Iowa City Regina cruises in regular-season finale

IOWA CITY — It didn't take a whole lot of time for Iowa City Regina to prove exactly why it's the top-ranked team in Class 1A in a 43-7 win over Louisa-Muscatine Friday night at Regina.

Playing in its last game of the regular season, a first-quarter opening 7-play, 84-yard drive, capped off by a 15-yard touchdown pass from Regals quarterback Michael Conlon to running back Jacob Phillips, started the scoring.

'This is a good group of guys, it's a quality class and they're in it for the right reasons,' Regina Coach Marv Cook said. 'I truly don't think they'll let things fly.'

Regina had already locked up the District 4 title last week against Columbus, which led to Friday's game becoming a tune-up for the 1A playoffs.

The Regals have won six straight state championships and are looking for an unprecedented seventh in a row. Winning seven straight football titles has only happened 11 times in the U.S. over the past 100 years.

Conlon finished 10 of 12 passing for 183 yards, three touchdowns and added another TD on the ground. He was pulled midway through the second quarter along with most of the rest of the starters.

The Regal defense forced the Falcons into three interceptions and four punts. It also held on two separate fourth downs, including one at the Regals five-yard line.

'We know we're one of the top D-lines in the entire state,' defensive lineman Jared Brinkman said.

'We've been drilling hard and we're pushing ourselves.'

But now comes time to prove it.