Xavier more familiar with opponents after run to 3A semifinals

CEDAR RAPIDS — They're used to everything now, which should scare Cedar Rapids Xavier's football opponents mightily.

Despite unfamiliarity, the Saints thrived in their first go around in Class 3A last season. They won nine times, including three times in the playoffs, before falling to eventual champ Pella in the semifinals.

The schedule this fall is the same, just reverse the locations of the games from 2014. That means two-time defending Class 4A champ West Des Moines Dowling and fellow dropper-from-4A to-3A Davenport Assumption to begin things.

Another date with five-time defending 1A titlist Iowa City Regina comes later in the fall. District play, of course, matters most since that's what gets you to the postseason.

'The 3A teams we played were good teams, and I said that to people before we played them. That it was going to be solid competition, which it was,' said Xavier Coach Duane Schulte. 'Then you throw Regina in there, which was a great football team, obviously, and it was a hell of a schedule. Hopefully we know more about the schemes those teams like to run, and their coach's personalities a little bit. But on the flip side, they know us now, too. It's kind of a two-way street.'

'I think (the familiarity) will be a great advantage,' said Xavier senior Daniel Richardson. 'We know the first three games are pretty brutal, with Dowling, Assumption and then Solon. It's a great experience going against that kind of competition. I think that ultimately helped us last year once we got to the playoffs because we were ready for pretty much everything.'

The general consensus is this Xavier team won't be real big, but there is a plethora of speed around. Quarterback Bryce Schulte (Duane's son) will be a second-year starter and has players like tailback Sean Murphy to hand off to and receiver Nick Stark to throw the football to.

The Saints have just a handful of returning starters, with only one (linebacker Caleb Billick) on the defensive side of the ball. There are 27 returning letterwinners, however, so you can't say the cupboard is bare.

It never is with this consistently excellent program.

'I think our team is definitely going to be known for its speed this year,' said senior lineman Tyler Testin. 'We've got a lot of quick guys in the backfield. But we're also getting it done up front on the line. A lot of new blocking schemes and things that I think are going to be really good for us.'

'We've got some fast guys,' Coach Schulte said. 'If we can develop some blocking, some stuff on the offensive line and the defensive line, we'll see what happens. Hopefully we've got a chance. It's the same thing every year. Our offensive line and defensive lines have got to perform. The years we've been very good, those front groups take care of stuff.'

This will be the fourth year in the last five a Schulte will be Xavier's quarterback. Bryce threw for 1,151 yards and 14 touchdowns (with just three interceptions) and ran for another 12.

Reggie Schulte is a red-shirt sophomore walk-on at the University of Northern Iowa. Quinn Schulte is on the freshman team at Xavier, so the Schulte QB string could continue for a while.

'Bryce has always played up, so he's played with these seniors ... in really all of the sports,' Coach Schulte said. 'So he's part of that group. But it's great because he's part of the juniors, too, obviously. It's fun for me. With Reggie, it was kind of unchartered waters, if you will. But Bryce has been around it, this is really his third year because he played some on varsity as a freshman. I just try to enjoy it, to be honest with you.'

At first glance, they all ought to enjoy this season. There are no mysteries anymore.

'We've been working hard in the off-season, getting in the weight room and doing workouts together conditioning wise,' Richardson said. 'We've got a great chemistry. That's one of the big things going into the football season — how much chemistry do you have? That's ultimately what can help you win games. How well you can stick together.'

'It seemed like the 3A teams like to spread it out a little bit more than some of the 4A teams, who seem to have more of a running attack,' Testin said. 'But I definitely think both classes, 3A and 4A, have their strengths. It took a little bit getting used to, but we were definitely ready for what we saw. I think it helps us immensely that we've been able to see the teams once.'

Coach Schulte thinks being at home the first two games will help.

'Our first two games last year were on the road against Dowling and Assumption, and that was a grind, to be honest with you,' he said. 'I'm glad they've got to come here this year. I don't know if that will be a benefit to us, but I know I'd rather not have to get on a bus and drive two hours than have to do that.'

CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER, at a glance

Coach: Duane Schulte (18th year, 145-77)

Last year: 9-4 overall, 5-1 Class 3A District 4 (1st), 3A playoffs qualifier (beat Charles City, Waverly-Shell Rock and West Delaware, lost to Pella in semifinals, 27-0)

Returning starters: WR Nick Stark, senior; RB Sean Murphy, senior; QB Bryce Schulte, junior; Joe Constant, DE-OL, senior; DB Caleb Billick, senior.

Other returning letterwinners: TE-DE Ryan Stulken, senior; LB Bryce Charipar, senior; S Blake Whitten, senior; K Dallas Klein, senior; WR-DB Iman Juenger, senior; WR-DB Austin Havertape, senior; WR-DB Jacob Miller, senior; WR-DB Connor Vogl, DB; WR-DB Jacob Yanga, senior; OL-DL Tyler Testin, senior; OL-DL Riley Shey, senior; OL-DL Nick Kamin, senior; OL-DL Nolan Armstrong, senior; OL-DL Ben Kamin, senior; OL-DL Sam Pisney, senior; RB-LB Tom Hasley, senior; RB-DB Gabe Smith, senior; TE-DL Daniel Richardson, senior; WR-DB Mitchell Young, senior; WR-DL Mark Wardlaw, senior; R-DL Mike Fettkether, senior.

Key losses: RB Jay Kortemeyer, LB Nik Ekland, WR Joe Welch, RB Andrew Steffensmeier, DB Camden Stovie, LB Thomas Ickes, DL Michael Maher, L Louis Hasley, L Ben Fahnle, L Tim Otting, L Nick Kellen,

Games to watch: West Des Moines, Davenport Assumption, at Solon, at Western Dubuque.

Schedule (*district game)

Aug. 28 — West Des Moines Dowling

Sept. 4 — Davenport Assumption

Sept. 11 — *at Solon

Sept. 18 — *DeWitt Central

Sept. 25 — *at Maquoketa

Oct. 2 — *at Western Dubuque

Oct. 8 — *Dubuque Wahlert

Oct. 16 — at Iowa City Regina

Oct. 23 — *Marion

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