Iowa City Regina opens high school football season with talent-laden lineup, high expectations

IOWA CITY – Pick the best option to lead your football team?

A dual-threat all-state quarterback, coming off a breakout season?

A running back with NCAA Division I offers from high-profile programs?

Maybe a physical and versatile tight end and linebacker mix with multiple D-I offers?

Iowa City Regina Coach Dustin Elsbury doesn’t have to choose. The Regals have all the above and more.

“We're all pretty lucky and grateful for the type of kids that we have here,” Elsbury said. “Just the talent pool that we have this year. Not just talent, but good leadership.

“We have 14 unbelievable seniors that just have led all summer long in the weight room, our skills and drills. They've done just an amazing job leading from the top.”

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The Regals are stocked with talent and experience from a Class 1A state quarterfinal team. They have title aspirations and open the season ranked third in The Gazette’s preseason high school football poll.

“We're setting the bar high,” Regina junior tight end and linebacker Tate Wallace said. “With that much talent coming back, there was so much experience in those big games. I feel like we weren't as experiences as we were last year. The ultimate goal is still being state champions at the end of the year.”

“We do have a ton of returning talent, a bunch of guys that have proven they have what it takes to play at a very high level,” Regina senior quarterback Kyle Tracy said. “It's really just going to take for us to go one game at a time, but we're hoping that if we take that approach then we can accomplish big things.”

Everything starts with the three-headed all-state monster on offense – quarterback Kyle Tracy, running back Savion Miller and Wallace. They accounted for almost 90 percent of Regina’s offensive yards and 86 percent of offensive touchdowns, leading the team in passing, rushing and receiving.

“We do have a ton of returning talent, a bunch of guys that have proven they have what it takes to play at a very high level,” Tracy said. “It's really just going to take for us to go one game at a time, but we're hoping that if we take that approach then we can accomplish big things.”

Tracy excelled in his first season as a starter last year. He passed for 1,901 yards and 19 TDs, completing 131 of 213 passes. Tracy added 751 yards on the ground with nine scores.

Potential exists to dwarf those statistics with the athletic weapons at his disposal.

“It makes my job easy,” Tracy said with a laugh. “I got all these guys that I can trust. It really makes me comfortable knowing that I have all these guys that I can put my faith in to make the plays. All I have to do is just get the ball in their hands.”

So many choices for Elsbury and offensive coordinator Ed Hinkel but only one ball to get in their hands. The Regals have shown selflessness, sacrificing personal numbers for a team-first approach.

“It's going to be challenging, for sure, this year,” Elsbury said. “It's a good problem to have. I think the great part is we do run a spread-style offense where we're going throw it around to different guys. We don we don't just run.

“I think a lot of these guys have bought into that and I'm excited with how we're going to utilize everyone. People are going key on the Tate Wallaces and Savion Millers. If they do, it should open it up for some of those other guys that maybe weren't in the spotlight.”

Miller and Wallace are at the top of the playmaker list for Tracy. Both are D-I prospects that will make an impact. Tracy is glad to have them at his disposal.

“They are some of the most talented players I’ve been around and, in the state, but the thing with them is they're both leaders,” Tracy said. “They both work hard and you start to grasp on why so many colleges are offering these guys full-ride scholarships. You realize that these guys are leaders on the team and they just make everything go around.”

Tracy said he has focused on moving more efficiently and improving his throwing form. He has tried to perfect routine plays, throwing 10-yard out passes consistently. Elsbury said Tracy embraced the challenge of being thrust into the lineup a year ago and expects the game to slow down for him.

“He's continued to grow as a leader,” Elsbury said. “He's just way more vocal with the guys. He holds guys accountable in the weight room. He's got group chats. He’s getting guys together to throw in the offseason. He works with a quarterback coach over the summer and whatnot to up his game, working on mechanics and moving around.

“He can run and pass, so we’re going to utilize that,” Elsbury said. “He takes it upon himself to improve in every aspect. He has really worked hard to improve his speed. He's gotten a lot faster and has a good football IQ.

“He's just an ultimate competitor, too. He is going to compete in everything he does.”

