Xavier dominates on the ground, rolls to quarterfinals

CEDAR RAPIDS — There's typically no surprise when the Cedar Rapids Xavier offense takes the field.

The offense may be simple, but when it's on and the running game is rolling, there's not much any opponent can do to stop the Saints runners.

Xavier's running back train rolled right through Waverly-Shell Rock last night en route to a 33-20 win and a trip to the quarterfinals for the third straight year.

'You always want to be able to run the football and stop the run, and tonight we were able to,' said Xavier Coach Duane Schulte. 'Our kids played hard. We had to have a lot of guys step up, and they stepped up tonight. It's a hard thing to do against a really good team.'

The Saints offense amassed 426 total yards against the GoHawks, with 272 of that coming on the ground.

They had to do that on the strength of two running backs. Starter Jay Kortemeyer ran 20 times for 108 and one touchdown, but left the game in the first series of the second half with an injury. There wasn't an update available for his condition after the game.

In stepped Sean Murphy, who didn't miss a beat. Murphy had all 15 of his carries in the second half, and went for 107 yards and one touchdown of his own. He harkened back to the age-old 'next man in' philosophy when his name was called.

'Our coaches are always telling everyone to always be ready, and our guys stepped up,' Murphy said. 'All our guys did their jobs tonight, and we really executed.'

Murphy, who entered the game with just 221 rushing yards this season, wouldn't take credit for the performance, instead sharing the praise with an offensive line who paved the way.

'Obviously when multiple guys can carry the load like that it means the line is really doing their job,' Murphy said. 'We have to thank the o-line. They really played their guts out tonight.'

The Saints got a crisp performance from Bryce Schulte on a slippery Saints Field with steady rain falling throughout the second half. Bryce went 7 of 9 for 154 yards and two touchdowns.

He and his teammates face another short turnaround for their quarterfinal game on Friday against an opponent to be determined late Monday night. Murphy said the turnaround isn't really a big deal for the players. He said he has no doubt he and his teammates will be physically ready to hit the field Friday night.

Duane Schulte's main concern, in the interim, will be focusing on the mental side. It's hard, he said, to plan for an opponent when it's unknown until such a late point, but added it helps he and his staff aren't the only ones who have to deal with the late notice.

No matter who it is, he said they'll be ready.

'They better be at the point mentally where they can suck it up and be a machine because that's what this time of the year is all about,' Duane Schulte said. 'We've done this for a few years, so we just try to condense everything and make it more mental than physical.

'I guess as long as everyone else is in the same boat, then hopefully it evens out.

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