CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — Amid all the thrills of advancing to the program’s fifth state championship game in the past seven years, remember one thing about these Council Bluffs St. Albert seniors.

They aren’t interested in finishing second.

Second-rated St. Albert (13-0) will attempt to become the third school in Iowa history to win four state titles in any six-year span when it meets No. 9 South Winneshiek (12-1) in the Class 1-A finals at 10:05 a.m. today.

All six championship games will be televised by the Iowa High School Sports Network and may be seen on KXVO 15, Channels 11 and 711 on Cox Cable systems in southwest Iowa.

Falcon senior quarterback Jake Waters was spectacular in last week’s semifinals, piling up 374 total yards and accounting for five touchdowns in the 49-21 win over Prairie Valley. Just minutes after the game, the 6-foot-2, 205-pounder already had his sights set on the finals.

“We’re not done,’’ he said. “We’re in it to win it now. We want to take home the title. I didn’t care if I would have got zero yards or anything. If we got the W, I’m going to be happy.’’

South Winneshiek is making its first trip to the finals in just its third playoff appearance. But St. Albert coach Kevin Culjat said one game film got his attention in a hurry.

The Warriors dismantled Emmetsburg 40-6 in the first round of the playoffs.

In 87 career playoff games, it was tied for the third-worst loss by an Emmetsburg team.

“They rolled Emmetsburg, and you just don’t see teams do that,’’ Culjat said.

South Winn wasn’t overly impressive in last week’s 14-7 semifinal win over West Branch. Culjat wants to make sure his players don’t have a false sense of what the Warriors are capable of.

“Their coach said that was the worst they’d played in about six games,’’ Culjat said. “They were in the Dome for the first time, so there were a lot of new things they were experiencing.

“I expect them to play much better this week, and I think our kids understand that.’’

Senior Jordan Andera sets the tone for South Winn. The 6-foot, 185-pound running back has carried 222 times for 2,041 yards (9.2 average) and 23 touchdowns.

But the Warriors also like to have Andera take shotgun snaps from the center to give him the option to pass. He has thrown for 546 yards and 12 touchdowns.

“Andera is their guy, and he can hurt you a lot of different ways,’’ Culjat said. “They’ll spread it out and run zone read, but they’ll also run a power set with the regular quarterback (Jared Holien) under center.’’

One of the Falcons’ advantages at the 1-A level is the sheer number of playmakers they can put on the field.

Waters got most of the headlines in the semifinal win, but Andrew Brown finished with 156 all-purpose yards and three scores, Jake Gentile rushed 10 times for 91 yards and a touchdown, and Steve O’Neill caught his 15th and 16th touchdown passes of the year.

O’Neill also has nine interceptions to rank second in the state among 1-A players.

With titles in 2004, 2006 and 2007, St. Albert will attempt to become just the third Iowa school to win four state championships in a six-year span.

Bettendorf (1987, 1998, 1991, 1992) and Harlan Community (1993, 1995, 1997, 1998) were the first two.

Another two-way standout, senior Paul Johnson, played primarily on special teams as a sophomore when St. Albert beat Iowa City Regina 7-6 for the 1-A title. After losing in the quarterfinals to West Lyon last year, Johnson is thrilled to get a chance to play in the finals.

“There’s nothing like it, you know?’’ he said. “Last year when we lost to West Lyon, it was really crushing, and all the seniors have been thinking about that all year.’’

Waters ran for 76 yards and passed for 139 yards and the game’s only touchdown in the Falcons’ championship win two years ago. He’s confident that his team will leave no stone unturned before it hits the field.

“We’re going to be ready, and our coaches are going to get us ready,’’ Waters said. “We’re excited.’’

With the addition of the substate round, St. Albert is seeking the first 14-win season in school history. Not to mention an extension of one of the great runs in Iowa history.

“We’ve got an opportunity to just go out and finish it, and it would be a great way for these seniors to go out,’’ Culjat said. “They’ve earned it.’’

Contact the writer:

444-1055, kevin.white@owh.com

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