West Branch blanks Regina for its first win in the series since 2005

WEST BRANCH — Jack McCullough looked to the sideline for guidance, but, as he said, “the coaches weren’t looking.”

So he made a decision based on instinct:

Act now, explain later.

McCullough rushed the line and blocked a punt for a tone-setting safety, igniting third-ranked West Branch in a cleansing 23-0 victory over Iowa City Regina on Friday at Butch Pedersen Field, clinching the Class 1A District 5 football championship.

“It was huge,” Coach Butch Pedersen said after the Bears (7-0 overall, 4-0 district) secured their first victory over Regina since 2005. “That was a big turning point. It gave us some momentum.”

The Bears got a touchdown on their next possession, and the way their defense was performing, that was plenty.

West Branch held the Regals (4-3, 2-2) to 106 yards of total offense, only 29 on the ground.

“I think we just wanted it more,” said Andy Henson, who rushed for 151 yards and a touchdown. “We have big goals, and they were in our way.”

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Photos: Iowa City Regina vs. West Branch football

The Bears went three-and-out on their first two possessions, and a promising drive ended with an interception at the Regina 14 early in the second quarter.

A couple of penalties later, and the Regals faced fourth-and-19 from their own 5.

Lined up at the right end, McCullough generally doesn’t rush the punter. But he had a hunch, and when nobody on the sideline served as a deterrent, he went after it and knocked it through the back of the end zone for a safety.

“Nobody was scoring, but we got two (points) and the ball,” McCullough said.

“A crazy momentum shift,” Henson said.

Especially after the Bears took the ensuing free kick and marched 74 yards in seven plays. Henson capped it with an 11-yard touchdown run off right tackle.

Henson’s 22-yard run triggered the drive, then he spotted quarterback Tye Hughes on a halfback pass for 19 yards on third-and-12 near midfield.

It was 9-0 at halftime, then West Branch got a pair of touchdowns two minutes apart in the third quarter to secure the outcome.

After forcing a Regina three-and-out on the first possession after halftime, the Bears marched 55 yards, with Hughes’ 13-yard scoring caper capping it.

Kinnick Boelk’s interception set up the next score, a 33-yard pass from Hughes to Trenton Schutte.

“I saw (Regina QB Gentry Dumont) escape the pocket, I watched his eyes and just read the ball,” Boelk said.

West Branch enjoyed a 339-106 advantage in yardage, 18-5 in first downs. Hughes completed 14 of 23 passes for 133 yards.

The Bears close their regular season next week at Wilton; Regina is at Durant.

West Branch 23, Iowa City Regina 0

AT WEST BRANCH

TEAM STATISTICS

First downs: ICR 5, WB 18

Rushes-yards: ICR 21-29, WB 39-187

Passing yards: ICR 77, WB 152

Passing: ICR 8-21-1, WB 15-24-1

Total yards: ICR 106, WB 339

Fumbles-lost: ICR 4-0, WB 1-0

Punts-average: ICR 6-29.0, WB 4-31.3

Penalties-yards: ICR 7-46, WB 6-55

SCORING SUMMARY

Iowa City Regina 0 0 0 0 — 0

West Branch 0 9 14 0 — 23

WB — Safety; punt blocked through the end zone

WB — Andy Henson 11 run (Wyatt Fiderlein kick)

WB — Tye Hughes 13 run (Fiderlein kick)

WB — Trenton Schutte 33 pass from Hughes (Fiderlein kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

Regina — Jackson Naeve 2-22, Levi Daniel 13-15, Gentry Dumont 6-(minus 8). West Branch — Andy Henson 25-151, Tye Hughes 9-19, Carver Boelk 2-11, Kinnick Boelk 2-7, Team 1-(minus 1).

Passing

Regina — Dumont 8-21-1-77. West Branch — Hughes 14-23-1-133, Henson 1-1-0-19.

Receiving

Regina — Steven Liu 3-11, Naeve 2-38, Jack Hoover 2-25, Alex Jensen 1-4. West Branch — K. Boelk 6-30, Trenton Schutte 4-60, Henson 2-28, Hughes 1-19, C. Boelk 1-9, Jack McCullough 1-6.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com