COUNCIL BLUFFS — Jake Waters created a deluge of points Monday in St. Albert's 44-22 victory over Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn in the first round of the Class 1-A state playoffs at Al Leber Field.

Before he left the game early in the second half, Waters had thrown four touchdown passes and run for two more. The Falcons held a 41-0 lead by the time backup J.D. Culjat was under center early in the third.

The victory marks the second consecutive year the Falcons have defeated the Hawks in the first round of the playoffs. St. Albert will host West Lyon at 7 Friday night in the quarterfinals.

Waters made everything look easy Monday, and he said the fast start was pivotal.

“It gave us a lot of confidence to get our passing game rolling,” he said. “That opened up our run game, and we just got it going from there.”

The Falcon defense was as impressive as the offense. Although HMS scored 22 points, St. Albert didn't allow a single point through the first three quarters before giving way to its reserves.

“They've just been playing really well,” St. Albert coach Kevin Culjat said. “We really challenged our front five to play well this year. We run real fast and we play real hard, but the strength and teeth of our defense is in that front five.

“For the last two weeks we've been telling them that they have to do a great job, and they've (responded) the last two weeks.”

Perhaps the biggest concern entering Monday's contest was the Falcons' run defense. Despite last year's loss, HMS piled up more than 300 yards rushing in that game.

But Monday night, the Hawks managed only 173 yards on the ground. And most of those yards came with the game well in hand.

“Our defensive line is huge,” said St. Albert receiver Steve O'Neill, who caught three touchdowns in the game. “They've been so strong against these smashmouth teams.”

St. Albert enjoyed significant production on both sides of the ball Monday, but it was Waters who stole the show. He had a hand in all five first-half St. Albert touchdowns before hooking up with O'Neill in the third quarter.

Waters finished 12 of 18 passing for 241 yards. He also rushed for 37 yards on six carries.

“He's capable of doing that every game,” Culjat said. “It's hard sometimes when you're playing some opponents who you know you're going to beat.

“But it's the playoffs now. It's time for him to shine, and he's done a wonderful job at that.”

Monday's win not only boosted the Falcons' confidence but also put them just a victory away from the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls for the state semifinals. St. Albert's starters have looked brilliant in roughly four quarters of postseason football, and now comes the most difficult and important part of the season.

“No matter who we get Friday, we're going to get a great team,” Culjat said. “Execution is going to be key, and it's going to take a great, determined effort. We know we've got one huge hurdle to climb to get back to the dome. The seniors have waited a long time, and we'll prepare for our opponent, try to take advantage of what we see and play good, solid defense.”

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn (9-2).............0 0 0 22—22

St. Albert (11-0)................7 27 7 3—44

SA: Steve O'Neill 20 pass from Jake Waters (Gabe Meis kick)

SA: Waters 3 run (Meis kick)

SA: Paul Johnson 18 pass from Waters (Meis kick)

SA: Waters 10 run (Meis kick)

SA: O'Neill 7 pass from Waters (kick failed)

SA: O'Neill 15 pass from Waters (Meis kick)

HMS: Josh Treybal 7 run (Russell Lorch kick)

SA: FG Meis 44

HMS: Marcus Treimer 47 pass from Cody Leng (Wohlert run)

HMS: Treimer 38 pass from Leng (Lorch kick)

Individual Statistics

Rushing: HMS, Josh Treybal 20-97, Justin Wohlert 8-18, Matt Finch 6-14, Wyatt Towne2-29, Greg Hegstad 4-15. SA, Jake Waters 6-37, Jake Gentile 7-56, Andrew Brown 4-11, J.D. Culjat 5-3, Matt Vermillion 5-43, Reece Hansen 3-8.

Passing: HMS: Wohlert 2-6-14, Cody Leng 2-2-85. SA: Waters: 12-18-241, Culjat 1-3-49.

Receiving: HMS, Treybal 1-6, Marcus Treimer3-93. SA, Steve O'Neill 3-42, Paul Johnson 2-58, Gentile 1-28, Brown 3-44, Jesse Parks 2-58, Mickey Russell 1-11, Nick Vansoelen 1-49.