Xavier Dominates Oskaloosa in 35-0 Shutout
Oskaloosa, IA – The Oskaloosa Indians fell short in their home matchup against the Xavier Saints on Friday night, losing 35-0 at Statesmen Community Stadium. Despite strong efforts from key players, the Indians struggled to gain momentum against Xavier’s formidable defense and efficient offense.
First Half Highlights:
Xavier wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, striking early in the first quarter. Just 26 seconds into the game, Oskaloosa’s quarterback, Heavon Knox, was intercepted by Xavier’s Michael Bean at the Oskaloosa 33-yard line. This set up a 30-yard rushing touchdown by Ryan Kelly on the next play, giving the Saints a quick 7-0 lead.
Later in the quarter, Xavier’s Carter Hoffmann broke through the Oskaloosa defense with a 77-yard touchdown run at the 1:54 mark, increasing the lead to 14-0.
In the second quarter, Dustin Cook added another touchdown for Xavier with a 2-yard carry, followed by a 23-yard rushing touchdown from Cash Parks to push the lead to 28-0. Parks then threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Aiden Miller with just under three minutes left in the half to cap the scoring.
Oskaloosa’s Offensive Struggles:
The Indians’ offense found it difficult to move the ball consistently against a tough Xavier defense. Quarterback Kayne Boender completed 8 of 24 passes for 86 yards but threw a costly interception early in the game. Heavon Knox led the team in receptions with 5 catches for 42 yards.
Oskaloosa’s rushing attack also faced challenges, with Jalin Woodard managing just 58 yards on 13 carries. The Indians’ inability to convert on third downs (2 of 12) and lack of success in the red zone hindered their chances to score.
Xavier’s Defensive Dominance:
Xavier’s defense was relentless, allowing just 192 total yards while forcing two interceptions. Jack Stevenson was a key player, breaking up two passes and recording five total tackles. The Saints’ defense also recorded four tackles for loss and prevented Oskaloosa from crossing the goal line.
Final Score:
Xavier 35, Oskaloosa 0
With the loss, the Oskaloosa Indians drop to 1-6 on the season and 0-3 in conference play. Xavier improved to 5-2 overall and 3-0 in the conference