Miller has become a coveted running back by notable college programs, like University of Miami, University of Missouri and Iowa State. He amassed 1,114 offensive yards with 922 and eight TDs on the ground. Miller also served on special teams, averaging almost 29 yards per return.

Miller’s trek started as a 5-foot-7, 160-pound freshman.

“I didn’t think I’d go anywhere,” Miller said. “I grew and got bigger. I got my first offer. I was like I could really actually go somewhere with this, and it made me really want to work harder and harder.”

Miller bulked up to 200 pounds with his 5-10 frame. The offseason, however, was geared to more of the finesse aspects of rushing, which could cause fits for opponents.

“I got better with my vision and my agility this year,” Miller said. “That's really what I worked on hardest this offseason. I was trying to work on just get bigger last season. That's all I really wanted to do. And then after that, I decided to work on my footwork and everything else.”

Miller will share the backfield with sophomore Gabe Hegelheimer, who was an all-state kicker as a freshman. Elsbury said Hegelheimer will allow the team to use more two-back sets, keep Miller fresh and contribute to all three phases of the game.

“It's pretty cool to see how him and Savion mesh together,” said Elsbury, noting both were on the same 400 relay during track. “Sometimes you think they're playing in the same position, so maybe they don't get along or if they're not getting a certain amount of carriers one's going to get mad, but they're the complete opposite.

“They’re all for each other. They want the best for each other. They're challenging each other, raising each other's level in every aspect.”

Wallace is one of the top two-way players. At 6-3 and 235, he was a mismatch for many defenders, amassing 752 yards and eight TDs on 51 catches. He also had 27.5 tackles, 16 solo, four tackles for loss and a sack.

Elsbury said Wallace will fill different positions on defense, demonstrating his versatility and athleticism to go along with his tough and physical play.

“He’s getting recruited pretty highly for linebacker but we’ll use him as (defensive) end and he doesn’t bat an eye,” Elsbury said. “Wherever, whatever, he's going to step in there and help the team. So, we kind of have him all over the place – (defensive) end and linebacker. And obviously as a tight end and receiver, he’s very effective as well.”

Wallace has received offers from Tennessee, Minnesota and Miami of Ohio. They are courting Wallace as a linebacker and that’s his favorite part of the game.

“I like going and hitting somebody and making sure they don't get down the field,” Wallace said. “I much than like hit somebody and get hit, but I enjoy tight end a lot, running around and trying to make people tackle. Defense is more my style.”

Elsbury said special teams will be emphasized this season and could be an X-factor for the Regals. The defense will have to replace its top two tacklers and five of the top eight from last year. The offensive line will be key for the skill positions to thrive.

“We’re trying to make a really deep playoff run,” Miller said. “We’ve got a really talented team this year, so we should do that ... talent on the team is just crazy.”

Regina will get a good gauge in the opening week. The Regals will play at Wilton in a rematch of last year’s state quarterfinal. The Beavers won, 21-14.

“They did take us out of the playoffs last year,” Miller said. “They're a really good team, so it's going to be a really good game out there. They're a really tough team to beat. We're ready.”

IOWA CITY REGINA REGALS

Coach: Dustin Elsbury (2 nd year, 9-2)

2024: 9-2, Class 1A state quarterfinalist, 1A District 5 champion

Top returners: TE/LB/DE Tate Wallace, jr.; RB/DB Savion Miller, jr.; DB/WR Aaron Honore, sr.; QB Kyle Tracy, sr.; DB/WR Edwin Gangba, sr.; LB Roan Eckhoff, jr.; RB/LB/K Gabe Hegelheimer, soph.; DB/WR Drew Greve, sr.; LB/WR James Whisler, sr.; OL/DL Simon Shetler, jr.; OL/DL Porter Shetler, jr.; DB/WR Hudson Koch, sr.; DB/WR Kaleb Moeller, jr.; DB/WR Trey Streb, jr.; LB Luke Hamilton, jr.; LB/QB Zach Poe, soph.

Keys to success: The Regals have great talent and depth at the skill positions. They have to find a way to distribute the ball. The offensive line will have to progress along with the season for Regina to do well.

Marquee matchup: Aug. 29 – at Wilton. A rivalry game and rematch of last year’s state quarterfinals.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com