HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM: Xavier looking to extend season

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By Shannon Mulcahey, Xavier senior

CEDAR RAPIDS - One game at a time.

The Xavier Saints football seniors recognize their high school football days are numbered and, like the whole team, are trying to play the best they can in the playoffs.

'In the back of our minds we realize any game could be our last,' senior quarterback Quinton Scholer said before tonight's Class 4A first-round playoff game against Clinton at Xavier. 'We are playing hard, but so are the juniors.'

The Saints beat Cedar Falls on Oct. 18 at  Saints Field, 14-0. After three scoreless quarters, Xavier was able to score two touchdowns in a span of 64 seconds with eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Scholer played an impressive game after suffering an ankle injury in the Waterloo West game.

'My ankle is feeling great now,' Scholer said.

The first touchdown pass from Scholer went to senior tight end Matt Nelson. Senior Wes Gardner had a 62-yard punt return to make the game 13-0 two minutes after the first touchdown of the night.

The Saints played at Linn-Mar Lions on Oct. 25 and won, 44-14, after senior Brendan Miller broke a school record by running for 275 yards. Miller also scored four touchdowns, tying a school record. Will Martin, who graduated in 2007, held the record.

'It's an honor to have tied and broke records set by Will Martin,' Miller said.

Seniors Chris Ball and Wes Gardner also scored touchdowns to aid in the Saints' victory against Linn-Mar.

'We are looking at every game individually,' Miller said. 'We are playing the games as best as we can. I want to tell the juniors that the season goes by fast and to take everything they can in.'

Xavier ended its regular season with a record of 8-1.