Susan Harman

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – Beware Class 1A football teams. Regina is the real deal again.

The Regals thoroughly dominated Durant while their starters played in the first half and ended up with a 49-12 victory in the 1A District 5 opener.

The Regals offensive and defensive lines manhandled the Wildcats in a 43-0 first half.

Regina scored a touchdown on every first-half possession.

Often the Regals had a short field because the defense stuffed the Wildcat running game and gave up only one first down in the half.

The clock was continuous for nearly three quarters of play, as the Regals took a 36-0 lead less than two minutes into the second quarter.

“This year we really locked in on the X’s and O’s,” senior two-way lineman Drew Streb said. “We really know what we’re doing on defense, and we all know our jobs. We each do our part.”

Streb said the Regals are taking advantage of their experience on the lines.

“Guys are coming back. They all know the speed; we all know what we’re doing now and we’re just playing football and having fun,” he said.

They had so much fun that the regulars sat out the second half.

“I love playing football, it’s Homecoming night, and I’ll play as much as I can, but it’s kind of a goal to give the younger guys experience in the second half and let them have fun too.”

Regina played reserves the entire second half, and Durant was able to salvage two touchdowns and build up its rushing statistics.

Regina quarterback Gentry Dumont completed six passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns. The Regals had such short fields that their statistics suffered, but there was no question who was in charge.

The offensive line of Streb, John Devery, Jack Clark, Noah Clark, Matt Colony and Ian Udell gave Dumont time and opened holes in the running game.

When the lines are that effective the playmakers can create havoc.

Senior wide receiver Alex Jensen took a pass from Dumont near the sideline, spun off the cornerback and raced 48 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter.

“I broke out and the guy only got one arm on me, so I was able to break free,” Jensen said. “The rest of the field was open. I ran a quick out, and I knew he was going to be right behind me. I felt he had one hand on me, and I felt him go flying past me so I knew I had it open.”

Jensen finished with two catches for 60 yards and also intercepted a pass that set up the Regals’ fifth touchdown.

As usual senior wide receiver Jackson Naeve made plays on special teams and in the passing game.

He caught two passes for 90 yards and a touchdown.

Naeve took a pass in the flat and weaved his way through the Wildcat defense for a 67-yard TD to give the Regals a 36-0 lead early in the second quarter.

He had to break a couple tackles and execute some break-your-ankles cutbacks late in the run to reach the end zone.

“Great call by the coaches; good blocking downfield,” he said. “Everything came together on that play. It was a screen. It looked like they blitzed right into it.”

Regina came into the game averaging 297 passing yards per game.

The Regals passed for 243 Friday night, but they didn’t have a full 48 minutes with the starters in the game.

The passing game is productive and efficient.

“A lot of that comes from the good offensive line play that we’ve been having and quarterback play,” Naeve said. “And new plays our coaches are putting in this year. We have a lot more belief in ourselves. The offensive line has had a huge improvement. Quarterback and receivers just a lot better.”

Not to be outdone, third-string quarterback Kyle Tracy connected with fellow sophomore Carter Slager on a 66-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.

Slager ran right up the middle and the pass found him perfectly in stride.

Regina (4-0) is at Cascade (0-4) next Friday.

Durant fell to 0-4 this season.

DUR               ICR

First Downs                9                      10

Rushing-yards             30-114             17-83

Comp-att-int               4-13-1             8-15-0

Passing yards              19                    243

Punts-avg.                   5-24                 0

Fumbles-lost               0-0                   2-1

Penalties-yards            5-43                 1-10

Durant              0     0    6   6  –  12

Regina             29   14   0   7  –  49

ICR – William Aitchison 2 run (Emiliano Herrera-Sinnwell kick)

ICR – Jackson Naeve 3 run (Herrera-Sinnwell kick)

ICR – Alex Jensen 48 pass from Gentry Dumont (Herrera-Sinnwell kick)

ICR – Naeve 67 pass from Dumont (Herrera-Sinnwell kick)

ICR – Aitchison 2 run (Herrera-Sinnwell kick)

ICR – Edwin Gangba 14 run (Herrera-Sinnwell)

DUR – Charlie Huesmann 4 run (kick failed)

ICR – Carter Slager 66 pass from Kyle Tracy (kick failed)

DUR – Brady Schult 1 run (kick failed)

Individual statistics

RUSHING – Durant: Tate McKinley 14-90, Wyatt Cole 10-18, Charlie Huesmann 3-5, Noah Barclay 2-1, Isaac Nielsen 1-0. Regina: Edwin Gangba 3-50, Savion Miller 3-20, William Aitchison 4-6, Kaleb Moeller 2-4, Jackson Naeve 1-3, Colin Baker 1-2, Carter Slager 1-0, team 1-(-8).

PASSING – Durant: Huesmann 3-12-1-16, Brady Schult 1-1-0-3. Regina: Gentry Dumont 6-13-0-175, Kyle Tracy 1-1-0-66, Colin Baker 1-1-0-2.

RECEIVING – Durant: Nielsen1-7, Ryan Wulf 1-7, Caden Meyer 2-5. Regina: Naeve 2-90, Slager 2-68, Alex Jensen 2-60, Aitchison 1-17, Tate Wallace 1-8.

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating.