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Week 1 Preview: Cedar Rapids Xavier @ Dowling Catholic

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xavier-saints-ia dsm-dowling-ia

They ended 2013 in the UNI-Dome.

They will begin 2014 at Valley Stadium.

And, to add, this will be your Century Link Game of Week here on CISN.

How’s that to kick off Week 1 of the Iowa prep football season?

For Cedar Rapids Xavier, the Saints has a score to settle with the Maroons. Dowling Catholic turned a highly anticipated title game into a rout en route to their second state title in four years. Could Dowling do it again? Many pundits have predicted that this could be Tom Wilson’s best squad…even better than last year’s title team.  Xavier has now dropped down to 3A, and are in a rebuilding mode. Head Coach Duane Schulte expects his seniors to lead and for his juniors to follow suit as they begin the season in West Des Moines.

Who: Cedar Rapids Xavier (0-0) at West Des Moines Dowling Catholic (0-0)

Where: Valley Stadium, West Des Moines

When: Friday, August 29th, 7:30pm kickoff

The Facts: Dowling defeated Xavier in the 2013 Class 4A championship game, 44-13.  The Maroons return All-State QB Ryan Boyle, FS Nick Wilson, and K Nick McClelland, among 30+ letterwinners. Xavier returns three starters, RB/LB Nik Ekland, RB/LB Jay Kortemeyer, and RG/DE Louis Hasley.

Things to watch:

  • How can Xavier stop Iowa recruit Ryan Boyle?
  • How will the Saints respond to their farthest road trip in years?
  • Xavier coach Schulte says stopping the big plays is key to winning.
  • Dowling’s Tom Wilson says this game will be determined at the line of scrimmage.
  • Xavier starts a sophomore QB in Bryan Schulte, but his genetics tell you to not let age determine his effectiveness.
  • Who will be the most “dependable” in the Maroon offense?

Dowling Catholic – Projected Starting Lineups

Off. Backfield: QB Ryan Boyle, TB Isaiah Patton, FB Gray Gochenour, SE Eric Fardal, FL Charlie Schulte

Offensive Line: C Cole Wymore, G Joe Brett and Kevin Vaughn-Carber, T Elijah Swehla and Conner McPhee, TE Ben McNeal

Def. Backfield: FS Nick Wilson, CB Dante Campero and Michael Zachary, Rover Kevin McMurray, WLB Jordan Theis, MLB, Rodney Harris, Bandit Gray Gochenour

Defensive Line: Stud Max Morris, T Ross Carpenter, NG Steven Johnson, Whip Jo Jo Jok,

Special Teams: P/K Nick McLellan, Holder Frankie Mauro, LS Quinn Sonntag, PR Michael Zachary, KR Joe Gorsche

CR Xavier – Projected Lineups

Off. Backfield: QB Bryce Schulte, RB Jay Kortemeyer and Nic Ekland, FL Nick Stark, SE, Joe Welch

Offensive Line: C Ben Fahnle, G Logan Brown (or Sanders Ferring) and Louis Hasley, T Joe Constant and Tim Ottig, TE Noah Clasen

Def. Backfield: LB Jay Kortemeyer Thomas Eckes and Nic Ekland, DB Camden Stovie and Matt Downey, S Dylan Eller and Sean Murphy

Defensive Line: DE Noah Clasen and Louis Hasley, DT Nick Kellen and Mike Maher

Special Teams: K Dallas Klein and Connor Vogl, P Connor Foley

We will have a live blog of the game. Check in to see any story lines develop and stats as they become available.

Paul Yeager, Mark Kenkel and Jim Kirby will have the call of the game. Follow us on Twitter @CISportsNet

We also will have a live blog to keep you updated on other happenings as the nigh progresses.

Our other game on the website will be  Valley at Waukee, and that game will be on the audio cast, with Dar Danielson doing the play-by-play on the Central Iowa Sports Network.

 

The CISN Game of the Week is proudly presented by CenturyLink.

 

 

CISN Game Plan – August 29, 2014

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IMG_1996Here is our plan of attack for Week 1 of the 2014 Iowa High School Football campaign.

The debut of the Central Iowa Sports Network webstream will happen at 7p Friday night. We’ll have a video feed of the Cedar Rapids Xavier and West Des Moines Dowling Catholic game from Valley Stadium. These teams played 280 days ago in the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls for the Class 4A championship.

Paul Yeager, former Dowling Catholic center Mark Kenkel and Father Jim Kirby will be your announcing team for the game.

Romelle Slaughter will update you on a live blog during the game and also on Twitter at our handle of @CISportsNet.

Our other game is an audio feed from Waukee where the Warriors host the Valley Tigers. Dar Danielson will have the call. Kickoff is slated for 7pm.

What is the background information on Dowling? Read Romelle’s story here.

How about those Saints? @RHS76’s post is here. Check out the website for all sorts of previews from teams we’ll be featuring on Central Iowa Sports Network this season.

Look for our game preview Thursday night in primetime.

Getting to Know You: Cedar Rapids Xavier Saints

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The Saints of Cedar Rapids Xavier have been a force in the Mississippi Valley Conference. Xavier were runner-ups in two consecutive Class 4A championship games, losing to both Ankeny (2012) and Dowling Catholic (2013). A month after the season ended, Xavier, along with Dubuque Wahlert and Davenport Assumption, opted to move down to Class 3A.

So, as Xavier prepares for a new era in 3A, they have some unfinished business to take care of first:  exact revenge against Dowling Catholic to kick off the 2014 season. Coach Duane Schulte’s bunch, never one to shy away from big games, have some questions to answer. Will their seniors lead, and will their juniors follow suit? Returning starters Jay Kortemeyer will take over at RB, as Tim Otting and Louis Hasley will anchor the offensive line. On defense, LB Nic Ekland is the only returning defensive starter.

Johnston Stats

2013 Record: 12-2 overall, 5-1 Mississippi Valley Conference (Valley Division)

2014 Class, District:  Class 3A, District 4

Coach: Duane Schulte, 21st season, 136-73 overall (111-59 at Xavier)

Returning Starters – Offense

Jay Kortemeyer, RB

Tim Ottig, OL

Louis Hasley, OL

Returning Starters – Defense

Nic Ekland, LB

Returning Letterwinners: 3

Coaching Staff: Jim O’Connell, Dave Sullivan, Craig Jelinek, John Tursi, Eric Gilmour, Nick Garland, Stu Ballinger, Tom Ekland, Michael Freeman

Interesting stories about the squad, players, or upcoming season: After 16 years as members of the Mississippi Valley Conference, Xavier is moving down to Class 3A and will play in District 4, with Wahlert and perennial power Solon. The Saints will also play Davenport Assumption and 4-time Class 1A state champions Iowa City Regina in non-district games.

Schulte coached Cedar Rapids LaSalle before the Lancers and Cedar Rapids Regis merged to become Xavier. Assistant coach Craig Jelinek was the head coach at Cedar Rapids Prairie for 25 seasons, with a 106-96 career record for the Hawks.

2014 Schedule (District games in bold)

Aug. 29 @ West Des Moines Dowling Catholic

Sept. 4 (Thurs.) @ Davenport Assumption

Sept. 12 Solon

Sept. 19 @ Dewitt Central (Clinton)

Sept. 26 Maquoketa

Oct. 3 Western Dubuque (Epworth)

Oct. 10 @ Dubuque Wahlert

Oct. 17 Iowa City Regina

Oct. 24 Marion