Recap, Reaction: Regina Ends Grundy Center’s Run

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CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Regina was faced with a tall task during Friday's Class 1A state semifinals here at the UNI-Dome. On the other side of the field was a three-time defending state champion in Grundy Center, winners of 50 games in a row.

The Regals didn't flinch. They started fast and rarely slowed down in prevailing, 31-12, earning a place in next week's title game.

Regina had some insight into long winning streaks as the victors of a state-record 56 in a row, a run that ended in 2014. Regal assistant Ed Hinkel was coaching those teams as well.

"We definitely had to respect for them," Regina senior Drew Greve Drew Greve 6'0" | 165 lbs | ATH Regina Catholic | 2026 State IA said. "Fifty in a row is no small feat. Obviously, Regina knows a little bit about it. Hinkel was able to give us a little two cents about what they might be feeling.

"We had to respect them, but we were all about ourselves. We know we're a good team. We're one of the top teams in the state."

Said Regal running back Savion Miller Savion Miller 5'11" | 180 lbs | RB Regina | 2027 State IA : "We know it's a 50-game winning streak. We can't worry about that. We just had to go out and play our game. "

Regina piled up 411 yards of offense, which helped it overcome four turnovers. The Regals stayed basic in the their plan, running the ball and winning in the trenches.

"The whole game plan was to out-physical them and outplay them," Miller said. "They play base. We play base. It was base versus base, and whoever the better team was going to come out with the win."

Miller carried the load for the winners. The junior with multiple Power 4 scholarship offers rushed 21 times for 167 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Kyle Tracy Kyle Tracy 5'10" | 180 lbs | QB Regina Catholic | 2026 State IA toted the rock 21 times for 121 and a pair of scores.

"We felt that they were guarding our pass game a little bit more and not respecting our run game as much," Tracy said. "So, we went out there and ran zone and our base run plays. Teams are going to have to choose what they want to stop."

Grundy Center (12-0) entered the game with a state-best winning streak in its quest for a fourth consecutive championship. The Regals (11-1) were returning to The Dome for the first time since 2020, when they defeated the Spartans in the title contest.

The Spartans controlled the ball on the opening drive before stalling out in the red zone. They settled for a 29-yard field goal from Aiden Betts Aiden Betts K Grundy Center | 2026 State IA to cap an 11-play, 68-yard march that 6 minutes, 45 seconds off of the clock.

Regina responded on its first offensive possession. A five-play, 61-yard march in 1:51 ended with a Kyle Tracy Kyle Tracy 5'10" | 180 lbs | QB Regina Catholic | 2026 State IA 37-yard touchdowns strike to Drew Greve Drew Greve 6'0" | 165 lbs | ATH Regina Catholic | 2026 State IA .

Grundy Center took a 10-7 lead on a Judd Jirovsky Judd Jirovsky 6'0" | 170 lbs | QB Grundy Center | 2026 State IA 14-yard TD toss to Eli Wegmann early in the second quarter. The Regals responded with a drive that culminated by Tracy running into the end zone from 14 yards out. They took that 14-10 advantage into halftime.

Regina only yielded a second-half safety. The Spartans couldn't get untracked offensively.

"They called back one of our (early) touchdowns (on a penalty). It was a tough play for us," Grundy Center quarterback Judd Jirovsky Judd Jirovsky 6'0" | 170 lbs | QB Grundy Center | 2026 State IA said. "We could never get it going from there. Credit to them, their line of scrimmage mentality, their depth and just overall balance. It's tough to play against. I wish them all the best next round."