Xavier's Cal Stovie runs around a defender. (Sammi Shepard photo/Xavier senior)

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By Connor Collins, Xavier senior

CEDAR RAPIDS – With 145 points scored and only 21 points allowed in three games, the Xavier football team has everyone talking.

“They’re a good football team. They’re a VERY good football team,” Prairie Coach Mike Morrissey said. “I think they’re going to have a lot of success this year.”

Xavier senior Jimmy Moore. (Sammi Shepard photo/Xavier senior)

Xavier won its  home opener against Dubuque Hempstead, shutout Jefferson by 49 points and smacked undefeated Prairie, 48-14.

“I’m just proud of the guys on both sides of the ball,” senior quarterback Reggie Schulte said.

In last week’s game against Prairie, the star of the game was senior running back Cal Stovie, who was nominated for this week’s Des Moines Register’s Shinning Star. Stovie ran for 223, averaging 9.7 yards per carry. After a 55 yard scamper on his first run of the second half, however, Stovie went down with a leg injury and sat out the rest of the game. He is out the rest of the year with a torn ACL.

It is not just Xavier’s offense that has been contributing to the win column. The Saints have allowed the least amount of points scored (21) in the entire Mississippi Valley Conference. The Xavier defense shut down Prairie’s spread offense most of the night and pressured quarterback Jace Hanna with a basic four-man rush, which let the other seven defenders drop back in coverage to cover the Hawks glorified receivers.

The Saints get ready for the next play. (Sammi Shepard photo/Xavier senior)

“No matter who our opponent is, everybody is working hard and doing their job in addition to striving to be perfect,” junior Daniel Vega said.

“We are just going to keep working hard,” senior running back Nick Steingreaber said.  ”Everyone is going to try to continue to do their job and grow closer together as a unit each week. We have to stay focused and take each game one week at a time.”

Xavier host Dubuque Wahlert (1-2) Friday.