Regina bombs North Fayette in 1-vs.-2 matchup

CEDAR FALLS -- Bob Lape has seen offensive lines like this before. But not at this level."Sure I have," said Lape, the football coach at North Fayette. "I see it all the time -- at Coe, Luther, Wartburg ... "Virtually flawless in the first half, top-ranked Iowa City Regina again displayed the chasm between itself and the rest Class 2A, whipping No. 2 North Fayette, 35-7, in a state semifinal Monday morning at the UNI-Dome.The Regals (13-0) put the continuous clock into action for the 11th straight game and advanced to the 2A championship game. They'll play North Polk (10-3) for the championship at 1:05 Saturday afternoon.North Polk blanked No. 7 Sheldon, 42-0, Monday.Regina had four first-half possessions, four first-half touchdowns. They were surgical, accumulating 270 yards in 39 offensive plays, moving the chains for 15 first downs."We hoped to take North Fayette out of their game," said Regina quarterback Jack Verducci. "If you allow them to control the clock, they can take you out of the game."Instead, it was the Regals that grabbed momentum and held it. Of course, that's attainable when you have the big boys up front.Regina's six starting linemen (including the tight end) weigh in at 245, 240, 230, 250, 245 and 340. Like Lape said, that's close to an Iowa Conference line."I think we won the game in the trenches," said tackle Patrick McCaffery. "We want at least four yards on every play. The first four yards are up to the line. Whatever comes after that is up to the backs."Anthony Halsch scored the Regals' first two touchdowns and had 101 yards on 15 carries before halftime. He didn't carry the ball after intermission.In 11 games this season against 2A competition, the Regals have outscored their opponents by a 507-32 margin. That includes 182-14 in four playoff games.North Fayette retired at 12-1. Another fine season for one of the best program's in Eastern Iowa. But the Hawks aren't at Regina's level."We knew we'd have to play flawless football to have a chance to stay in the game," Lape said. "With their talent, they can run any offense they want and have success with it."It took less than two minutes for the Regals to take the lead. Their first drive chewed up 63 yards of artificial turf in only five plays. Halsch's 12-yard touchdown run capped it.The next three drives: 77 yards in 10 plays, 57 yards in 11 plays, 64 yards in 13 plays. Touchdown, touchdown, touchdown.Halsch scored from 3 yards out, then Jacob Vollstedt added TD runs of 3 yards and 2 yards.Simply surgical."Our kids have been very focused from Day 1," said Regina Coach Marv Cook. "You put a task in front of them, and they execute it."Zach Pechous added an 82-yard interception return for a touchdown with 6:49 left in the third quarter to make it 35-0 and start the continuous clock.The Hawks stopped it when Tom Heying connected with Reid Nuss for a 60-yard TD pass with 6:02 remaining in the game.North Fayette's Jake Greco rushed for 98 yards on 19 carries. [gallery]