No. 1 Regina rolls over Eddyville EBF, 58-6

IOWA CITY – Eddyville EBF started its game at Class 1A No. 1 Iowa City Regina with a perfectly-executed onside kick.

That turned out to be the lone highlight for the outmanned Rockets.

Regina turned Eddyville EBF away in three plays after the surprise onside, then scored 30 first-quarter points on the way to a 58-6 victory in a District 6 football game Friday night at Regina.

'We've got a good mix of linemen and skill guys,” Regina Coach Marv Cook said. 'The great thing is, they've shown great leadership, so I feel good about it.”

Regina (4-0, 2-0 1A-6) started its offensive outburst with a seven-play, 70-yard drive on its opening possession, capped by a 6-yard touchdown run by quarterback Nathan Stenger.

'The line did a great job, definitely blocking,” Stenger said. 'Everybody did their job and that helped. So I think a lot of things were clicking.”

The first-quarter advantage could have been larger had Regina taken advantage of a 1st-and-goal at the Rockets' 1-yard line, but running back Justin Hunter never corralled a Stenger handoff and Eddyville EBF recovered the fumble along the line of scrimmage.

In a game that was largely void of Regal warts, there were two turnovers, pushing their season total to nine through four games.

Regina found redemption on the next play, as defensive back Ethan Suchomel sacked Eddyville EBF quarterback Ryan Moore in the end zone for a safety, extending the Regina lead to 9-0 with 6:45 left in the first quarter.

From there, Suchomel continued to get loose on both sides of the ball. The senior snared touchdown receptions of 14 and 36 yards, then intercepted an Adams pass and returned it 25 yards for his third score of the opening quarter.

'Our d-line did real great,” Suchomel said. 'They got in there real quick and got a hold of him right as he was trying to throw it. (They) affected the throw and it went right to me.”

Before Regina kicker Emilio Tovar could extend the lead to 30-0 with the extra point, lightning was spotted and the game was delayed for nearly two hours. Once play resumed, Regina scored three second-quarter touchdowns for a 51-0 halftime lead.

Stenger finished a perfect 8-of-8 passing for 105 yards and three scores, plus the rushing touchdown. Suchomel had 53 yards receiving and ran for 16.

'I think they kind of understand that this is the last shot,” Cook said of his two seniors. 'This is their last time and they are the leaders.”

The victory is the 16th in a row for Regina, which had a 56-game win streak snapped last season. The Regals have also won 36-consecutive district games, the longest current streak in the state.

'Everybody has stepped up and taken ownership, which we really like,” Cook said. 'It's been a fun group to be around.”

Regina is at Highland next Friday.

Iowa City Regina 58

Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 6

AT IOWA CITY

EBF ICR

First downs 8 13

Rushes-yards 42-91 28-182

Passing-yards 53 195

Comp-att-int 5-10-2 14-25-0

Punts-avg. 5-14.4 1-25.0

Fumbles-lost 4-3 2-2

Penalties-yards 0-0 3-22

Eddy.-Blake.-Fremont 0 0 6 0 - 6

Iowa City Regina 30 21 0 7-58

ICR - Nathan Stenger 6 run (Emilio Tovar kick)

ICR - Safety, Ethan Suchomel tackle in end zone

ICR - Ethan Suchomel 14 pass from Stenger (Tovar kick)

ICR - Suchomel 36 pass from Stenger (Tovar kick)

ICR - Suchomel 25 interception return (Tovar kick)

ICR - Nick Phillips 7 run (Tovar kick)

ICR - Michael Conlon 19 pass from Stenger (Tovar kick)

ICR - Noah Felderman 11 pass from Tom Rapp (Tovar kick)

EBF - Dakota Boyer 3 run (conversion failed)

ICR - Abraham Schropp 4 run (Rapp kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont: Treg Van Dorin 18-67, Trey Moore 8-25, Ryan Adams 12-5, Dakota Boyer 3-4, Jake Taylor 1-(-10); Iowa City Regina:

Nick Phillips 4-60, Trenton Hoogerwerf 2-27, Thomas Rapp 3-19, Ethan Suchomel 3-16, Justin Hunter 3-14, Nathan Stenger 2-13, Michael Conlon 5-10, Abraham Schropp 3-9, Isaac Vollstedt 1-7, Daniel Sullivan 1-6, Mason Simpson 1-1.

Passing - Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont: Dakota Boyer 1-1-0-21, Trey Moore 2-3-1-15, Ryan Adams 1-3-1-12, Treg Van Dorin 1-3-0-5; Iowa City Regina:

Nathan Stenger 8-8-0-105, Thomas Rapp 4-5-0-68, Michael Conlon 1-1-0-20, Trenton Hoogerwerf 1-1-0-2.

Receiving - Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont: Trey Moore 3-38, Ryan Henkle 2-15; Iowa City Regina:

Abraham Schropp 2-57, Ethan Suchomel 3-53, Michael Conlon 2-24, Thomas Rapp 2-17, Mason Simpson 1-15, Noah Felderman 1-11, Nick Phillips 1-9, Sam Lincoln 1-7, Isaac Vollstedt 1-2.

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com