Defending the Crown

IOWA CITY - If defense truly does win championships, Iowa City Regina has placed itself in position for yet another title run.Of course, that fact shouldn't come as a surprise.The Class 1A top-ranked Regals defense past a tough test last week, blanking rival Solon's high-powered offense, and face another challenge Friday in their district opener at home against West Branch. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.Regina Coach Marv Cook said he was more confident in his team's defense to start the season. They embrace the role of leading the team, taking the field with a little chip on their shoulder."We do take it personally, because we try to take ownership of this team," senior free safety Jared Geraets said. "We have a young quarterback, Drew Cook, so we know we have to give him every shot, whether it's good field position or knowing no matter what he does he will have a defense to help shut down the other team."The Regals stifled and swarmed the Spartans offense in Week 2, holding them to 154 yards of total offense including negative yardage in the second half. The defense subscribes to a gang-tackling philosophy that spurs a call of "All 11" during some breakdowns in practice and games."If everybody hustles, every play you see 11 guys on the ball," Geraets said. "When we played Solon, they had a quarterback that could run, instead of just trying to break one tackle he was having to break 11 tackles if he wanted to get anywhere, because we had everybody there."It is easy to join the Regals' defensive fraternity. Hustle and effort are most important to Regina's defensive coordinator Jason Dumont. It is the reason Dumont, defensive line coach Mike Brinkman, created black H.I.T.T. (Hustle, Intensity, Technique and Toughness) jerseys. They serve as reminders of the defensive expectations."We've got a group of kids, who are going to play extremely hard and run to the football," said Dumont, who was a member of the University of Iowa's 1991 Rose Bowl team. "I think as a football coach, in general, especially a defensive football coach, you want kids who are going to run to the football and when you do that you'll make up for a lot of mistakes. We have plenty of those."The players police themselves. It is one of the reasons the defensive tradition has continued each year. Upper classmen have passed the leadership baton to the following group."Last year, the seniors would get on you a lot to make you go harder," senior linemen Mike Sehl said. "Now, it's my turn to be that guy and show leadership."Regina has many of the marks of a balanced defense. Sehl said the scheme rests on assignment football with each player knowing and fulfilling their role each play. The motto is "fast, flat and physical" play."We make sure everyone does their job," Sehl said. "I think we have a pretty physical front. Our linebackers are really physical, too, and we have fast guys who can fly to the ball as well."We go out and play. We just try to make the offense go three-and-out."Stopping opponents requires as much brain as it does brawn. The Regals have to be able to apply the defense's intricacies to make the proper adjustments based on offensive alignments during the game. Geraets handles the coverage calls in the secondary, while Mike linebacker Casey Beaver directs the front seven."We don't always call a defense from the sideline. We're counting on the kids," Dumont said. "Our linebackers and free safety are field generals. They're the defensive coaches out there. It's their job to get everyone lined up correctly."Elliot Halsch leads the team with 16 total tackles, tying Beaver with 11 solo stops. Beaver has 12 total, while Michael Adam and Justin Hunter add 13 and 10, respectively. Halsch, Sehl, Jake Brinkman and Sebastian Vargas all have one sack. The early achievements are nice and coaches try to share some congratulations, according to Dumont, but the goal is not to beat West Liberty and Solon.The focus is to progress, and win another state title to go along with the 2A championships from 2010 and 2011 and last year's 1A crown."You're getting better or you're getting worse. You're never staying the same," Dumont said. "Our kids are pretty good at that. I think the expectation has been set the last seven years and they have been brought up in that system."