Balanced Saints roll to 4-0

MAQUOKETA - Maliki Wilson has moves. And he has a piece of a school rushing record.

Wilson ran for four touchdowns and 191 yards - all in the first half - to lead third-ranked Cedar Rapids Xavier to a 42-13 pasting of Maquoketa in a Class 3A District 4 football battle Friday night at Goodenow Field.

'I watch a lot of film of Walter Payton. I watch the way Barry Sanders used to cut back against the field,” said Wilson, who showed glimpses of both on Friday. 'My dad helps me study a lot.”

The four-TD rushing display was the fifth in Xavier history by three backs (Will Martin did it three times). And it helped the Saints (4-0 overall, 3-0 3A-4) move into sole possession of first place in the district race.

It was lopsided from the start; the Saints built a 42-0 halftime lead, and the majority of the second half was played under a continuous clock.

'The guys have never been here for a game, and we challenged them to have tunnel vision,” said Xavier Coach Duane Schulte.

On the Cardinals' second play from scrimmage, the shotgun snap got over the head of quarterback Justin Snyder. Xavier's Nolan Armstrong won the scramble for the ball, and the Saints were in business at the Maquoketa 16-yard line.

'That was huge,” said Xavier's Sean Murphy. 'We were ready to play, and that quick turnover gave us a nice boost.”

Wilson scored on the next play, going up the middle, making a spin move and racing to the end zone.

Xavier punted on its next possession, then got touchdowns on the next five.

Wilson scored on a 15-yard run, then Bryce Schulte located a wide-open Nick Stark on a 72-yard bomb to make it 21-0, and that's how it stood after a quarter.

Wilson's third TD was a beauty. He started left, reversed field, made an elusive spin at the 15 and trotted to the end zone for a 65-yarder. Then it was Schulte to Nolan Butkowski for 20 yards and Wilson for a 16-yarder that made it 42-0 at the half.

The Saints were prolific and balanced in the first half, rushing for 185 yards and passing for 195.

'We try to get that balanced approach,” said Schulte, who played reserves exclusively through the majority of the second half. 'Those numbers are good to hear.

'Maliki really tried to soak in the game. He has a real love for the game.”

Maquoketa (3-2, 2-1) got two late touchdowns - Lincoln Aunan caught a touchdown pass, then threw one.

Xavier is at Western Dubuque next Friday; Maquoketa is at Marion.

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