Regina rolls to 46-6 win over Tipton

IOWA CITY - The postseason trek for a fourth straight state title got off to a strong start.Consider it a predictable one as well.'Class 1A top-ranked Iowa City Regina scored 46 straight points, defeating Tipton, 46-6, in an Iowa High School Athletic Association first-round playoff game Wednesday night at Regina. The Regals took a step closer to a fourth straight state title, including last year's 1A crown, with their 52nd straight victory.It was nice to get the first “win or go home” game out of the way. The challenges will come quick, facing Clayton Ridge at home Monday.“They come fast and furious now,” Regina running back Riley Dixon said. “You get that first one out of the way you kind of get the jitters out.“Ultimately, you try to have those five games to get to the state championship. It's a grind the next three weeks.”The Regals (10-0) were powered by the rush, scoring five of six touchdowns on the ground. Jake Brinkman scored on both of his carries in the game. The first was an 8-yard run, tying the score before Dixon ran in a two-point conversion for an 8-6 lead, and the Regals didn't look back. Brinkman added a 14-yard score in the third, extending the lead to 22-6.Dixon, who rushed for a game-high 139 yards, had a 1-yard touchdown in the second, giving Regina a 15-6 halftime lead. He also scored from five yards out in the fourth, making it 36-6 as the Regals were rolling despite the steady downpour.“The offense worked extremely well,” said Dixon, praising his offensive line. “There was a little adversity with the weather and wet field. We had to keep our feet underneath us.”They were able to even out the run and the pass game in the second half, allowing them to pull away. Drew Cook finished with 174 passing yards, including a 40-yard TD to Nick Phillips and a 42-yard gain to Bryan Amelon to set up Dixon's final score. Phillips was his top target, finishing with 84 yards on six catches.“I thought early in the third quarter we were able to establish the run and make five and six yard gains,” Cook said. “We moved the field and once we got that score we were able to open it up a little bit and started mixing plays in the passing game as well. We kept it real balanced in the third and fourth quarter.”The defense rebounded after giving up the early score. They held the Tigers to less than 100 yards after the opening drive and surrendered just eight first downs the entire game. The Regals' Casey Beaver said the defense changed the complexion of the game.“It was hard fought,” Beaver said. “They scored that first six and we were down and not sure what to do. Coaches came up with the defense, we changed and it helped out a lot.”The Tigers (4-6) opened the game with an impressive drive, marching 80 yards on 12 plays, burning 5:08 off the clock. Chandler Harden ran off right tackle and cut to the middle, pushing his was to the end zone for Tipton's 6-0 lead. It was just the second time Regina had trailed all season and the first points allowed by the Regals in nine quarters.Harden led the Tigers with 107 rushing yards, including 57 yards on the scoring drive. Tipton managed a little more than 160 yards of total offense.“I thought their running back was as good as advertised,” Cook said about Harden. “He was a great player.”

IC Regina 46, Tipton 6

AT AT IOWA CITY

TEAM STATISTICS

Tipton

IC Regina

First downs

8

19

Rushes-yards

35 - 132

47 - 196

Passing yards

33

174

Comp-Att-Int

5 - 12 - 1

13 - 19 - 0

Total yards

165

370

Fumbles-lost

2 - 1

3 - 1

Punts-average

3 - 41.3

0 - 0.0

Penalties-yards

11 - 90

6 - 50

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing:  Tipton – Chandler Harden 25-107 , Josh Smith 4-14 , Alex Wiley 2-7 , Jordan Challis 1-9 , Taylor Axberg 1-5 , Team 2--10  IC Regina – Riley Dixon 27-139 , Drew Cook 8-27 , Jake Brinkman 2-22 , Nate Stenger 1-7 , Eric Bracken 6-6 , Michael Adam 1-2 , Team 2--7

Passing:  Tipton – Wiley 5-12-1-33  IC Regina – Cook 13-18-0-174 , Stenger 0-1-0-0

Receiving:  Tipton – Austin Howe 3-25 , Harden 1-5 , Smith 1-3  IC Regina – Nick Phillips 6-84 , Bryan Amelon 1-42 , Zach Fackler 3-23 , Dixon 1-13 , Brinkman 1-7 , Adam 1-5

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Tipton

6

–

6

IC Regina

8

7

14

17

–

46

SCORING SUMMARY

TIP - Harden 13 run (kick failed)

ICR - Brinkman 8 run (Dixon rush)

ICR - Dixon 1 run (Jacob Adam kick)

ICR - Brinkman 14 run (J. Adam kick)

ICR - Phillips 40 pass from Cook (J. Adam kick)

ICR - Dixon 5 run (J. Adam kick)

ICR - Nate Stenger 7 run (J. Adam kick)

ICR - FG J. Adam 34