Cedar Rapids Xavier overwhelms Clinton for opening-round win

CEDAR RAPIDS – This one was over in a hurry.

Class 4A No. 3 Cedar Rapids Xavier welcomed Clinton to Saints field last night for a first-round state playoff game, but the Saints (9-1) weren't exactly gracious hosts, dominating the overwhelmed River Kings, 45-0.

'I think it was a little of both (a schematic and physical advantage),' said Xavier Coach Duane Schulte. 'Offensively, it boiled down to the same stuff: staying on your blocks and executing.'

"We were just trying to get the win, to be honest with you. We try to get all three phases of the game going, and whatever got us the win, that's all we wanted.'

The score was lopsided enough, but the final tally wasn't indicative of the performance disparity between Xavier and Clinton.

With the starters only playing in the first half and getting some much-needed rest before a quick turnaround for the next game – quarterback Quinton Scholer went 7 for 7 for 74 yards and a touchdown and running back Brendan Miller carried nine times for 70 yards and two scores – the Saints were able to leave some in the tank and still get a big win.

But Schulte and his players wouldn't say – and didn't seem to care – if the victory sent a statement to the rest of the state. When asked about it, Schulte laughed and gave a simple, 'I have no idea.'

Defensive back Ben Valentine – who intercepted two passes, returning one 32 yards for a touchdown – left it up to everyone else to decide.

'If you want it too, you can make it that,' Valentine said through a smile. 'We're just going to keep playing and keep getting after it.'

As long as we get the win, we don't care (by how much). But it is nice to win by 45.

'Xavier was fully back on all cylinders against Clinton and back in good health. Following the 26-10 loss to Cedar Rapids Washington on Oct. 4, the Saints slowly worked their way back to this point.

The journey back to full stride was 'almost literally day by day,' according to Schulte.

'Sometimes it seems like we really are (getting better), sometimes it seems like we're taking a step back,' Schulte said. 'At this point of the season, we're just happy to move on.'

Predictably, there was very little celebration on the Xavier sideline following the game.

The Saints know what's on the line, and are determined to claim what they fell just short of last year in a 23-17 championship game loss to Ankeny.

'It's just got to come from within,' Valentine said. 'We have to understand what's at stake, and we have to make sure we don't let what happened last year happen again. We can't let that repeat.'

"Self-motivation is huge. If you're not ready to play, and you need other things to get you hyped, then you shouldn't be playing.'

CR Xavier 45, Clinton 0

AT Cedar Rapids Xavier

TEAM STATISTICS

Clinton

CR Xavier

First downs

4

18

Rushes-yards

26 - 8

40 - 159

Passing yards

45

83

Comp-Att-Int

5 - 17 - 2

8 - 9 - 0

Total yards

57

242

Fumbles-lost

3 - 0

1 - 0

Punts-average

6 - 15.6

2 - 15.5

Penalties-yards

5 - 50

5 - 30

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing:  Clinton – Dustin Caldwell 11-29 , Alex Caldwell 5--7 , Eric Maddasion 5--23 , Austin Peters 4-9 , Isaiah Bailey 1-0  CR Xavier – Brendan Miller 9-70 , Quinton Scholer 3-0 , Jay Kortmeyer 3-21 , Bryce Schulte 3-20 , Sam Tursi 1--2 , Chris Ball 10-33 , Edward Krause 1-3 , John Hovda 3-3 , Andrew Steffensmeier 4-0 , Adam Steffensmeier 1-1 , Ryan Williams 2-10

Passing:  Clinton – Eric Maddasion 5-16-2-45 , Johnny Sullivan 0-1-0-0  CR Xavier – Quinton Scholer 7-7-0-74 , Bryce Schulte 1-1-0-9 , Sam Tursi 0-1-0-0

Receiving:  Clinton – Brady Ernst 1-16 , Alex Caldwell 2-28 , Zach Pope 1-5 , Dustin Caldwell 1--4  CR Xavier – Bryce Grimm 3-25 , Frank Hill 2-19 , Matt Nelson 2-31 , Jay Kortmeyer 1-8

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Clinton

–

CR Xavier

21

21

3

–

45

SCORING SUMMARY

1st quarter

XAV - 9:13, Quinton Scholer 3-yard run. (Ryan Persick kick good); 7-0

XAV - 6:57, Brendan Miller 26-yard run. (Persick kick good); 14-0

XAV - 0:14, Miller 1-yard run. (Persick kick good); 21-0

2nd quarter

XAV - 9:24, Scholer pass to Jay Kortmeyer, 8 yards. (Persick kick good); 28-0

XAV - 8:33, Ben Valentine 32-yard interception return. (Persick kick good); 35-0

XAV - 5:21, Bryce Schulte pass to Bryce Grimm, 9 yards. (Persick kick good); 42-0

3rd Quarter

4th Quarter

XAV - 8:39, Persick 31-yard field goal; 45-0