Strong offensive line helps Cedar Rapids Xavier football offensive success

Cedar Rapids Xavier has produced gaudy offensive numbers this season.

The Saints lead Class 4A in passing and touchdowns. They are third in all-purpose yardage and a respectable sixth in rushing. Xavier’s skill players have surpassed milestones like 2,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing.

One of the big reason is a group of names you don’t see in the box scores or most state sheets. Powered by seniors Andrew Pladsen, Zander Armstrong and Travis Jasper and juniors Keegan Kalainoff and Andrew Renner, the Saints’ offensive line has played a crucial role in this season’s success.

“We take a lot of the pride in it because we know that's where it starts,” Saints left guard Armstrong said. “When we don't get off the ball, nobody else is going to be able to get off the ball. When we come into the huddle with energy, it kind of starts there and then it flows back to everybody. So., I think it just starts with how aggressive we are and it builds for the rest of our teammates.”

Top-ranked Xavier has reached the state finals for the eighth time in school history and will attempt to win its fifth title, facing No. 5 Pella in the 4A state championship game Thursday night at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. The Saints and the Dutch are facing off in the finals for the second time since 2017.

  Buy Photo

“It’s going to be a huge challenge,” said Xavier Coach Duane Schulte, who has won titles in 2006, 2017, 2018 and 2022. “Pella’s got some really good defensive linemen. They’re always so well-coached.”

The Saints blockers aren’t overwhelming in stature. Two are shorter than 6-feet and only one tips the scales at more than 212 pounds. And that’s according to the official roster, which is known to be inflated by an inch or two and a few pounds.

“They’re not super big and they’re not super small,” Schulte said. “They’re kind of ‘tweeners’ in terms of size, but they’re very coachable and smart. They listen to their coaches.”

At 6-3 and 250 pounds, Pladsen is the biggest at left tackle with Armstrong the lightest at 185. Kalainoff is just 5-11 and 190 pounds at right guard. Jasper and Renner fall in between. A.J. Evans, who assists with blocking duties, is the exception at 6-9 and 215.

“You can height and weight but you can’t measure heart,” Xavier assistant and offensive line coach,“ Reggie Schulte said. “That’s as big of a quality as height and weight.”

  Buy Photo

The Saints have a few intangibles that work in their favor. They have a chip on their shoulders, knowing they will face bigger and stronger foes. They put in the work during the week to make sure they are in better shape and have more stamina.

“(Reggie) he's just like go as hard as you can,” Jasper said. “Go all out. That starts with conditioning.

“We're just more well-conditioned than these guys.” We know that when we go out in the field.”

The unit is a fun and close group. They have built a solid bond, extending beyond the field. They regularly have dinner together, including the occasional meal at quarterback Cash Parks’ house. The linemen will get together and watch college and professional football games on the weekend.

“We're tight-knit group,” Pladsen said. “We're a good group of guys, who are good friends, and we spend a lot of time together at practice and outside of practice. We hang out, we do stuff together to make ourselves a good tight group.”

The linemen spent hours in the offseason together, waking up and training at 5:45 a.m. almost every day. Some terms can me hollow or overused clichés but comparing this group to brothers actually fits.

“We're together all the time,” Jasper said. “We're basically family.”

  Buy Photo

The relationships are strong enough to be blunt and painfully honest. They push each other to be the best. The message might not be what you want to hear but they accept constructive criticism to help the team improve.

“Sometimes you might not always like what your teammates have to say, but in the end, you know it's something that's good for you,” Armstrong said. “When you do capitalize that on that thing, that's what makes it better for everybody. We definitely push each other to a breaking point, but that breaking point is where we become better.”

Reggie Schulte said the five starters bring their own strengths but mesh together in one successful group. Pladsen claimed to be the most vocal and called Kalainoff the toughest. Jasper seemed to be the most upbeat.

Unity and cohesion are huge factors in gaining control of the line scrimmage.

“It's absolutely crucial,” Pladsen said. “I think if we were all kind of out on our own things, you're not as tight. You're not going to be as successful, but when you're all buying into one thing and you're as tight as we are, I would say, you're going to find success in that.”

All but one starter returned from last season. The experience has paid dividends this year. Not only are they smart and coachable, but they have a strong football acumen. During the preseason, the Saints implemented new plays and the linemen knew what was needed before the coaches told them.

“We could focus on more of like the little things and we were already kind of prepped going into this year, the summer and camp,” Armstrong said. “We knew what our job was and we knew we just had to get done this season.”

The line has allowed Xavier’s skill players to thrive. Parks has passed for 2,077 yards and 27 touchdowns, hitting Ryan Kelly 43 times for 685 yards and nine scores. Carter Hoffmann has rushed for 1,132 yards and 16 TDs. The Saints have managed 4,551 offensive yards, including 2,416 on the ground.

More impressive, they have allowed just four sacks all season and no more than one in any game this season. Xavier averages less than 3.6 negative plays per game thanks to the guys up front.

“We all up front take a lot of pride in it,” Pladsen said. “It's not necessarily just the line. We're all proud as a team that we've been able to be as successful as we have been.”

The offensive linemen had Paul Revere’s pizza for dinner Monday night. Music was playing but not a voice could be heard. Many had title game thoughts in their heads, wanting to end it all with a bang.

“No one was talking,” Jasper said. “I think we were just kind of taking it all in, knowing it's our last time. That’s when it hit me. This really is it, but you’ve got to finish the job.”

Class 4A State Semifinal

CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER VS. PELLA

When and where: 7 p.m. Thursday, at UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.

Records and rankings: No. 5 Pella is 11-1; No. 1 Xavier is 12-0.

Overview: This marks the sixth playoff meeting between the two programs. The postseason rivalry between dates back to 1978 when Cedar Rapids Regis beat Pella in the 3A quarterfinals. The Royals also won an overtime quarterfinal meeting in 1991 and Xavier won the 2017 championship game over the Dutch. Pella beat the Saints in the 2014 and 2016 semifinals, completing a touchdown pass as time expired to win the latter. They have split the last four overall meetings but Pella has won the last two. Xavier is second in 4A with 65 total touchdowns, including a 4A leading 28 passing. The Saints lead 4A with 2,135 passing yards. Cash Parks park leads the potent Xavier offense, throwing for a class-best 2,077 yards and 27 TDs. He has also rushed for 375 yards and 10 TDs. Carter Hoffmann adds 1,132 yards and 16 scores on the ground. They will face a stiff defense. The Dutch are tied with Xavier and Glenwood with 15 interceptions for tops in 4A. Pella also is fourth in 4A with 72 tackles for loss. The Saints defense will have to try and stop Emmanuel Diers. The Dutch running back leads 4A with 2,115 all-purpose yards and 1,700 rushing yards. Kyler VanMaanen has 90.5 tackles and Rex Rhamy has six interceptions to lead Pella. The Saints are looking for their fifth title, making their eighth finals appearance and winning in 2006, 2017, 2018 and 2022. Pella is in its sixth title game, winning three in a row from 2014-16.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com