Quick-strike Cedar Rapids Xavier runs past West Delaware

CEDAR RAPIDS — Cedar Rapids Xavier generated a quick-strike offense.

At times, it was lightning quick and West Delaware couldn’t stop the surge.

Xavier scored five times before halftime with the longest scoring drive consisting of just four plays and the Class 4A fourth-ranked Saints handled West Delaware, 44-7, in a non-district football game Friday night at Saints Field.

“I’m glad our guys came ready to play,” Xavier Coach Duane Schulte said. “I’m happy we got the win.”

Michael Cunningham powered the Saints, rushing for 167 yards and three touchdowns. He carried twice for 72 yards, including a 63-yard scoring jaunt on the Saints’ first drive. Cunningham added a nice cutback for a 21-yard TD run, enacting a running clock with 4:10 left in the third.

“The offensive line did a good job of opening up holes all night,” Cunningham said. “It’s good when they get the line of scrimmage moving that way. It’s a lot easier to make cuts.”

Cunningham also rushed the ball every snap of a three-play, 55-yard drive, capping it with a 7-yard TD run for a 28-7 lead with 5:16 left in the first half.

The Saints (2-0) won the field position battle, starting four of eight first-half drives in West Delaware territory. They capitalized on that for the fast scores.

“We know what we’re capable of when we try to play within ourselves,” Cunningham said. “We keep trying to elevate each week and keep getting better.”

Xavier needed just two plays on another drive that resulted in a 16-yard TD pass from Ronan Thomas to Brogan Zahn to make it 14-0 about midway through the first. Thomas also connected with Aidan McDermott on a 45-yard TD pass on a one-play drive that took just eight seconds, giving Xavier a 34-7 lead at the break.

Overall, Xavier produced touchdown drives of two, two, four, three, one and two plays. The Saints’ longest drive lasted 12 plays, resulting in a Kale Christensen 24-yard field goal.

“We have so many guys who are really athletic,” Thomas said. “Our line does an amazing job. Even if we don’t have the best athletes on the field, they’re always going to do what is needed and why we get the job done.”

Xavier amassed 395 total yards, including 254 on the ground. Thomas finished with 141 passing yards, completing 8 of 12 passes.

The junior is replacing all-state QB Alex Neal, who led the Saints to the 4A title game last season. The quick first-quarter scores helped him settle in.

“It was a little bit nerve-racking at first, but I have so many guys behind me and my coaches help me prepare for everything,” Thomas said. “I know what we have to do going into the game. We have to perform and that’s how I view it.”

West Delaware’s defense helped set up its lone score of the first half. John Beswick intercepted a pass in the Saints backfield, giving the Hawks first-and-goal from the 8. On the next play, Will Ward ran it in, cutting the deficit to 21-7 with 6:12 left in the second quarter.

Ward had 48 rushing yards and Brent Yonkovic threw for 52 and rushed for 42 to pace the Hawks (0-2).

Cedar Rapids Xavier 44, West Delaware 7

AT SAINTS FIELD

WD CRX

First Downs 12 15

Rushes-yards 34-137 30-254

Passing yards 52 141

Comp-att-int 7-20-1 8-12-1

Total yards 189 295

Fumbles-lost 2-1 1-0

Punts-avg. 8-27.4 2-42.0

Penalties-yards 3-25 6-50

West Delaware 0 7 0 0 -- 7

C.R. Xavier 21 13 10 0 -- 44

CRX – Michael Cunningham 63 run (Brady Kruse kick)

CRX – Brogan Zahn 16 pass from Ronan Thomas (Kale Christensen kick)

CRX – Coleton Beasler-Weber 9 run (Kruse kick)

WDEL – Will Ward 8 run (Ethan Timmerman kick)

CRX – Cunningham 7 run (Christensen kick)

CRX – Aidan McDermott 45 pass from Thomas (kick blocked)

CRX – FG Christensen 24

CRX – Cunningham 21 run (Kruse kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – West Delaware: Will Ward 15-48, Brent Yonkovic 9-42, Logan Peyton 11-41, Conrad Smith 1-10, Team 1-(-4). C.R. Xavier: Michael Cunningham 15-167, Coleton Beasler-Weber 4-57, Noah Schimberg 4-13, Aidan McDermott 1-11, Ronan Thomas 2-5, Grant Helme 2-4, Adam Cook 1-1, Team 1-(-4).

PASSING – West Delaware: Yonkovic 7-20-1-52. C.R. Xavier: Thomas 8-12-1-141.

RECEIVING – West Delaware: Peyton 4-26, Cash Hauser 2-13, John Beswick 1-13. C.R. Xavier Aidan McDermott 3-66, Grayson Hartman 1-34, Brogan Zahn 1-16, Cunningham 1-13, Josef Lemker 2-12.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com