Refreshed Iowa City Regina dominates Mediapolis

IOWA CITY — Rusty? More like refreshed.

Following a week off with a forfeit win over Mid-Prairie, Iowa City Regina (4-0) showed no flaws Friday night at Regal Field.

Celebrating Homecoming, the third-ranked Regals began Class 1A District 5 play with a statement win over Mediapolis (3-1), 34-0.

“We definitely felt refreshed,” said Regina offensive utility player, and Friday’s step-in quarterback, Jack Tierney. “That week off, no one was sore going into this game. We got a couple of extra days to prepare. It was a good break.”

Tierney began the game in his typical role as an offensive utility player, lining up both in the backfield at times, and out wide. But on the fifth play of Regina’s opening drive, starting quarterback Gentry Dumont left the game with an injury.

Tierney stepped in and didn’t miss a beat.

Tierney completed all three of his passes for 24 yards and added 19 rushing yards, capping the opening drive with a 3-yard TD.

For the game, Tierney completed 10 of 16 passes for 150 yards and a TD.

“When a teammate goes down mid-game, you just have to step up and know your job,” Tierney said. “The whole week we (Dumont) were both working at quarterback throughout.”

Tierney contributed on defense as well. The junior intercepted a Ben Egan pass and returned it to Mediapolis’ 16 with 7:55 to go in the second quarter.

Three plays later, Tierney handed the ball to Levi Daniel who rushed in from 3 yards out.

Daniel stuck again with 2:55 left in the second quarter, this time from a yard out. Daniel’s second score capped a nine-play, 45-yard drive following a Mediapolis fumble.

Regina forced three first-half Mediapolis turnovers and held 1A’s second-leading rusher, Anthony Isley to just 56 first-half yards, with nearly half of his yards coming late in the second quarter.

Mediapolis ran a wildcat formation with Isley taking the snap on several plays, but Regina’s defense was always in great position to stop it.

“You’ve got to keep number six (Isley) under control,” Regina Coach Jason Dumont said. “The big thing about Mediapolis is you have to line up correctly. They run some different formations, so we just focused on that.”

“I have to say, we were on it on defense tonight,” Daniel said. “We just came out and tried hitting them as hard as we could.”

Regina carried a 21-0 lead into intermission.

The Regals started hot in the second half.

After forcing a turnover on downs, Regina’s offense marched it down the field methodically, and Daniel capped a nine-play, 57-yard drive that took 4:10 off the clock, with a 5-yard TD run.

Daniel rushed 18 times for 137 yards and three TDs.

Tierney then found Jackson Naeve for a 9-yard score to make the final score 34-0.

The Regals’ defense was stellar all night, but particularly in the second half, forcing five turnovers on downs on the Bulldogs’ six second half possessions.

“Our defense is fantastic,” Tierney said. “We’ve got 11 guys every play hustling to the ball, hitting hard.”

Offensively, Regina had 19 first downs and punted just twice.

Regina is now 4-0 in its meetings against Mediapolis dating back to 2010.

Regina will travel to Wilton next Friday, while Mediapolis will host West Branch.