Big plays help Regina to early lead and semifinal victory

CEDAR FALLS — Big plays provided a big lead.

Now, Iowa City Regina finds itself in another big-time game.

The top-ranked Regals needed only one play on each of their first three scoring drives and then rolled to a 42-6 victory over No. 4 Denver in the Class 1A state semifinals Saturday at UNI-Dome. Regina will attempt to win a seventh straight state crown, playing No. 4 Western Christian (11-1) here Friday at 11:06 a.m.

'It's awesome we have the opportunity to do this,' Regina senior Jack Jensen said. 'We just have to come out, have a good week of practice, execute every day and get better.'

The Regals (11-1) built a 21-0 lead just three minutes into the second quarter on lightning-quick possessions. Jensen delivered the first bolt.

Michael Conlon hit Jensen, who turned a modest gain into a 72-yard score. He juked, causing a defender to fall on his backside, accelerated and made one little cut as he outraced the Cyclones to the end zone with 5:30 left in the first quarter.

'We came in with a lot of energy,' said Jensen, who finished with 97 receiving yards on six catches. 'We knew that play would work and it executed. Everyone was blocking downfield and turned in to a touchdown.'

Denver quarterback and starting safety Eli Barrett said the Cyclones (11-1) haven't seen a team with that type of big-play potential. The first touchdown may have deflated them.

'It did but we should have made the play,' Barrett said. 'We over-pursued it and couldn't come down with the tackle.'

Regina's defense helped with the next two quick scores, giving the Regals short fields on turnovers. Jacob Phillips intercepted Barrett, returning it 30 yards to the Cyclones 9. On the next play, Conlon sliced through the defense on a 9-yard run.

The Regals defense forced a fumble on the ensuing drive. Regina took over in Denver territory, connecting on a flea-flicker from Conlon to a wide open Noah Felderman for a 49-yard strike.

'It's a big-play game anymore,' Regina Coach Marv Cook said. 'Jack obviously makes the hitch route, makes one guy miss and gets loose.

'We come back and scored again. Then, the trick play, that snowballed for them and fortunately for us it put us up where we felt we were more comfortable that we could be a little more aggressive with our play calling.'

Regina has the ability to break one at any moment. The Regals try to put their talent in position to succeed. They did, getting a 21-yard TD run from Isaac Vollstedt, who dove from the 3 to get the ball inside the pylon for a 28-0 halftime lead.

'Ideally, we want to try to put guys in space and let them make plays,' Cook said. 'Whether it's our running game with our zone-read stuff or if it's our outside game with receivers, trying to get them balls isolated one-on-one, that's what we are designing to do.

'Once you have that opportunity, you try to make a play.'

Vollstedt finished with 112 yards on 11 carries. Conlon powered the Regals, throwing for 287 yards and three scores. He hit Trae Rogers for a 21-yard TD pass in the third, forcing a continuous clock. The junior signal-caller completed 16 of 23 passes and added 24 rushing yards.

Conlon has developed into a dual threat, taking over when an injury to Thomas Rapp ended their platoon system.

'When Tommy got hurt, it was never really an issue,' Cook said. 'We tweaked a few things to play to his strengths and he does a great job leading the offense, obviously.'

Regina rushed for more than 200 yards, including a 16-yard TD run by Kieler Brown. The Regals limited the run-heavy Cyclones to 105, despite Denver's big, physical line with two players weighing more than 300 and another at 295. The Regina big men had a point to prove, showing who had the best line in 1A.

'They were definitely the biggest and strongest line we've faced all year,' Regina lineman and Northern Iowa recruit Jared Brinkman said. 'We took that as a challenge.'

The Regals had a shutout until Barrett scored on a 41-yard run with 4:55 remaining. Cook said it was the best effort he has seen from his defensive front this year. The goal is to continue that into next week against the Wolfpack, who advanced with a 35-14 victory over No. 3 Van Meter (11-1).

'I think we really dominated,' Brinkman said. 'Hopefully, it gives us momentum for next week.'

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