Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Regina

Head coach: Jason Dumont (2^nd season, 9-1)

Assistant coaches: Ed Hinkel, Mark Mitchell, Jim Poynton, Phil Arendt, John Naeve, Larry Pohren, Steven Christopherson, Dustin Elsberry, Nic Wulfekuhle, Cole White

Last season: 9-1 (Class 1A second round)

Returning starters: Christopher Waikel, Sr., RB/DE; Drew Streb, Sr., OL/DL; Gentry Dumont, Jr., QB/DB; Jack Tierney, Sr., QB/DB; Jack Clark, Jr., OL/DL; Jackson Naeve, Jr., WR/DB; Steven Lui, Sr., WR/CB; Ronan Poynton, Sr., LB/TE; Levi Daniel, Sr., RB/LB

Other returning letterwinners: Carson Irving, Sr., OL/DL; Dylan Vittetoe, Sr., WR/LB; Danny Gavin, Sr., RB/LB; Ian Udell, Jr., OL/DL; Jack Hoover, Jr., WR/DB; Jose Monestina, Sr., RB/LB; John Devery, Jr., DL; Will Aitchison, Soph., WR/LB; Ty Joss, Jr., WR/DB

Newcomers to watch: Noah Clark, Soph., OL; Landis Pietrzak, Sr., WR

Playoff history: 18 appearances (1972, 2004-2017, 2019-2021). Regina won state titles in 2005 (1A), 2010, 2011 (2A), 2012-2015 (1A) and 2020 (A).

District: Class 1A, District 5

District favorite: Regina didn’t have a district game decided by less than 18 points on its way to the district title a year ago and is the favorite to defend its District 5 title.

Circle the date: October 7 at West Branch. These two long-time rivals meet for the third time in four years after Regina won 26-8 in Iowa City last season.

Headliner: Senior running back/linebacker Levi Daniel returns as a game-changer on both sides of the ball after rushing for a team-high 1,033 yards and 14 touchdowns last season while ranking fifth on the team with 29.5 tackles.

Unsung hero: Senior defensive end Chris Waikel had a strong junior season ranking seventh on the team with 29 tackles and third with 5.5 tackles for loss and will be looked upon for leadership and playmaking on a young Regina defensive front this season.

Keep an eye on: Senior linebacker Ronan Poynton is poised for a big-time breakthrough season as a centerpiece of the Regina defense from his middle linebacker spot. Poynton was fifth on the team with 29.5 tackles a year ago to go with 3.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery.

Biggest question: How quickly can a young offensive line gel? The Regals will have plenty of fresh faces up front after losing several starter to graduation. Few teams have a better track record of reloading up front than Regina and the key for Regals will be getting up to speed quickly. Juniors Drew Streb and Jack Clark return with starting experience as Regina looks to once again re-load in the trenches.

Quotable: “I like what I’ve seen so far. We will find out more in the first game,” Regina coach Jason Dumont said. “At least for the last five or six years we either have great skill guys and no line coming back or it’s the opposite. If we can bring that young offensive line along, and it’s not going to happen overnight, but by mid-year I think we have an opportunity to be as good here as we’ve been in a few years.”

2022 Schedule

August 26: at Williamsburg  

September 2: West Liberty  

September: 9: Mid-Prairie

September 16: at Mediapolis*

September 23: Wilton*

September 30: Louisa-Muscatine*

October 7: at West Branch*

October 14: at Durant*

*– District Game

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