C.R. Xavier turns over victory against Linn-Mar

MARION - Linn-Mar handed a win over to Cedar Rapids Xavier. The Saints took away a victory from the Lions.Either way, turnovers played a crucial part in the battle of top 10 teams.Ninth-rated Xavier dominated No. 8 Linn-Mar, 45-28, in a Mississippi Valley Conference battle Friday night in the last regular-season football game held at Armstrong Field. The Saints won their fourth straight game and improved to 7-2."We tried to play hard every play," Xavier Coach Duane Schulte said. "Tonight good things happened."Good things came in the form of five turnovers, including three fumble recoveries. All five turnovers occurred in the first half as the Saints built a 24-0 lead at the break. The Saints created six total fumbles and were a product of hard play."Good things can happen if you get there fast and put a good hit on the ball," said Xavier defensive Chase Kleopfer, who forced three fumbles for turnovers. "The turnoves just happen."Those miscues were the shovel that dug a tremendous hole for the Lions. Xavier scored 17 points off turnovers, taking over in Linn-Mar territory on three scoring drives.Xavier took a 14-0 lead with 1:17 to go in the first on Andy Didio's 4-yard keeper that capped a drive that started on the Lions' 38 after a Mark Atwater fumble.The Saints were able to squeeze in another score before the end of the first quarter with more help from Linn-Mar. Jer Garman fumbled on the second play of the drive with Xavier taking over at the 18. After a penalty and a steady diet of run plays early in the game, Didio connected with Nathan Even on a nice flag pattern in the back corner of the end zone for a 23-yard TD and 21-0 lead one second before the second quarter.The Lions third fumble led to Chad Gilmer's 30-yard field goal that ended the first-half scoring."We came out as strong as we could," Saints running back Pat Chizek said. "We wanted to prove how good we did in practice this week and transition it to the game."Chizek was a work horse for the saints, carrying the ball for the team's first seven plays and 10 of the Saints first 12. One of those early runs was a nifty 45-yard jaunt to give the Saints a 7-0 lead. Chizek rushed up the middle, finding a seam to the left, cutting to that side and receiving a nice block downfield as he reached the goal line.Chizek added two fourth-quarter touchdowns. He ran in from 5 yards out to make  38-7, but iced the game with a 36-yard TD run. Chizek broke through the first lines of the defense, broke a tackle and rambled for the score, making it 45-20 with 2:01 remaining.Chizek finished with 239 yards on the ground on 28 carries."Jared Volz led up the hole great and the line made great holes," Chizek said of his fullback and offensive line, "once I got to the second level ... the wide receivers were making it easy."Chizek, a mainstay in the Saints offense, makes it easy on his coaches."We don't really coach him," Schulte said. "We just tell him to run."The Lions (7-2) battled back late, scoring three touchdowns in the final quarter. Garman scored on runs from 10 and 5 yards. he finished with 113 total yards.Josh Montague hauled in a pair of touchdown passes from Atwater. Montague made a great leaping catch in the back of the endzone, dragging one foot in, for the Lions' first score coming with 27 seconds to go in the third. Montague's 9-yard TD catch in the final minute ended the scoring. Atwater finished with 155 yards passing and 89 rushing.The errors were too much to overcome, but Linn-Mar Coach Bob Forsyth to credit the Saints' effort."They're a good football team," Forsyth said. "They took it to us and we're emabarrassed and all the things that go along with it but sure you can't turn the ball over. That's true no matter who you're playing."Both teams will play Wednesday in the opening round of the Class 4A playoffs.[gallery link="file" columns="2" orderby="ID"]