By Pat Harty
Your Prep Sports
IOWA CITY – To be a member of a football program that has won six consecutive state titles and 82 of its last 84 games is a privilege by itself.To be the starting quarterback for that program is an added bonus, but also a huge responsibility.Tommy Rapp/  photos courtesy of Jackie Blake Jensen/IC Pixx“I think at all our positions we talk about all 11 guys, so really the whole team we have is all great players,” said senior Tommy Rapp, who is competing with junior Michael Conlon for the starting quarterback position for Class 1A power Regina. “But we’ve had some good quarterbacks and some really successful quarterbacks and I think a lot of that is a tribute to our coaches.”Tommy Rapp (#12)Rapp and Conlon both appreciate the path to excellence that has been carved by previous Regina quarterbacks. They can name all five of the previous starting quarterbacks since the dynasty began almost without having to think about it.“We watched the older kids play,” Conlon said. “It would mean a lot to us. But we’ll let the coaches decide.”Jack Verducci helped launch the current dynasty by leading the Regals to the first of six state titles in 2010. He was followed at quarterback by Nate Streb, Mark Ward, Drew Cook and Nathan Stenger, who was a senior last season.All five of the previous starting quarterbacks earned some type of all-state recognition, largely because of the team’s success.“I think it would mean a lot to both me and Tommy,” Conlon said of being Regina’s next starting quarterback. “It’s a position we’ve both been playing since junior high, even in elementary.”Rapp and Conlon bring contrasting bodies and playing styles to the quarterback position. Rapp is listed at 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds, while Conlon is 5-10 and weighs about 160 pounds.“I think I’m more of a runner, but we both bring our own offensive styles to the table that are a little different,” Conlon said. “He, obviously, has the height.“But we’ve both got our pros and cons.”The good thing about this quarterback competition is that both players will have a key role no matter who wins the job.Rapp and Conlon both are capable of playing other positions. Rapp made a significant impact at receiver last season.“Mike’s shifty and can run the zone read real well and miss-direction and throw the ball effectively,” said Regina head coach Marv Cook. “And Tommy is probably a little bit more of a thrower and can get the ball downfield and really bang it into some windows. And he can run effectively, too.”Michael Conlon (#2)Cook compared Rapp to former Regal quarterback Drew Cook, who is Marv’s son and a redshirt freshman quarterback for Iowa.“He reminds me a little of Drew,” Marv Cook said.Consistency will go a long way in determining the quarterback competition.“I think so and just running the team and managing the team and who leads it,” Marv Cook said. “They both bring a great amount of strength and they both have played in our system for a long time.”
Michael Conlon (#2)Playing quarterback brings with it a lot of responsibility and pressure, although, Rapp seems to have a simple approach.“Really, our job is to make sure we get the ball in the end zone every drive,” Rapp said. “And if we do that, that’s a good recipe for success.”