Brinkman, Regina run wild on Columbus Junction

IOWA CITY - Jake Brinkman showed he's more than just a power back.

Brinkman rushed for a career-high 172 yards and two long touchdowns in No. 2 Iowa City Regina's 52-6 romp over Columbus Junction last night at Regina Stadium.

The Regals (5-1, 4-0 1A-6) scored 17 points before Columbus ran two plays and led 52-0 at halftime.

Regina Coach Marv Cook pulled many of his starters late in the first half. Brinkman's yards came on just eight carries.

'He's playing at a really, really high level,” Cook said. 'Sometimes the best thing about a running back is just be patient and just let things show up and develop. He's real dynamic.”

Brinkman ripped off a 67-yard touchdown run on Regina's second play of the game.

Later in the first quarter, Brinkman countered with an even more impressive 58-yard TD run. The senior bounced off a couple of defenders and zigzagged to the sideline, where he picked up a couple of big blocks en route to the end zone.

'Sometimes if you're running outside, you want to try and act like you're going in and then break it at the last second going out,” Brinkman said. 'It takes a lot of time to do and accomplish, but our coaches teach us how to do that.”

The Regals led 17-0 just five minutes into the game.

After Brinkman's first TD run, Regina forced a fumble on Columbus' first play from scrimmage. The Regals had to settle for a 28-yard field goal from Jacob Adam after the drive stalled.

Regina recovered the ensuing kickoff at the Columbus 18-yard line when the deep kick was knocked down by the stiff wind.

Four plays later, Drew Cook connected with Nick Phillips for a 5-yard score. Cook started slowly, but completed 11 of 16 passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns.

Regina outgained Columbus (3-3, 1-2), 410 to 42 in yards and 13 to 2 in first downs in the first half.

The Bobcats finished with 102 yards.