Scouting Reports: Cedar Rapids Xavier 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CEDAR RAPIDS </strong>-- One of the final remaining undefeated teams in Class 4A, Cedar Rapids Xavier defended their home field on Friday night, defeating Waverly-Shell Rock in dominant fashion, winning by a final score of 42-21 at home.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here, we'll breakdown five of the most impactful players from Friday evening for the Saints. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1937346"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68e2e606ed6a3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A small running back with burst, [player_tooltip player_id='1937346' first='Dustin' last='Cook'] isn't Xavier's top option on the ground -- we'll talk about that next -- but Cook is an excellent compliment to what the Saints backfield already possesses. A shifty runner that can juke defenders out of their shoes and beat them with straight-line speed, Cook may be small in stature, but he's surprisingly physical in addition to the quickness that he brings to the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cook, who took just one carry for 29 yards, but who also caught three passes for 58 yards, can play both in the slot and sneak out of the backfield on a wheel route or through the line on a go-route to beat the defense. The prior came part way through the second quarter, as Cook caught a deep ball over the middle from quarterback, [player_tooltip player_id='1827747' first='Cash' last='Parks'] for Xavier's second score of the evening.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1238169"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68e2e606ed733"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the more well-known backs in the Cedar Rapids metro, [player_tooltip player_id='1238169' first='Carter' last='Hoffmann'] proved why on Friday. A hard runner that punishes opposing defenses for arm tackles and keeps his legs churning through contact, Hoffmann is one of the primary reasons the Saints are among the favorites to win the 4A title this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A back who almost always reaches the second or third level of the defense, Hoffmann is a fun back for his offensive line to block for, as he'll dish out punishment in addition to the OL plowing the way up front. A hard runner that is no fun to tackle, Hoffmann is one of those "He's getting <em>another </em>carry?" backs that defenses get tired of accounting for as the game goes on. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In Friday's big win, he took just 14 carries for 96 yards and two scores -- but he's capable of much more than that if and when needed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1937560"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68e2e606ed7a3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A receiver that caught the first of Parks' three touchdown passes on Friday night, [player_tooltip player_id='1937560' first='Sam' last='Leuck'] is a tall receiver that can make plays in the open field but that can also go and get a pass thrown in his general vacinity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the score, Leuck beat the corner with a double-move, found himself in the open field, and Parks chucked it up for him to go get, despite a WSR safety bearing down on him toward the endzone. Even with the incoming coverage and hand-fighting that ensued, Leuck contorted his body backward, tracked the ball and snagged it to put the Saints up 6-0 early on. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1924714"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68e2e606ed80d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of two young safeties on the back end of the Xavier defense -- the other was Max Dougherty -- pointed out to me pregame by former Iowa DB and Saints volunteer assistant, Quinn Schulte, [player_tooltip player_id='1924714' first='Carson' last='Mahoney'] showed why on one particular play Friday evening.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tabbed by Schulte as a safety "that could develop into something," Mahoney put up five tackles, none bigger than when he shellacked a WSR ball-carrier part way through the second quarter on a short run to the left. Mahoney quickly diagnosed the play and then fired after the runner, leveling a pad-popping hit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1827747"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68e2e606ed876"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A commanding quarterback that leads his offense and can make all the throws he needs to, [player_tooltip player_id='1827747' first='Cash' last='Parks'] is one of the better quarterbacks in this part of the state. A veteran that saw quite a bit in his first year starting for the Saints last season, Parks can read coverages and easily recognize when and where his receivers have an advantage. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With three touchdown passes of 30+-yards on Friday night, Parks knows just the right amount of air and touch to put on deep throws, trusting his receivers to not only make a play on the ball, but make a play after the catch. Mobile enough to escape the pocket and take off when he needs to, opposing defenses need to keep a spy in the middle of the field to account for his ability to take off. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Parks is still waiting on his first offer, but that should be coming soon, as FCS programs won't want to miss out on his talent, and he'd be worth a preferred-walk on spot at an FBS school. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->