CEDAR FALLS — The Xavier football team crowned its undefeated season with an Class 4A state championship on Nov. 20.
Backed by offensive flair and a strong defense, the Saints (13-0) secured a 31-6 win over Pella (11-2) at the UNI-Dome.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementXavier captured its first state title since 2022, while Pella lost in the 4A title game for the second consecutive season.
Carter Hoffmann led the rushing attack for Xavier with 207 yards and three touchdowns on 34 carries. Quarterback Cash Parks completed 11-of-16 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown.
"I was just happy that we're state champions," Hoffmann said. "I mean, we've been talking about it all year and we finally made it. It's just awesome and I just can't believe it."
Xavier didn’t take long to play bully ball at the line of scrimmage, relying on its signature run game to jump out by double digits.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Saints landed their first haymaker in the first quarter with a five-yard touchdown run by Hoffmann. The Saints orchestrated a 12-play, 83-yard scoring drive. Hoffmann capped off the run with seven straight carries.
The Saints’ offensive line continued to open gaps for Hoffmann, who broke free on a 37-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter. That strike extended Xavier’s lead, 14-0.
Later in the second frame, Hoffmann completed the scoring trifecta with a touchdown run from four yards out. The Saints held a 21-0 lead at halftime, with Hoffmann rushing for 160 yards on 20 carries at the break.
"I just knew I just had to keep going — just had to keep getting the first downs," Hoffmann said.
Xavier's Carter Hoffmann (1) carries the ball against the Pella Dutch Nov. 20, 2025 during the Class 4A state football championship at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.After Pella went three-and-out on its first drive of the second half, the Saints got possession at their own 43 and went to work. On third-and-7, Parks kept the drive alive with an 8-yard gain on the ground. On the ensuing play, he connected with receiver Ryan Kelly for a 33-yard score.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Dutch's offense continued to struggle against a Saints defense that continued to wreak havoc.
On fourth-and-4 at the Xavier 17, Pella quarterback Michael Manning tossed a pass attempt to the corner of the end zone before the Saints' Caleb Loffswold came down with the interception. A few plays later, Ty Weiss converted a 22-yard field goal.
With three minutes and change left in the game, Pella's offense caught a break with a 74-yard touchdown catch from Logan VanDenBroek, but it wasn't enough to dent its double-digit deficit.
Pella's Emmanuel Diers (1) is tackled by Xavier's Jack Schimberg (34) Nov. 20, 2025 during the Class 4A state football championship at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.With just two blemishes on their season tally, the Dutch orchestrated their best record since their championship campaign in 2022. The loss wasn’t what Pella had hoped for, but the team still secured its second straight appearance in the 4A title game — a sign that the Dutch are a regular state contender.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"They're a really good team, they're hard hitters," said Pella running back Emmanuel Diers. "I've never gotten hit that hard in my life, but they came in, they wanted it ... we also wanted it but Xavier had a good grit to them."
Marc Ray is the high school sports reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. He can be reached at [email protected] , and on X, formerly Twitter, at @themarcszn.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Xavier tops Pella, wins 4A state football championship
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