Saints have been ranked No.1 in Class 3A football by the Des Moines Register all season, based largely on tradition.

Now they've earned it.

Xavier stomped third-ranked Solon, 28-0, Friday night with a stingy defense and powerful running game at Saints Field in a Class 3A District 4 affair.

Xavier began the season with a 24-2 loss at Dowling Catholic, which is ranked No.1 in Class 4A and the defending state champs. Since then the Saints have handed two of their top competitors in Class 3A with a 30-6 conquest of then-No.5 Davenport Assumption and now Solon.

This was the first Class 3A district game for the Saints since dropping down from Class 4A. Solon reached the semifinals of the Class 3A playoffs last year and is a traditional state power, so stuffing the Spartans was a major achievement.

"It was really good," said Xavier quarterback Bryce Schulte, who scored on a 22-yard run in the first quarter as the Saints grabbed an early 14-0 lead. "Everyone did their jobs. I was glad to get a 'W'."

Jay Kortemeyer carried the ball 25 times for 184 yards for the Saints, who rolled up 256 yards on the ground.

The Xavier defense held Solon (2-1) to four first downs and just 99 yards of total offense.

Dylan Eller scored Xavier's first touchdown on a 25-yard interception return. Schulte made it 13-0 with his 22-yard jaunt.

Kortemeyer scored on a six-yard run in the second quarter as the Saints bolted to a 21-0 advantage at halftime. Nick Ekland finished the scoring with a 34-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Schulte completed 6 of 11 passes for 49 yards and no interceptions.

The Saints faced a steady diet of Class 4A competition during 15 years in the Mississippi Valley Conference, but this is their first taste of 3A opponents since the school opened.

"It is nice to prepare for new teams," said Xavier assistant coach Craig Jelinek, who previously served as the head coach at Cedar Rapids Prairie. "It is fresh for us as coaches, where before we have always simply prepared for the Metro area and the Valley.

"We did beat a very well-coached team in Solon and that felt good to win," said Jelinek. "Now we have to get ready for somebody new once again next week."

The Saints visit DeWitt Central next Friday night.