Schulte family cherishing time together with Cedar Rapids Xavier football

CEDAR RAPIDS — Figuratively, Duane Schulte is the father of Cedar Rapids Xavier football.

In his 19th season, he has been the only leader of the Saints football family that was formed in 1998 with the merger of Cedar Rapids LaSalle and Cedar Rapids Regis. As he watched the program grow from its infancy, his three sons, including senior quarterback Bryce Schulte, were raised around Xavier football.

'He's grown up with it his whole life, to be quite honest,' said Duane Schulte, whose son, Quinn, is a sophomore wideout for the Saints. 'He'd be running some of our drills in fourth and fifth grade.'

From those early experiences to helping run the Saints offense, Bryce Schulte approaches the end of his high school career, trying to lead second-ranked Xavier back to the UNI-Dome. The Saints host Waverly-Shell Rock in a Class 3A state quarterfinal game Friday at Saints Field, beginning at 7 p.m.

The 18-year-old Schulte recalled his earliest memories of the program, tagging along to summer football camps when he was too young to participate.

'I would always be in the coach's office, running around on the balcony (of Ron Thillen Gymnasium) playing hide-and-seek or something,' Bryce Schulte said. 'Then, we'd go up on the field. It would be cool to be around my dad and all the older players. We'd go to the high school camp. It would be fun and exciting to see them work, too.'

The elder Schulte has a 164-78 career record, leading the Saints to 13 postseasons appearances and 20 playoff victories. He guided Xavier to the 2006 Class 4A state title and 4A state runner-up finishes in 2012 and '13. The Saints were in the 3A state semifinals in 2014, falling to state champion Pella.

Schulte recalled his sons joining the celebration on the UNI-Dome turf after the 2006 title.

'The first time I do remember both Bryce and Quinn, being on the floor of the Dome when we won it all,' Duane Schulte said. 'We have pictures of him being a little guy back then.'

Bryce Schulte said someone offered to help him down from the stands, so he eagerly slipped through the railings.

'I remember being pulled down because I was so little I could fit through the UNI-Dome bars,' Bryce Schulte said. 'It was so exciting.'

Bryce Schulte isn't so little anymore, playing strong safety on defense as well. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder has been a fixture in the Saints lineup, taking over as a sophomore and being a rare four-year varsity player. He has rewritten some of the career passing records. Bryce Schulte has thrown for 1,311 yards and 19 touchdowns this season. He has 4,060 career passing yards and 55 TDs. Both beat marks set by older brother, Reggie, who led the 2012-13 teams to the state finals.

'I don't focus on records,' Bryce Schulte said. 'My brother held both of those records and until this year I never thought about them.'

Reggie Schulte, a backup quarterback at Northern Iowa, has attended some home games. He has been supportive and their father has enjoyed seeing that relationship.

'The thing I think is neat as a dad is Reggie is happy to see him do it,' Duane Schulte said. 'That's the neat thing. Reggie's not jealous. He's happy for him.'

The Saints (10-0) face a win-or-go-home situation, playing the Go-Hawks (7-3) in a rematch of a 42-0 Xavier victory in Week 7. Bryce Schulte has considered that the next time he steps on the field it could his last as a Saint football player, ending that chapter that started when he was too little to play.

'Probably not,' Bryce Schulte said of the idea of playing his final prep game. 'I'm confident we can win. If, for some reason, we lose one, then it will sink in.'

Duane Schulte has been in this spot before with Reggie and will have two more years with Quinn after this season. After years of playing a dual role as coach and dad, he is trying to absorb these final moments with Bryce Schulte and his classmates.

'I'm trying to soak it up as dad and coach,' Duane Schulte said. 'Our other coaches are trying to do the same thing. Not only with Bryce but all the seniors. We want to finish on a good note, hopefully.'

l Comments: (319) 368-8679; kj.pilcher@thegazette.com