Football Capsules: Taking A Quick Look at Regina
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
Head coach: Jason Dumont (3rd season)
Assistant coaches: Ed Hinkel, John Naeve, Matt Hills, Dustin Ellsbury, Larry Prohm, Michael Conlon, Stephen Christopherson
Last season: 5-4 (Class 1A first round)
Returning starters: Gentry Dumont, Sr, QB/FS; John Devery, Sr., OL/DL; Drew Streb, Sr, OL/DL; Jackson Naeve, Sr., WR/DB; Ian Udell, Sr., OL/DL; Jack Clark, Sr., OL/DL; Ty Joss, Sr., WR/DB; Alex Jensen, Sr., WR/DB; Noah Clark, Jr., OL/DL; Will Aitchison, Jr., RB/FS.
Other returning letterwinners: Matt Colony, Jr., OL/DL; Leren Fernandez, Jr., RB/LB; Evan Loening, Sr., WR/DB; Erwin Norge, Sr., WR/DB; Ambrose Nuxoll, Sr., LB/WR; Colin Baker, Sr., QB/DB
Newcomers to watch: Tate Wallace, Fr., WR/LB; Carter Slager, Soph., WR/DB; Hudson Koch, Soph., WR/FS
Playoff history: 19 appearances (1972, 2004-2017, 2019-2022). Regina won state titles in 2005 (1A), 2010, 2011 (2A), 2012-2015 (1A) and 2020 (A).
District: Class 1A, District 5 (Cascade, West Branch, Dyersville Beckman, Durant, Wilton)
District favorite: West Branch is the reigning District 5 champ after going unbeaten in district play on its way to an 11-1 mark last season and won three games against 2023 district foes by an average of more than 35 points. Regina should be the top challenger for the Bears.
Circle the date: September 29 at West Branch. The district 5 title will likely be up for grabs when Regina heads to West Branch for a week six showdown. Regina had a long winning streak against its long-time rival with a 23-0 loss at West Branch last season.
Headliner: Senior Jackson Naeve is among the top returning playmakers in Class 1A this season after a breakthrough junior year in which he led Regina in receptions and receiving yards and ranked second on the team in rushing yards. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Naeve caught 31 passes for 550 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for 181 yards and returned a kick off for a touchdown last season.
Ready for a breakthrough: After a strong offseason senior quarterback Gentry Dumont is in line for a big-time senior season. A starter since an injury-shortened sophomore season Dumont added 30 pounds to his 6-foot-2 from during the offseason and is up to 205 pounds. Dumont passed for 1,049 yards and 12 touchdowns with seven interceptions a year ago.
Unsung hero: In an experienced and talented group of returning linemen it’s season to overlook senior two-way player Ian Udell. The 6-foot, 210-pound Udell is solid on both sides of the ball and joins Drew Streb, John Devery, Jack Clark and Noah Clark to give the Regals a deep group of linemen.
Keep an eye on: Senior defensive linemen Drew Streb (6-2, 235) and Jack Clark (6-2, 215) team up to give the Regals a pair of playmakers up front. Clark and Streb ranked second and third respectively on the team in tackles last season combining for 84.5 tackles including 10 tackles for loss and six sacks last season.
Remember the name: Tate Wallace. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Wallace could make an immediate impact for the Regals this season on both sides of the ball as a pass catcher and a linebacker.
Biggest strength: The offensive line. Regina returns six players with starting experience on the offensive line give the Regals a group that should be among the best in Class 1A. Seniors Drew Streb, John Devery (6-4, 260) and Jack Clark headline a strong group of returners up front.
Biggest question: How far can the Regals climb? Even facing a challenging schedule that concludes with seven consecutive games against teams that were .500 or better last season there seems to be little doubt that Regina will be improved from a five-win season a year ago that ended with a first-round playoff exit. The question is how much better will the Regals be. There is optimism with the return of a strong group up front on both sides of the ball along with Dumont and Naeve leading the skill positions.
Quotable: “Our whole line is returning so we really have that connection,” Regina senior Drew Streb said. “We’ve been working in the weight room over the summer and we think we are a strong point that our team can rely on us to get first downs, get touchdowns. I feel like we are really strong together.”
2023 Schedule
Date/Opponent/Record in 2022
August 25: West Liberty (3-6)
September 1: Mid-Prairie (6-4)
September 8: at Mediapolis (8-2)
September 15: Durant (5-4)
September 22: at Cascade (5-4)
September 29: at West Branch (11-1)
October 6: Dyersville Beckman (4-4)
October 13: at Wilton (4-4)
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