CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — With a 178-mile bus trip ahead, Jake Waters had plenty of time for soul searching.

On a cold, snowy field last November, West Lyon ended Council Bluffs St. Albert's dreams of becoming the first Iowa school to win four state football titles in any five-year span.

“The bus was basically silent,'' Waters said. “We were just thinking about what could have happened, what we should have done.''

Those juniors vowed things would be different this year, and second-rated St. Albert on Saturday put an exclamation point on its 2009 season, stuffing No. 9 South Winneshiek 35-0 in the Class 1-A championship game at the UNI-Dome.

“I said before the game, ‘It's our destiny to be here,''' Waters said. “We just finished the way we should.''

Following titles in 2004, 2006 and 2007, first-year head coach Kevin Culjat's Falcons (14-0) became the third Iowa school to win four titles in any six-year span, joining Bettendorf (1987, 1998, 1991, 1992) and Harlan Community (1993, 1995, 1997, 1998).

“It goes back to Nick McGrain and Marshall Scichilone and Mike Kavars and Rick Wahl — all the guys that coached me when I was there in the early '80s,'' said Culjat, a 12-year assistant at St. Albert before being promoted this year. “They taught me the tradition, and then having nine coaches on staff, eight of them being graduates, five of them played for me — that tradition just carries on.

“That's what it's all about at St. Albert, just passing it down from generation to generation.''

The Falcon defense placed its imprint on this one from the outset. South Winneshiek's first six possessions resulted in five three-and-outs and an interception. The Warriors netted 17 yards on their first 19 plays from scrimmage.

When South Winneshiek finally made its initial first down of the game, just 1:11 remained in the first half and St. Albert already was leading 21-0.

“Defense ruled the day for us,'' Culjat said. “That was our defensive scheme, not to make calls but to adjust to whatever formation they were going to give us. We prepped our kids up all week, and they made plays when they had to.''

Jake Gentile's 29-yard punt return set up a touchdown on St. Albert's first possession.

Waters used all of his 205 pounds to break free from 230-pound Dakota Smith in the backfield, and then scrambled 11 yards for the score to put the Falcons up 7-0 at the 7:35 mark of the first quarter.

Mickey Russell picked off Jared Holien later in the quarter, putting St. Albert in business at the Warrior 41. Gentile carried it in on a third-and-3 play from the 11, and it was 14-0 Falcons with 2:21 left in the first quarter.

Andrew Brown's 58-yard punt pinned South Winneshiek at its 4-yard line, and after another three-and-out, the Falcons took over at the Warrior 34. Waters hit Brown for 12 yards, and then Gentile ran 18 yards to the 4. Two plays later, Waters sneaked in from the 1, sending St. Albert to the intermission with a 21-0 lead.

At the half, South Winneshiek had 43 total yards on 23 snaps. It had no snaps in Falcon territory in the first half and just six for the game.

“It just seemed like they were ready for everything,'' South Winneshiek coach Jason Ohrt said. “Hats off to them. They outplayed us.''

After Gentile scored in the third quarter on an 8-yard run off a direct snap, Waters' 1-yard sneak and Gabe Meis' fifth successive PAT kick sent the continuous clock in motion for the final 9:14.

“It's just great, growing up with these guys since we were in diapers,'' Waters said. “It just feels good. I love everyone on our team, and I especially love these seniors. It just feels great to go out like this.''

Gentile, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior, had a season-high 133 rushing yards on 12 carries and scored two touchdowns.

He was a water boy as a grade-schooler, watching uncle Greg coach and cousins Brock and Joel play in the UNI-Dome.

“I wondered what a great feeling it would be like to be out there,'' Jake Gentile said. “Then to come up here and win one, with everyone grown up, and having the entire St. Albert community there, it's just something that I'll never forget.''

South Winneshiek (12-2)..................0 0 0 0—0

Council Bluffs St. Albert (14-0)..................14 7 7 7—35

CBSA: Jake Waters 11 run (Gabe Meis kick)

CBSA: Jake Gentile 11 run (Meis kick)

CBSA: Waters 1 run (Meis kick)

CBSA: Gentile 8 run (Meis kick)

CBSA: Waters 1 run (Meis kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: SW, Danny Sender 5-55, Jordan Andera 17-17, Dakota Smith 2-2. SA, Gentile 12-133, Andrew Brown 8-78, Waters 20-63, Wade Batten 1-8, team 3-(-4).

PASSING: SW, Andera 3-9-0, 62 yards, Jared Holien 6-15-2, 55 yards, Sender 0-1-0. SA, Waters 10-16-2, 96 yards.

RECEIVING: SW, Logan Einck 3-72, Jon Hackman 2-25, Mitch Meyer 2-11, Sender 2-9. SA, Steve O'Neill 3-32, Brown 3-23, Mickey Russell 1-19, Paul Johnson 1-15, Gentile 2-7.

TACKLES (solos-assists): SW, Matt Meyer 7-1, Tanner Hageman 7-0, Aaron Ashbacher 6-1, Einck 5-2, Smith 3-2, Matt Schmelzer 3-2, Sender 3-0, Dominik Lensing 2-1, Korey Stockman 2-0, Chris Bullerman 2-0, Austin Ashbacher 1-2, Brad Klimesh 1-0, Nick Schmelzer 1-0, Dylan Humpal 1-0, Andera 1-0, Nolan Hageman 0-2, Carl Bohr 0-1. SA, Johnson 6-3, Jesse Parks 5-2, Eric Golwitzer 4-1, Ian Finn 3-1, Matt Butcher 3-0, Kellen O'Neill 2-2, Russell 2-1, Brown 2-1, Gentile 2-0, S. O'Neill 1-0, Brad Welch 1-0, Ryan Lawton 0-1, Waters 0-1, Nate Romano 0-1.

Contact the writer:

444-1055, kevin.white@owh.com