Top-ranked Regina hangs on to beat rival Solon

IOWA CITY – If there were any questions about offensive playmakers for Iowa City Regina this season, Nick Phillips and Nate Stenger answered them.

They combined for three touchdowns, helping Class 1A top-ranked Regina to a 21-13 win over 3A No. 7 Solon Saturday night at Regina.

The victory avenges last year's season-opening, overtime loss to the Spartans, which snapped a 56-game winning streak.

'We've had that terrible feeling ever since last year in our heads,” Regina's Justin Hunter said. 'We couldn't get the overtime game off repeat. It feels great. All the hard work we put in and it's an amazing feeling.”

The senior duo of Phillips and Stenger connected for the opening score of the game. About midway through the first quarter, Stenger, who replaces all-stater Drew Cook at quarterback, hit Phillips on a slant route for a 29-yard touchdown.

Phillips scurried around as a focal point of the Regina rush attack. He had seven carries for 76 yards in the first half.

Stenger, who was a standout wide receiver last year, was effective with his legs as well. He showed his speed, running up the middle on a quarterback draw, cutting to his right and gliding to the end zone. Regina led, 14-0, with 4:35 left in the second quarter.

Stenger had 161 total yards, including 72 rushing yards and 67 through the air in the first half. Phillips had 130 total yards with just five touches after the break. Both missed considerable time in the second half as many players suffered from cramping.

'We knew we had a lot on our shoulders coming into the year,” Phillips said of himself and Stenger. 'Hats off to the defense. I think they're the MVP of the game.”

Both of those drives started inside of Solon territory thanks to two turnovers. Solon hurt itself with miscues, driving inside the Regina 20 with ease on the opening offensive series before fumbling it back to the Regals. The Spartans had four first-half turnovers, including two fumbles and two interceptions.

Phillips picked off Brandon Childs and Blaze Griffis once apiece. The first led to Stenger's TD run. The second set up a 6-yard rushing score for Stenger, giving the Regals a 21-7 edge at halftime.

Solon Coach Kevin Miller called Phillips a difference maker on offense and defense.

'He was the X-factor in the game,” Miller said. 'There's no doubt about it, on both sides of the football.”

The Spartans took advantage of Regina's mistake early in the second half. Solon's Tyler Linderbaum pounced on a fumble, giving the Spartans the ball at the Regals' 20. Two plays later, Childs hit Jacob Coons for a 17-yard TD, cutting the deficit to 21-13 with 8:29 left in the third.

The teams combined for an uncharacteristic 11 turnovers.

Both defenses held strong, turning the other away after driving deep into the opponent's territory. Solon had its last chance with less than two minutes remaining and the ball at the 35.The Spartans almost reached midfield, but Ethan Suchomel intercepted Griffis with 33 seconds left to secure the win.

'We just did not execute very well,” Solon Coach Kevin Miller said. 'You have to execute better than that to beat a team like Regina. They are just too solid.”

Cook said it was one of the grittiest performances he has seen.

'I'm excited about this group of guys,” Cook said. 'They showed me a lot this summer that really impressed me. They didn't surprise me tonight with what I saw this summer and their workouts. I'm excited about how good this team can be.”

l Comments: (319) 368-8679; kj.pilcher@thegazette.com