Xavier wipes out early 14-point deficit in a hurry, blasts CCA 54-21

CEDAR RAPIDS — An early two-touchdown deficit? With the playmakers Cedar Rapids Xavier has, that’s nothing.

Carter Hoffmann scored four touchdowns (three rushing, and a late 34-yard TD reception), and top-ranked Xavier blasted No. 7 Clear Creek Amana, 54-21, in a non-district Class 4A showdown Friday night at Saints Field.

“We got down (14-0), we kept our heads up and we came together as a team,” said Hoffmann, who carried the ball 28 times for 165 yards.

“We have a lot of playmakers. I think we have the best wide receivers in the state, and we have a great quarterback that leads us very well.”

For the Saints (3-0), the outcome atoned for a loss to the Clippers last season.

“We just wanted to win,” Xavier Coach Duane Schulte said. “We didn’t want to get beat again.

“We knew they were a dangerous team that can score fast.”

The Clippers (2-1) showed that explosiveness early. Conlan Poynton hit Nick Daniel for a 53-yard scoring strike on the first drive of the game. Then, after a Xavier three-and-out, a high long snap on fourth down gave CCA the ball at the Xavier 5.

A holding call set the Clippers back, but Poynton scrambled for a 14-yard TD run, and it was 14-0 with just over 5 minutes elapsed.

Xavier didn’t blink.

Hoffmann’s first touchdown, a 3-yard run, got the Saints on the board. Two more TDs (A.J. Evans’ 5-yard reception and Cash Parks’ 2-yard run), intermingled with a pair of field goals by Owen Vasquez (41 and 32 yards) had the Saints in front 27-21 at halftime.

Xavier blew it open after intermission, outgaining the Clippers 200-54 the rest of the way.

“After we got behind, it was all about settling into playing our game,” lineman Andrew Pladsen said. “Homecoming is a great time to win, and we beat a good team tonight.”

Parks continued his efficient start Friday, hitting on 11 of 15 passes for 172 yards, and rushing for 59 more.

He is 29 of 36 (81 percent) through three games.

The Saints ran 71 plays from scrimmage (compared to 45 for the Clippers) and picked up 23 first downs.

Xavier travels to Williamsburg next week. CCA welcomes North Scott.

Cedar Rapids Xavier 54, Clear Creek Amana 21

At Saints Field

TEAM STATISTICS

First downs: CCA 8, CRX 23

Rushes-yards: CCA 16-62, CRX 56-235

Passing yards: CCA 186, CRX 172

Passing: CCA 14-29-2, CRX 11-15-0

Total yards: CCA 248, CRX 407

Fumbles-lost: CCA 0-0, CRX 0-0

Punts-average: CCA 6-29.2, CRX 2-23.5

Penalties-yards: CCA 6-64, CRX 2-15

SCORING SUMMARY

Clear Creek Amana 14 7 0 0 — 21

C.R. Xavier 10 17 20 7 — 54

CCA — Nick Daniel 53 pass from Conlan Poynton (Aiden Gross kick)

CCA — Poynton 14 run (Gross kick)

CRX — Carter Hoffmann 3 run (Owen Vasquez kick)

CRX — FG Vasquez 41

CRX — A.J. Evans 5 pass from Cash Parks (Vasquez kick)

CRX — Parks 2 run (Vasquez kick)

CCA — Tay Seals 58 pass from Poynton (Gross kick)

CRX — FG Vasquez 32

CRX — Hoffmann 4 run (Vasquez kick)

CRX — Hoffmann 5 run (Vasquez kick)

CRX — Ryan Kelly 67 punt return (run failed)

CRX — Hoffmann 34 pass from Parks (Vasquez kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

CCA — Conlan Poynton 12-58, Ethan Vice 3-3, Noah Collis 1-1. Xavier — Carter Hoffmann 28-165, Cash Parks 15-59, Dustin Cook 3-12, Ryan Kelly 2-11, Calvin Hacke 4-9, William Montgomery 1-2, Rocco Schmidt 2-1, Team 1-(minus 24).

Passing

CCA — Poynton 14-29-2. Xavier — Parks 11-15-0-172.

Receiving

CCA — Tay Seals 7-72, Nick Daniel 5-92, Aren Schlemme 1-17, Collins 1-5. Xavier — Kelly 4-45, Cook 3-72, A.J. Evans 2-13, Hoffmann 1-34, Michael Bean 1-8.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com