Third quarter dooms Newton football in loss to second-ranked Xavier

Newton football coach Andy Swedenhjelm liked where his team was at at halftime.

The Cardinals were within one score and the defense forced a few turnovers while also holding Cedar Rapids Xavier to a field goal after one of their own miscues.

But a second half that included two Saints’ pick 6s and a punt return touchdown were too much to overcome as Class 4A No. 3 Xavier downed Newton 48-24 at H.A. Lynn Stadium on Friday during District 4 action.

“At halftime, we talked a lot about them being a really good second half team this season,” Swedenhjelm said. “We had to go out there and match their energy level and do things the way we want to do it. Against teams like that, you can’t gift them points.”

Xavier stayed unbeaten in district play after outscoring Newton 21-0 in the third. It was 17-10 at halftime and the Cardinals outscored the Saints 14-10 in the fourth.

The Cardinals lost one fumble and turned it over four times. Xavier lost two fumbles and had three turnovers. The difference in the game though came in what happened after the miscues.

Newton out-gained the Saints 328-264, but the visitors won the game because they scored three non-offensive touchdowns.

“A lot of the points they scored were kind of our fault. That’s something we have to look at — whether it’s different play calls in those situations or change up how we do things,” Swedenhjelm said. “I can’t fault our kids’ efforts. Our kids played really hard and did what they were supposed to do. But a lot like last week, we just made some critical mistakes. Against good teams, you can’t do that.”

After a three and out on the first drive, Newton punted to Xavier. The Saints started their first possession in Cardinals’ territory and marched 46 yards in seven plays.

After back-to-back false starts, Aidan McDermott set up the touchdown with a 42-yard run on second and 19.

The Cardinals answered right back. On third and long, Zay Arguello connected with Caleb Mattes for a 63-yard pass play.

The Saints forced a 28-yard field goal, which was made by Nate Lampe. But a roughing the kicker penalty gave the Cardinals a fresh set of downs. Two plays later, Arguello ran it in from 3 yards out and Lampe tied the game with the extra point.

The game remained tied until the second quarter. Xavier (7-1 overall, 4-0 in district play) got a 37-yard field goal from Trysten Vasquez with 9:34 left in the half.

On the ensuing kickoff, Newton fumbled the ball during the handoff on an attempted reverse. Xavier got the ball at the Newton 11-yard line and scored in one play to go up 17-7.

The Cardinals’ next two drives ended in punts. The second possession during that stretch came after a Saints fumble that was recovered by Adam Mattes. But the Cardinal offense went three and out.

The Saints started near midfield but turned it right back over to the home team after Reese Hammons snagged an interception.

This time, the offense put some points on the board. Cody Klein started the drive with a 9-yard run. A few plays later, on second and 13, Arguello hit Keith Moko for a 36-yard completion.

The duo hooked up again on third and eight for an 8-yard gain. Lampe booted a 21-yard field goal with 1.7 seconds on the clock four plays later.

“I thought we had good things going at times offensively,” Swedenhjelm said. “Even when we missed, I thought we were close in those misses.”

The Cardinals (5-3, 1-3) gained momentum on the first play of the second half when they recovered an onside kick.

But, two plays later, McDermott made it 24-10 when he returned an interception 64 yards to paydirt.

Newton put together another solid drive on its next possession. Arguello found Brody Bauer for an 18-yard completion and then Klein went 28 yards on the ground.

But on the next play, Xavier halted the drive when Will Hiserote picked off an Arguello pass in the back of the end zone.

The Saints then drove 80 yards in 12 plays, picking up five first downs before quarterback Alex Neal scored on a 4-yard touchdown run.

Newton went three and out and punted on its next possession. Hiserote returned the punt 60 yards for a TD.

Newton punted on its next two possessions and ran a total of six plays. Xavier followed those drives up with a 40-yard field by Vasquez and a missed field goal by Vasquez.

The Saints started the scoring drive at the Newton 26-yard line.

“The defense played great, they played physical and they did a really good job,” Swedenhjelm said. “Three scores were non-offensive touchdowns and we gave them the ball on the 10-yard line once. They had a couple short fields where we held them to field goals.”

Xavier went up 48-10 with 6:15 to play in the game when McDermott snagged another interception, this time returning it 37 yards to the end zone.

Newton answered with a six-play, 80-yard drive that ended on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Arguello to Bauer. Klein started the possession with a 27-yard run.

The Cardinal defense got the ball back when Blake Schilling recovered a Saints’ fumbled snap.

Newton got a short field and took advantage with a four-play, 32-yard scoring drive. Arguello found Bauer and Klein for 9-yard pass plays and then scored on a 5-yard TD run to make it 48-24.

“I really liked where we were game plan wise and I like our kids’ effort,” Swedenhjelm, said. “It just comes down to execution and can you do it.”

Arguello finished 12-of-27 through the air for 220 yards, one TD and three picks.

The Cardinals rushed for 126 yards but averaged just 3.8 yards per carry. Klein led the running attack with 86 yards on 18 carries. Arguello gained 24 yards and scored two TDs on 10 carries.

Bauer had three catches for 63 yards, Moko hauled in three passes for 56 yards and Mattes’ only catch went for 63 yards.

Braydon Chance led the Cardinal defense with 7 1/2 tackles. Brendon West had five tackles, Moko tallied 4 1/2 tackles and Hammons registered four tackles and one pick.

Adam Mattes finished with three tackles and a fumble recovery and Lampe, Ashton Hartgers and Cole Conner all collected three tackles.

Notes: Xavier locked up the district title earlier this season. Newton’s Week 9 opponent, Clear Creek-Amana, lost to Pella 28-9 on Friday. … The Cardinals need a win over CCA in the regular-season finale to keep their playoff hopes alive. That game also will be at home. ... Pella and Cedar Rapids Washington face off in Week 9 in a game that could decide the district’s other automatic qualifier.