Clash of the champions

Solon's Derrick Loveless tackles John Verducci of Iowa City Regina during the first half of last year's game. The two teams play each other Friday in a battle of defending state champion teams. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)

It's a "Clash of the Champions" Friday when 2010 Class 2A champion Iowa City Regina hosts last year's 3A champ Solon in a prep football showdown.

The 7 p.m. tilt also has a lot of history now with Regina snapping Solon's 42-game win streak last year and the Spartans handing the Regals their only two losses in 2009, including one in the playoffs en route to the 2A title.

"It's a great challenge for us," Regina Coach Marv Cook said. "It's an exciting time to be in Eastern Iowa and should make for a great (atmosphere) Friday night."

"Regina is an outstanding football team," Solon Coach Kevin Miller said. "They are well coached ... It's going to take a big effort on our part."

Both are ranked No. 2 in their classes and stand 1-0, but are coming off very different opening-game experiences. Regina rolled to a 41-0 route of BGM while Solon needed two late scores to defeat DeWitt Central, 28-21.

The Regals still are trying to define themselves, although it is apparent they have more options on offense with a smaller athletic line compared to last year's mountainous group up front.

"We like what we have," Cooks said. "We feel we have a pretty good chance with this group of guys."

Miller said his team will need to play better and limit the mistakes this week.

"Their character was revealed" last Friday night, Miller said. "They showed great resiliency and composure and those are the kinds of things it's going to take to continue to get better and get to where we want to be."

Many teams would love to be in Solon's place. Cook said the Spartans are the gauge for a successful program.

"They're the benchmark in football the last five or six years," Cook said. "They're everything we're trying to be."

Being better than the Spartans will be the motivation for Week 2. Regina may not depend on the X's and O's as much as the intangibles to carry out the game plan. Energy and effort will be a necessity for another victory.

"The key any time you play a Solon coached team, a group of Solon Spartans, is you have to match their intensity," Cook said. "You have to match their physicality with which they play."

That is exactly what the Regals did last year, dropping the Spartans, 21-15. It was Solon's only blemish since losing in the 2006 2A title game. Revenge is the furthest thing from the Spartans' minds. Instead, Solon focuses on what it can control.

"We don't think about that," Miller said. "That's not how we operate. We've never operated that way."

Solon and Regina have built a strong rivalry in numerous sports. Football has ascended to a higher level, mainly due to the success of both schools. The programs resemble each other, according to Miller. He said he sees the similarities in the philosophy of coaching kids and how the team is run.

Admiration is more prevalent than hatred.

"I think it's a healthy rivalry," said Miller, who coached at Regina before taking over at Solon. "It's a rivalry built on mutual respect."