Your Prep Sports

CEDAR RAPIDS – The problems for Regina on Friday started long before the kickoff of its season opener against two-time defending Class 3A state champion Cedar Rapids Xavier.

It was hard even for the Regals to get to Cedar Rapids to play the game.

“Our bus broke down so we had to take three different vans up and a couple parents driving,” said Regina head coach Marv Cook.

Despite the distraction, the Regals were driving until committing a turnover while trailing 14-0 late in the second quarter.

Xavier took advantage of the miscue and then rolled to a 35-0 victory in the season opener for both teams.

“We went up and tried to win, and I’m really proud of our kids,” Cook said. “I think there are a lot of good things that we can learn from this game.”

Despite the loss, Cook likes his team’s potential heading into next Friday’s game against Anamosa.

“I feel really good about this team and where they’re at right now,” Cook said. “Now we just have to get ready for Anamosa next week.”

Junior Ashton Cook, who is Marv Cook’s son, passed for 168 yards, while fellow junior Alec Wick stood out on both offense and defense as a receiver and defensive back.

Marv Cook also singled out receiver and linebacker Josh Dutchick for praise.

“Alec Wick did a great job offensively and defensively for us,” Marv Cook said. “Josh Dutchick did a good for us, considering this is really his first year being a full-time starter.

“I thought Ashton Cook did a nice job running the offense. We were kind of required to throw a lot early to try and soften them up and they were playing an aggressive man (defense) and had a couple linebackers that were running free and really helping out with the man coverage.

“But I thought we did a good job trying to attack them and keep them off balance. I think we have a lot of good things that we can learn from and I’m excited about the future of this group of guys.”