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.

"Other than a couple penalties, I thought our kids came out, worked hard and tried to do their jobs," Xavier coach Duane Schulte said. "We were going to think about playing our starters one series in the second half, but when we got the fumble and Connor Vogl returned it for a score, we were able to go to the bench."

The Xavier starters did plenty in the first half. Junior tailback Maliki Wilson scored a pair of touchdowns, rushing 13 times for 143 yards.

He said it was important for the Saints to set the tone right from the start.

"You can't ever overlook anybody, no matter what their record is," Wilson said. "We came in this week, we worked, we watched film and we came out with the W."

It only took four minutes for Xavier to get on the board. Quarterback Bryce Schulte hit a wide-open Ryan Stulken on a 25-yard scoring pass for the first score. Wilson followed with a 43-yard scoring run and the Saints went up 21-0 before the quarter was finished on 40-yard Schulte pass to Nicholas Stark, who was 15 yards behind the Indian defenders.

"I was a little nervous because I was so open," Stark said with a laugh. "Bryce threw it a little low, but he is such a great passer and makes us look good. I really didn't want to drop that one."

In the second quarter, Dallas Klein hit a 30-yard field goal, Wilson scored on a 7-yard run and Klein hit from 40 on the final play of the half to put Xavier up 34-0 at the half.

On the second half kickoff, Iman Juenger stripped Marion's Clayton Mohwinkle of the ball and it bounced right to Connor Vogl, who took it 18 yards for a score, setting off the continuous clock.

"That play allowed us to get our second and third teamers in to play right away," Schulte said.

Wilson said the starters enjoyed watching the reserves get their shot.

"It's always good to get everybody in the game," Wilson said. "For us to get up early, it makes it easier on our bodies to keep us healthy for the next game. Those guys give us a great look all the time in practice. It's great to see them out there."

The reserves fared well, putting up a pair of scores to cap the victory.

While the Saints we in a celebratory mood, it was almost a sense of relief on the other end.

The Indians posed for pictures and shared emotional embraces. None were more emotional than head coach Tony Perkins. Between injuries and the dismissal of his brother, Nick, from the coaching staff, the wear and tear showed on his face.

Nick Perkins was dismissed by the Marion school board after allegations he made inappropriate comments in the locker room at halftime of a game early in the season.

"(The players) did what they could, but we were outmanned tonight," Perkins said. "Our kids did everything they could. They never quit on it.

"It would be really nice to take a couple week vacation," he continued. "It's time to step back, take a mental break then get these kids back in the weight room to start getting them ready for next season."

As far as his future is concerned, Perkins simply said "Whatever happens, happens."

XAVIER 55, MARION 0

.                        XAV       MAR

First downs            15             6

Rushes-yards    35-241      28-99

Passing yards        148           15

Comp-Att-Int     8-14-0      5-10-1

Fumbles-lost          0-0          3-3

Punts-avg.        1-27.0      4-27.2

Penalties-yards    10-70        2-20

Xavier  21 13 14 7 - 55

Marion   0   0   0 0 -   0

Scoring plays

X - Ryan Stulken 25 pass from Bryce Schulte (Dallas Klein kick)

X - Maliki Wilson 43 run (Klein kick)

X - Nicholas Stark 40 pass from Schulte (Klein kick)

X - Klein 30 FG

X - Wilson 7 run (Klein kick)

X - Klein 40 FG

X - Connor Vogl 18 fumble return (Klein kick)

X - Michael Fettkether 21 pass from Spencer Dempewolf (Klein kick)

X - Shane Scott 3 run (Klein kick)

Individual statistics

Rushing

Xavier - Maliki Wilson 13-142, Bryce Schulte 5-(minus 1), Eric Rodriguez 2-8, Jacob Miller 4-3, Shane Scott 11-89.

Marion - Owen Carstensen 13-69, Gage Kray 3-(minus 7), Issak Hahn 6-(minus 6), Nate Holub 5-31, Ben Knapp 1-12.

Passing

Xavier - Bryce Schulte 5-11-0-118, Spencer Dempewolf 3-3-0-30.

Marion - Issak Hahn 5-10-1-15.

Receiving

Xavier - Sean Murphy 1-27, Nicholas Stark 2-56, Maliki Wilson 1-10, Ryan Stulken 1-25, Ty Corrigan 1-5, Michael Fettkether 2-25.

Marion - Gage Kray 2-1, Blair Brooks 3-14.