Xavier High School - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Saints seek 2nd state title in 6 years

The Xavier Saints have a little football game to play in Cedar Falls Friday night.

It's for something called the Class 4A state title, but Coach Duane Schulte claims he hasn't talked to his guys about that.

It's against a team that is ranked No. 1 in the state and has three times as many students as Xavier, but Schulte says he isn't talking about that either.

Read more...

O'Connell says Ankeny looks like college team

Jim O'Connell has seen just about everything during his 19 years as an assistant football coach, but he's been scratching his head a little this week as he studies the Ankeny Hawks.

O'Connell is the defensive coordinator for the Xavier Saints, who will play No. 1 Ankeny Friday night for the Class 4A state title in a premier matchup of 13-0 clubs.

Ankeny does a little of everything on offense and the Hawks do it well. They use spin backs, an old-fashioned ploy from the 1930's, and they use a spread offense with four and five wide receivers, which is the hot offense some 80 years later.

Read more...

Saints hope state titles run in the family

Craig Murtha, Paul Cavin and Nick Drahozal sat in the stands in the UNI-Dome the last time the Xavier Saints played for the Class 4A football title, proudly watching their older brothers.

Daniel Vega was a little luckier than the others. He was on the sidelines that night as one of Xavier's waterboys while his brother wore the school colors.

The year was 2006 and they were in grade school when the Saints and their older brothers beat Southeast Polk, 21-6, for the state crown.

This Friday night the four "kid" brothers will get to play for a state championship of their own. This time, their older brothers will be watching them.

Read more...

Get Xavier football tickets at school

Xavier football fans can purchase tickets to Friday night's Class 4A state championship game at the school this week.

Tickets cost $8 and will be sold at the Xavier Activities Office from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday through Friday.

Xavier plays Ankeny in the state finals Friday at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. The kickoff is scheduled for 7:06 p.m.

Read more...