Xavier holds off Waverly-Shell Rock’s upset bid

CEDAR RAPIDS - Defending a seven-point lead with the clock ticking down, Xavier's defense needed a big fourth-down play to thwart Waverly-Shell Rock's upset bid.

Senior Bryce Charipar delivered it, sacking Go-Hawks quarterback Tanner Krueger for a 9-yard loss that secured the No. 2 Saints' 14-7 win Wednesday night in the first round of the Class 3A prep football playoffs at Saints Field.

'We just did our jobs,” said Charipar. 'It was close, but a win is a win and it was good to get that win.”

Xavier (9-0) advances to Monday night's second round, hosting Decorah (5-5). The Vikings knocked off No. 5 Independence, 14-0.

Trailing 14-0, Waverly-Shell Rock (6-4) mounted a 17-play drive that chewed 6:35 off the clock. The Go-Hawks pulled within 14-7 on a fourth-and-goal pass from the 20 from Krueger to Cole Havlovic with 7:48 left in the game.

Xavier went three-and-out on its next possession and Waverly-Shell Rock got the ball back at its own 39 with 5:46 to play.

The Go-Hawks worked to the Xavier 11, but a running play lost three yards and Krueger threw two incompletions to set up fourth-and-13 at the 14 with 1:27 left.

Charipar came charging in untouched from his linebacker spot and didn't give Krueger a chance to throw the ball.

'It's hard to throw the ball when you got somebody in your face, and we were able to do that on that last play,” Xavier Coach Duane Schulte said.

'That's a tough one on the stomach,” Waverly-Shell Rock Coach Mark Hubbard said.

Xavier was held to four total yards in the first quarter, but scored two second-quarter touchdowns to build a 14-0 lead. Junior quarterback Bryce Schulte zig-zagged 65 yards for the first score and senior fullback Sean Murphy scored from 13 yards out on the second.

'The line did most of the work. I just ran the ball downfield and saw open lanes,” Bryce Schulte said. 'I was basically trying to avoid everybody in yellow.”

Xavier had 225 yards rushing - 101 by junior Maliki Wilson - but only 24 passing.