Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – Statistics and numbers have never been a big deal to Rowan Udell on the football field.

That is a good thing for the Regina senior because as a lineman Udell doesn’t have much of an opportunity for lofty numbers on a stat sheet.

The only numbers that Udell is worried about are the ones on the scoreboard when the clock hits zero.

“I just focus on preparing and doing what the coaches are telling me to do and improving my technique,” Udell said. “I figure if I do that hopefully I can help us get a win and really that’s all I’m worried about.”

Thanks in large part to the play of Udell on both sides of the ball those numbers keep coming up in the Regals’ favor in the postseason.

The senior defensive tackle has played a key role in helping Regina (9-2) post back-to-back road wins to return to the Class 1A state semifinals for the ninth time in the past 10 seasons.

Udell had three solo tackles in a 23-19 opening-round win over Mediapolis and was an anchor for the Regals in a 30-20 win over fourth-ranked West Branch in the quarterfinals last week.  

“Defensively he is that guy that you can count on,” Regina coach Marv Cook said. “He’s the pillar that is holding the walls up and he’s just a tough, tough kid.”

Regina entered the postseason after allowing 364 yards and a season-high 42 points in a 32-point loss to top-ranked Dike-New Hartford in the regular season finale.

The Regals have rebounded with their top two defensive performances of the season.

“We just had to focus on the next game and forget what happened in the past,” Udell said. “We’ve just tried to attack the next game.”

Udell has literally been at the center of the Regals’ defensive resurgence.

The 6-foot-0, 230-pound senior doesn’t rack up huge tackle numbers but has controlled games from his defensive tackle position.

“He has been the one solid, stone force for us on both sides,” Cook said. “Rowan has been great since day one on offense and defense.”

Behind the play of Udell up front Regina has held each of its playoff opponents more than 14 points under their season scoring average.

Mediapolis enter the postseason averaging 43.9 points per game but managed just 19 against Regina.

West Branch came in scoring at a 34.4 point per game clip but was held to a season-low 20 by Regina.

“We are working better as a team, working as a whole unit,” Udell said. “We have all 11 guys working together.”

As usual the stat sheet doesn’t tell the story of what Udell did against West Branch as Regina held a Bear rushing attack to 135 yards on 32 carries.

“He was really good, he was physical and did a good job on the interior,” Cook said. “With the (West Branch running back Tanner) Lukavksy if he can get to the next level and get going you are in trouble. He got there a couple of times but for the most part we did a good job between the tackles of not letting him get some steam going downhill.”

Udell ranks eighth on the team in tackles with 25 and has 1.5 sacks despite playing the past seven games with a sizeable cast on his right hand the result after an injury early in the fourth game of the season.

“I don’t really even notice it any more,” Udell said. “I’ve learned to work around it.”

The broken hand hasn’t stopped Udell from playing the best football of his career when Regina has needed it most.

“You have to have 11 guys playing team defense and everyone doing there job to be successful this time of year,” Cook said. “You can always count on Rowan to hold up his end of that.”

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