The defending Class 1A champions found themselves in their most competitive district football game of the season Friday in Columbus Junction. The Iowa City Regina Regals (6-0 Overall; 4-0 Class 1A District 6) matched up with the Columbus Wildcats (2-4 overall; 1-3 Class 1A District 6), and their was a familiar result for the No. 1 Regals who won the district bout, 55-28.

However, the Wildcats showed the Regals more of a challenge than their previous three district opponents had. The 27 point margin of victory is the lowest for the Regals in district play, and their second lowest in six games this season.

Head football coach Jeff Martin said the Wildcats are also the first district opponent to score an offensive touchdown against the Regals’ first team defense, “We were down 14-0 at the time and we had the ball on our own 25 yard line.” Martin recounts, “(Our quarterback) Carter Colby scrambled around and hit Ruben Paz on the run and he took it 75 yards for a touchdown. That was a really good thing to see in the first quarter.”

Senior Mauricio Ramirez rushed for 150-plus yards for the second time this season, scoring a touchdown in the setback. Ramirez is second the district with 911 yards on 140 carries, recording 11 touchdowns this season.

Colby completed 10 passes for 180 yards, throwing two touchdowns and three interceptions against the Regina defense.

The loss is the third in a row for the Wildcats in district play, dropping Columbus’s overall record to 2-4. The Wildcats host another tough district matchup tomorrow evening, welcoming the Pella Christian Eagles (4-2 overall; 2-1 Class 1A District 6). The Eagles have won their previous two district football games, including a 45-12 triumph over the Highland Huskies last Friday in Pella.