Saints win big over Raiders 45-14

WILLIAMSBURG — Just five total points separated Cedar Rapids Xavier and Williamsburg over their last two meetings.

This time, it was no contest.

“I liked how they executed,” Xavier Coach Duane Schulte said after the Class 4A top-ranked Saints routed Williamsburg, 45-14, in the final non-district high school football game for both schools Friday night at Williamsburg High School. “They did their job for the most part. We had a few miscues and that is a really good Williamsburg team coached by some really good coaches. So, to go on the road and get a win is a credit to our boys, too.”

Two years ago, Williamsburg edged Xavier by one point (21-20). Last season, the Saints turned the tables in another nail-biter of a contest (29-27). In the rubber match, Xavier scored the first 31 points.

“At least for tonight, our kids did their job,” Schulte said. “They got what they earned.”

Xavier’s Cash Parks certainly earned plenty of kudos. The junior quarterback opened the game’s scoring with a one-yard touchdown burst in the first quarter, then needed just eight completions to total 256 passing yards and five more touchdowns.

“The offense does their job up front, week in and week out,” Parks said. “That is a huge key. Scout team all week gives us a look. When we run a pass play out there, we rehearse it in practice and it is the same look we get in the games that we get in practice.”

Three of Parks’ touchdown tosses went to senior receiver Ryan Kelly, who collected four receptions, 162 yards and scores of 22, 45 and 88 yards.

“He’s great,” Parks said. “I can throw it to him. I trust him to catch every ball.”

Xavier emerged from the halftime locker room with a 24-0 lead and stayed on the attack. On the first offensive play of the third quarter, Kelly got behind the defense and Parks hit him in stride for the 88-yard backbreaker.

“It was in the preparation all week long,” Kelly said. “We saw it on film. We had been working on plays like that in practice.”

Ty Weiss and Will Forman also caught touchdown passes in the third quarter for Xavier (4-0), which also received a stout effort from its defense. The Saints limited Williamsburg to just 179 yards of offense and senior defensive back Michael Bean recorded his third interception of the season.

“I liked how they played aggressive, they played tough, they did their job,” Schulte said. “Depending on what offensive formation Williamsburg came out with, our guys had to recognize and react.”

Dylan Weisskopf corralled two touchdown receptions for Williamsburg (1-3), which opens district play next week at 3A No. 9 Des Moines Christian.

Xavier’s district opener will require a visit to Kingston Stadium for a Metro matchup with Cedar Rapids Washington.

“We’ve got to enjoy this for 24 hours like (University of Iowa) Coach (Kirk) Ferentz says,” Schulte said. “And then we have got to dive into Wash and see what they are all about.”

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