Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Regina

Head coach: Marv Cook (13th season, 139-16)

Assistant coaches: Jason Dumont, Ed Hinkel, Brad Beane, Mark Mitchell, John Bobst, Phil Arendt, Zach Ries, Nate Streb, Mitch Wieland, Alex Caldwell, Doug Vincent

Last season: 5-4

Returning starters: Alec Wick, Jr., WR/DB; Russell Hingst, Sr., OG/DL; Rowan Udell, Sr., OG/DL; Ashton Cook, Jr., QB; Michael Dunn, Sr., K/P; Josh Dutchik, Sr., OLB; Levi Quinlan, Jr., WR/DB; Andrew Wiese, Soph., OL; Jack Keller, Jr., OL/DE

Other returning letterwinners: Nic Hein, Sr., WR/DB; Will Bobst, Sr., LB/RB; Will Colony, Sr., OL/DL; Jack Goedken, Jr., WR/LB; Aiden Udell, Soph., RB/LB

Newcomers to watch: Casey Daniel, Sr., WR/RB; Josh Gaffey, Soph., OL/DL; Sam Aitchison, Soph., WR/QB/DB

Playoff history: 15 appearances (1972, 2004-2017). Regina won state titles in 2005 (1A), 2010, 2011 (2A) 2012-2015 (1A).

District: Class 1A, District 6

District favorites: Dike New-Hartford outscored district opponents 271-34 last season on its way to a District 6 title, 12-1 record and Class 1A runner-up finish.

Circle the date: Oct. 25 at Dike-New Hartford. For the second consecutive season that District 6 title likely won’t be decided until the regular season finale when Regina travels to defending state runner-up Dike-New Hartford.

Headliner: Junior Alec Wick emerged as one of the top receivers in Class 1A last season when he caught 59 passes for 746 yards and two touchdowns. Wick also ranked third on the team with 32 tackles and picked off two passes as a defensive back.

Unsung hero: Senior lineman Rowan Udell is a multi-year starter that made 22.5 tackles last season as a junior.

Keep an eye on: Junior quarterback Ashton Cook was as good as there was in 1A last season when healthy throwing for 1,270 yards and nine touchdowns despite missing four games with an injury. A healthy Cook could be in for a huge season this fall.

Biggest question: Can the Regals navigate another tough schedule? Regina missed the playoffs for the first time since 2003 last season while losing four games all to teams that advanced to the state quarterfinals. This year’s schedule will again be imposing starting with a week-one matchup with two-time defending 3A champion Cedar Rapids Xavier. Regina also has road trips to 1A quarterfinalist Pella Christian and defending runner-up Dike-New Hartford and a non-district home game with 2018 2A quarterfinalist Williamsburg.  

Quotable: “Our four losses were to top quality teams and we felt like we were right where we needed to be at the end and we felt like that was our play-in game against Dike and I think our kids could accept that,” Cook said. “To hear that you are not one of the top 16 teams I would take exception to that but that is behind us. Everybody is 0-0 and we have to start over and if nothing else I think only playing nine games was something that was new for them and they want to play more football.”

2019 Schedule

Aug. 30: @Cedar Rapids Xavier

Sept. 6: Anamosa

Sept. 13: @Pella Christian

Sept. 20: Williamsburg

Sept. 27: @East Marshall*

Oct. 4: @South Hardin*

Oct. 11: North Linn*

Oct. 18: Jesup*

Oct. 25: @Dike-New Hartford*

*- District Game

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