Location: Iowa City

Date: November 6, 2015

Time: 7:00pm CST

Game Notes

This game has more pregame storylines than, well, pretty much any game the Bears have played since 2011. Some of which are:

• #1 Regina vs #2 West Branch
• Regina and West Branch are wonderful rivals in all sports, being separated by just 8 miles
• Two of the more storied 1A programs in the state of Iowa
• Butch Pedersen coached Marv Cook (Regina's coach) in his 1st season as the Bear head coach
• etc etc etc

Remember, this is a quarterfinal football game. Throw out the above notations and think of this being the next game on the schedule. Two great teams getting the opportunity to play one another for a chance to travel further on the #RoadToTheDome.

REGINA: Speed on speed on speed. They are wonderfully big and athletic along the frontline as well. Nathan Stenger (QB/DB) leads the offense with 2,011 yards of total offense (1280 pass/731 rush). In Monday's second round game against Hudson, the senior athlete rushed for over 100 yards and 4 touchdowns. Nick Phillips leads the Regals in rushing with 829 yards and is second in receiving with 337 yards (16 total TD on offense)....and he has not played a down in the last 3 games. Expect him to play on Friday. Nick also has 5 INT on defense, and is the lead punt/kick return man. He is a special athlete that can take it to the house in the blink of an eye. Other players to watch include: Center/DL Jared Brinkman (6'2/255) - a very strong, earth moving blocker on offense and a beast to block on defense; RB/LB Justin Hunter (5'10/210) - a gamechanging middle LB and a very hard, downhill runner on offense. He is the lead blocker for iso/traps/counters/sweeps for the backs; RB/WR/DB Ethan Suchomel - very quick. He is the team's leading receiver and leads the team with 6 INT on defense. Another rushing threat; Michael Conlon and Jack Jensen - good cover men on defense, very quick to the ball; Emilio Tovar - a tremendous weapon on special teams, with 23 touchbacks (3rd in that category in Class 1A).

The Bears just need to keep on keeping on. They want to continue having a balanced attack on offense. West Branch got a shot in the arm on Monday with the return of senior captain Drew Finnegan after a 9 game layoff (broken tibula). He collected 9 total tackles and fumble recovery. Cooper Koenig continued his strong play with 185 total yards, including 142 yards through the air. He is just 42 yards shy of breaking Caleb Walter's single season passing yardage record.

Luke Lenoch returned to play on Monday and only needed two carries to break off a 55 yard score to open the endzone for business. The junior RB is averaging one trip to the promised land every 9 carries, and just shy of 160 yards per game on the ground. His backfield mate, Devin Kindon, has really picked up his game of late. Rushing the ball, catching the ball, and on defense, Kindon is a player who needs to perform at a high level for the Bears to be successful in any game.

Special teams for West Branch have been tremendous, and need to be on Friday. From Kindon's kicking and punting, to Aaron Barnes and Matt Shawver punt returns, to Hunter Wargo's emergence as a great return man, to the kicking of freshman Beau Cornwell.

Expect a great game on Friday. Somebody's UNI-Dome/Semifinal ticket will be punched at about 9:30.

Team Records & Rankings

West Branch (11-0) is ranked #2 by the CR Gazette/KGYM-KCRG and #2 by the Des Moines Register. Iowa City Regina (10-1) is ranked #1 in both the DMR and CRG.

Last Meeting

In 2013, Regina defeated West Branch in the district opener, 41-16. Four current Bear starters played in that game: Drew Finnegan, Ryan Grosvenor, Aaron Barnes, and Luke Lenoch. View more from that game.

Media & Broadcast Coverage

The BearCast will be on the play-by-play call. If you cannot be at the game, let us bring the game to you on your computer or smartphone. Head to the BearCast page here on the website, or, on iOS and Android devices, download the Mixlr app and search for "West Branch Football."

Tune in to the BearCast at 6:30 for the pregame where Steven Grace, Mike Quinlan, and Jerry Fleagle will be calling the game live, offering in-game analysis and halftime/postgame interviews.

For print media, the Cedar Rapids Gazette, the West Branch Times, YourPrepSports.com, and WestBranch.Football will be at the the game.