High school football rewind: Cedar Rapids Xavier wins 11th straight season-opener with shutout of North Scott

ELDRIDGE – Cedar Rapids Xavier kept its opening-week streak intact.

The Saints have won 11 straight Week 1 games since losing to West Des Moines, 24-2, to start the 2014 season.

Class 4A top-ranked Xavier was business-like in its 31-0 drubbing of No. 9 North Scott Friday night on the road. The Saints earned their fifth straight victory over the Lancers.

“North Scott's a good football program,” said Xavier Coach Duane Schulte, who notched his 249 th career win and 224 th with the Saints. “To get a shut out here, it’s huge.”

The game was delayed before the opening kick. Schulte estimated the teams waited about 90 minutes to take the field.

“That was a pain,” Schulte said, “but our guys stayed focused enough to win the game.”

Xavier finished more than 300 yards of total offense and allowed only 93 yards. Cash Parks threw for 177 yards and three touchdowns on 10-of-12 passing. He hooked up with receiver Ryan Kelly for four catches and 100 yards, including two scoring strikes. Sam Leuck had two catches for 39 yards and a score.

Carter Hoffmann racked up 91 rushing yards on 15 carries with a 22-yard TD run to cap Xavier’s first possession of the game. Dawson Doyle added 44 yards rushing.

Owen Vasquez contributed on special teams. He closed the scoring with a field goal in the fourth and accounted for seven points.

Xavier’s defense snagged three interceptions, receiving two from Michael Bean and one from Caleb Loffswold. Jack Schimberg and Beau Morio were among the Saints tackling leaders.

“It was kind of a good team effort,” Schulte said. “It was solid. Nothing spectacular.”

Xavier hosts Western Dubuque (0-1) in Week 2.

SUCCESSFUL 11-PLAYER RETURN FOR BGM

After five seasons playing 8-Player football, BGM has transitioned back to the 11-Player game. The Bears return was successful.

BGM’s Beau Burns rushed for six touchdowns and passed for one in a 44-17 victory over Columbus Community Friday night at Muscatine.

Burns rushed for 427 yards, including an 84-yard TD run. The dual-threat QB passed for 118 yards and a score, hitting Nathan Findlay for a 35-yard TD. Burns also had two tackles and an interception on defense.

BGM was a Class A playoff qualifier in 2019 before making the 8-Player postseason the last five seasons.

HUGHES, BLYTHE POST SUCCESSFUL OPENERS

Williamsburg Coach Austin Blythe and West Branch Coach Matt Hughes won their debuts Friday.

Blythe is in his first year as head coach, taking over for Hall of Famer Curt Ritchie, who is now at Cornell College. The Raiders walloped host Keokuk, 44-0, amassing 374 offensive yards, including 253 on the ground. Dallin Sullivan rushed for a team-best 100 yards and a touchdown and Sawyer Kirby scored twice for Williamsburg. Cash Brown passed for two scores and Grady Wetjen finished with 67 total yards and a TD reception. The Raiders tallied 11 .5 tackles for loss and one turnover.

Hughes, a former Clear Creek Amana head coach, is in his first year leading the storied West Branch football program. The Bears, now in Class 2A, recorded a 35-21 win over West Liberty. Keaton Gates powered the rush-heavy offense, gaining 274 yards with two TDs on 23 carries. Gates compiled 306 all-purpose yards. West Branch’s Griffin Seydel had two interceptions.

SOLON PASS ATTACK

Solon opened the season with a decisive 36-13 home victory over Davenport Assumption. Quarterback Eli Kampmann played a major role in the offensive onslaught, passing for five touchdowns.

Kampmann, who completed 15 of 25 passes for 272 yards, connected with junior Maddox Kelley for three scores and Kaden Hoeper hauled in two TDs. Kelley finished with nine catches for 84 yards, while Hoeper had 174 yards on five receptions, including an 80-yard score.

EAST BUCHANAN LOGS EARLY-MORNING WIN

Numerous games experienced weather-related delays Friday night, including East Buchanan’s opener at Lisbon. The Buccaneers and Lions were held up for three hours after three plays, leaving the field at 12:45 a.m., according to a social media post by East Buchanan Coach Jerry Alden.

The Buccaneers scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns for a 34-21 win over the Lions.

East Buchanan trailed 21-20 after three quarters. Kennon Pals had his hands in the last two scores, orchestrating the comeback victory.

Pals hit Brady Hogan on a 52-yard pass to give the Buccaneers a 28-21 lead. They sealed it with a Pals 2-yard TD run that was set up by a 38-yard pass from Pals to Kyle Peck on 4th-and-7.

Pals completed 13 of 23 passes for 251 yards and two TDs. He also rushed for 108 yards and two scores. Hogan had eight catches for 143 yards and two TDs.

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