Xavier tops Regina, 35-26

CEDAR RAPIDS — Cedar Rapids Xavier's Maliki Wilson broke a late run, staving off an Iowa City Regina defender with a stiff arm to finish a touchdown run.

The play couldn't be more symbolic of the game between ranked powers.

Class 3A second-ranked Xavier was able to fend off the 1A top-ranked Regals for a 35-26 victory Friday night at Saints Field. The Saints secured their second straight win over the Regals with Nolan Butkowski grabbing Xavier's third interception of the game in the final minute.

With Regina trying for one more stop to get the ball back, Wilson capped a 293-yard, three-touchdown performance with a 62-yard score as the clocked ticked to 49 seconds left.

'It was kind of a challenge situation, a grit situation on that last play,' Xavier Coach Duane Schulte said. 'We challenged our guys to have some grit and that was indicative of that last play.'

Wilson was able to get around the right end and broke containment. Instead of going out of bounds, he reached back to stiff-armed one last defender.

'I got my speed and took off,' Wilson said. 'I had a stiff arm at the end. It felt real good to score at the end like that.'

The run was seven runs for more than 10 yards for Wilson, who had a 68-yard touchdown on his first carry to give Xavier a 7-0 lead in the first. Wilson also bolted for a 31-yard TD run on the first possession of the second half, giving the Saints a 21-12 advantage. He praised the guys up front.

'All I have to do is beat one person,' Wilson said. 'That's my job. The offensive line did way more than their job and helped me out a lot.'

Wilson is a key part of the Saints attack. He garnered a lot of attention from the Regals, which allowed quarterback Bryce Schulte to keep the ball on option plays, including a 10-yard run that capped an 11-play, 51-yard drive for a 28-19 lead in the third.

'He's got to be a big-time player for us,' Duane Schulte said of Wilson. 'Tonight he was.'

The Saints received a scare when he was helped to the sideline after a 20-yard run. He overcame some cramps and re-entered the game later, but the Saints were still able to move the ball, getting gains from Erik Rodriguez, who added 75 rushing yards.

'Our offensive line got off the ball well,' Bryce Schulte said. 'We drove it down the field.'

In addition to three turnovers, the Xavier defense was able to make key stops. The biggest came in the first half after the Regals blocked a punt and took over on the Saints' 15.

Regina looked poised to take the lead with the Saints up, 14-12.

The Regals had 1st-and-goal from the 3 and 2nd-and-goal from the 1, but the Xavier defense stonewalled the Regals with three straight stops. Schulte came off end and caught Jacob Phillips from behind for a 2-yard loss on fourth down.

'The defensive line got a great push and held the offensive line back,' Bryce Schulte said. 'I could just see real clearly, but they did most of the work.'

Regina had an answer almost every time the Saints took an advantage and showed its big-play ability.

Brady Bigley sparked the, juking and avoiding a couple tacklers before breaking away for a 69-yard TD burst for the first score.

Thomas Rapp hit Isaac Vollstedt on touchdown strikes of 53 and 47 yards. The latter pulled the Regals within 21-19 in the third.

Vollstedt also led the Regals with 84 rushing yards and added 100 receiving. Jack Jensen had 120 receiving yards as Rapp finished with 218 passing yards.

'Our kids played their hearts out,' Regina Coach Marv Cook said. 'I'm so proud of them.'

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