Saints march over Comets, 50-0

By John Burbridge sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — The Xavier Saints marched into Charles City on Friday, and kept on marching — often into the end zone while dispatching the hosting Comets to the tune of 50-0.

Going into the game ranked No. 3 in Class 3A, the Saints took advantage of short fields granted to them early on while jumping out to a 21-0 lead a little more than five-and-a-half minutes into the game.

Xavier eventually built a 43-0 lead with 2:32 left in the half before scoring once more during a latter half hastened by a running clock

Xavier junior quarterback Quinn Schulte, taking over for older brother Bryce Schulte who made the Iowa Hawkeyes team as a freshman walk-on tight end, completed all six of his pass attempts for 73 yards and three touchdowns.

Schulte also scored two TD’s himself, one on a 32-yard keeper and another on a 16-yard scramble that likely covered more than 60 yards on the ground as the agile and hard-to-tackle Schulte reversed the field several times in the backfield while eluding pass rushes before turning upfield for the score that gave the Saints their halftime lead.

Indications that this might be a tough night for the Comets came early when they fumbled at their own 21 several minutes into the first quarter. For a moment it looked as if Charles City was going to survive the mishap unscathed as its defense stood tall in limiting penetration on a fourth-and-one snap.

But the ensuing measurement ruled that the Saints got the first down by a third of a football. The next play after they moved the chains, Jax Junge found a lane to the left end zone marker to open the scoring.

After Schulte scored his 32-yard keeper on the next possession, the Saints took advantage of another short field by way of a Comet turnover with Schulte connecting with Junge on a 13-yard scoring pass play.

In addition to his TD reception, Junge led all rushers with 81 yards on 12 carries.

Schulte later hooked up with Jacob Hines on scoring pass plays of 18 and 6 yards.

Nathan Skala’s 11-yard TD with 1:36 left in the third quarter capped the scoring with Benjamin Conrad’s PAT kick — Conrad was 6 of 6 on his PAT kick attempts, though an errant snap after Schulte’s second rushing touchdown forced the Saints to improvise which eventually resulted in holder Bryson Bastain retrieving the ball and finding Matthew Jordebrek in the end zone for a 2-point conversion.

In the second half, the Comets did produce several highlights.

Senior Cade Hemesath made a Lynn Swann-like circus catch along the sidelines on a Mike Cranshaw pass good for 21 yards.

Late in the game, the Comets put together a drive starting from their own 18 all the way to the Saints 4. Sophomore Marcus Cranshaw, getting in his first varsity snaps at quarterback, was able to gain chunks of yardage on several keepers. Comet running backs Dylan Koresh and Mitz Concepcion also helped move the chains with positive yardage.

But in the midst of a running clock and Charles City opting not to stop it with timeouts, time expired before the Comets got a play off with it being first-and-goal at the 4.

Marcus Cranshaw was the Comets’ leading ground gainer with 40 yards on six carries.

Senior Tre Walker led the Comets’ defense with four solo tackles.

Xavier improved its undefeated record to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in Class 3-District 3 play.

The Comets fell to 1-3 and 0-2, and will try to rebound next Friday (Sept. 22) when they host Independence in their homecoming game.

XAVIER 50, CHARLES CITY 0

Scoring By Quarters

XAVIER 21 22 7 0 — 50

CHARLES CITY 0 0 0 0 — 0

Scoring Summary

X — Jax Junge 11-yard run (Benjamin Conrad PAT kick) 7-0, 8:35 1st

X — Quinn Schulte 32-yard run (Conrad PAT kick) 14-0, 6:46 1st

X — Junge 13-yard pass from Schulte (Conrad PAT kick) 21-0, 6:26 1st

X — Jacob Hines 18-yard pass from Schulte  (Conrad PAT kick) 28-0, 5:37 2nd

X — Schulte 16-yard run (Matthew Jordebrek PAT pass from Bryson Bastain) 36-0, 4:27 2nd

X — Hines 6-yard pass from Schulte (Conrad PAT kick) 43-0, 2:32 2nd

X — Nathan Skala 11-yard run (Conrad PAT kick) 50-0, 1:36 3rd