Ronan Thomas helps Cedar Rapids Xavier topple North Scott for return to state football finals

CEDAR FALLS — Cedar Rapids Xavier quarterback Ronan Thomas had some pretty big turf shoes to fill when he inherited the starting job.

He was replacing all-stater Alex Neal, who led the Saints to the state finals. Apparently, those cleats fit just fine.

“He’s an inspiration to me, watching him play in that game last year,” Thomas said of Neal. “I thought I want to be like that. He gave everything he had. He had great success.”

Thomas produced one of his best games of the season,. The junior signal caller rushed for three touchdowns, threw for another and passed for a career-best 249 yards in the No. 3 Saints’ 38-10 victory over No. 7 North Scott in a Class 4A state football semifinal Thursday night at the UNI-Dome. The Saints (12-0) return to the championship game for the second straight season.

“It means everything,” Xavier senior Aidan McDermott said. “If we can end this with a perfect season and a state championship, that’s all I want, really. That’s what we’ve been working toward since the summer. That’s what I want for all these guys.”

Thomas hadn’t started a varsity game until this season. He showed signs of his ability in the offseason, building confidence in his teammates.

“In the summer time, he was dropping dimes in practice,” said McDermott, who scored on an 11-yard TD run in the third and intercepted North Scott quarterback Kyler Gerardy twice. “I knew he was going to come in and lead us to where we are now. I knew, coming in, he was going to be good.”

Xavier established the run and took control early, scoring on its first two drives of eight and 11 plays in the first quarter. North Scott ran just 10 total plays.

“Any time you can establish the run helps set things up,” Xavier Coach Duane Schulte said. “For our offensive line and Grant Helmle to block the way they did, helped set the tone for the pass later.”

Thomas capped both of those possessions with touchdown runs. The first came on a 1-yard QB sneak, getting a healthy push from his fullback Helmle to cap a 58-yard drive.

Thomas later scored on a 3-yard option around the right end, closing a 56-yard series that lasted 4:13 and giving Xavier a 14-0 advantage with 1:20 to go in the opening frame.

“So much credit goes to their family,” Schulte said of Thomas. “Ronan has lived up to his family’s expectations and goals. He’s a ‘team’ guy. He’s not a ‘me’ guy, at all. He’s super smart and coachable. One of those kids you love to coach.”

Any butterflies were quickly quelled by the success on the ground. Senior running back Michael Cunningham rushed for 96 yards on 16 carries, including six carries in each of the first two drives for more than 80 yards total.

“I know Michael and anyone else running the ball is going to get the game going,” Thomas said. “The linemen are going to allow them to do that. It opens up the pass. I’m a lot more comfortable because I know it’s going to be there.”

Xavier’s next scoring drive was a stark contrast to its first two. After a holding penalty on the possession’s first play backed Xavier up to its 10, Thomas connected with Grayson Hartman on a 90-yard scoring strike.

“It helped a ton,” Hartman said. “The flow of the game can completely change, so the fact that we kept on the gas the entire time was perfect.”

Thomas’ pump fake teamed with Hartman’s double-move allowed him to get behind the defenders and Thomas hit Hartman in stride for a 21-3 lead.

Running under the ball was easy, but staying composed as you’re trying to finish the play was tougher. Hartman, who finished with four catches and 173 yards, gathered himself and was gone.

“The lights start shining brighter,” Hartman said with a small laugh. “At that moment, nothing was going through my head. I’m just playing football. As soon as it hits my hands and I start running, that’s when my mind starts going crazy after that. Just tried to out-run them.”

Teams traded fumbles deep in North Scott territory in the final two minutes before halftime. Xavier managed to get the ball last, receiving a 35-yard field goal from Kale Christensen for a 24-3 edge as the first half expired.

Thomas added another 1-yard QB sneak in the fourth, finishing with 10 yards on the ground. Xavier tallied 250 total yards passing and Thomas was 8-of-10 passing for all but 1 yard.

“I knew it was a good game,” Thomas said. “Everybody contributed. It just happened to be good (statistically).”

The Saints advance to face top-ranked Lewis Central (12-0) in the championship game next Thursday at 7 p.m.. The Titans handled No. 5 Carlisle, 42-21, in the other 4A semifinal here Thursday. Braylon Kammrad passed for 285 yards and three TDs, including 88 yards and two scores to Curtis Witte. Jonathan Humpal added 90 rushing yards and two TDs for Lewis Central.

“They are so dynamic,” said Schulte, who watched some of the Titans’ win over Carlisle. “Their quarterback is good and their tailback is good. They have got big guys. It’s almost like David vs. Goliath.

“They’re big, fast and strong. We’re just a bunch of (misfits), trying to get first downs.”

Cedar Rapids Xavier 38, North Scott 10

AT UNI-DOME

NSCRX

First Downs 14 14

Rushes-yards34-8139-159

Passing yards 157 250

Comp-att-int 14-24-29-11-0

Total yards 238 409

Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1

Punts-avg. 3-36.3 2-37.0

Penalties-yards 2-10 2-14

North Scott0 3 07– 10

C.R. Xavier14 10 77 --38

CRX – Ronan Thomas 1 run (Kale Christensen kick)

CRX – Thomas 3 run (Christensen kick)

NS – FG Liam Regan 30

CRX – Grayson Hartman 90 pass from Thomas (Christensen kick)

CRX – FG Christensen 25

CRX – Aidan McDermott 11 run (Christensen kick)

CRX – Thomas 1 run (Christensen kick)

NS – Kyler Gerardy 11 run (Regan kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – North Scott: Dylan Marti 12-45, Kyler Gerardy 20-37, Jerrod Lee 1-3, Team 1-(-4). C.R. Xavier: Michael Cunningham 16-96, Adam Cook 1-26, Aidan McDermott 2-18, Thomas 7-10, Coleton Beasler 4-7, Grant Helmle 3-6, Noah Schimberg 2-1, Team 4-(-5).

PASSING – North Scott: Gerardy 14-23-2-157, Drew Kilburg 0-1-0-0. C.R. Xavier: Thomas 8-10-0-249, McDermott 1-1-0-1.

RECEIVING – North Scott: Kilburg 5-35, Marti 3-25, Colton Voss 2-11, Miles Robertson 2-8, Cole Jennings 1-69, Hunter Fox 1-9. C.R. Xavier: Grayson Hartman 4-173, McDermott 2-40, Beasler-Weber 1-35, Cunningham 1-1, Helmle 1-1.