The words of Eminem thundered over the blue and yellow bleachers as the Regina High football team took the field for warm-ups.

On Aug. 28, the Regals, a playoff team in Class 2A last year, opened the season at home against the 3A Clear Creek Amana Clippers, also a playoff team in 2008. But while the difference in class levels was evident during the first 24 minutes of action, Regina powered through to a 14-7 win.

“This is a pretty big win, the first game getting all those jitters out,” junior Regina running back Anthony Halsch said. “We’ve got plenty more to go, so hopefully, we’re going to keep on rolling.”

Regina did anything but roll through its opening series, and both the Regals and the Clippers tainted their first drives with turnovers. Regina’s giveaway put the Clippers 34 yards from pay dirt in the first quarter.

Clear Creek Amana quarterback Blaze Smith took advantage, leading his team to the first score of the game with 6:35 remaining in the first quarter.

Smith lived up to his first name for the rest of the first half, lighting up the Regal defense. The senior threw for 240 yards before halftime, operating exclusively out of the shotgun in the Clippers’ spread attack.

But his massive numbers couldn’t help Clear Creek Amana find the end zone. Key defensive stops and two timely forced turnovers helped Regina, and while the Regals had three turnovers of their own in the first half, going into halftime down 7-0 looked like a gift.

“Our defense kept us in the game once the turnovers started coming,” Regina junior quarterback Jack Verducci said after the game. “We knew we were down just one score, and if we could keep it at a seven-point deficit going into the half, we could win the game.”

Sure enough, the Regals came out invigorated for the second half.

Starting with the ball, Regina put together a drive that lasted more than five minutes. Although it didn’t lead to a score, the Regals seemed to take the offensive momentum from the Clippers.

After a three and out by Clear Creek Amana, the Regals took over at the Clippers’ 31-yard line. And a steady diet of Verducci, with a dose of running back Jedd Reichelt and wide receiver Tyler Nelson, brought the Regals their first score to tie the game.

Turnovers by both teams highlighted the next two series, but Regina took over at the Regal 34-yard line with 9:48 and elected to run on every playing, pounding the ball with Verducci and Halsch.

Eleven-, 18-, and 12-yard runs helped the Regals move to the 6-yard line. Halsch finished off the drive, giving Regina a 14-7 lead with 6:04 remaining in the contest.

“The line just dominated that section there,” Halsch said. “They were getting on their guys and just pushing them back. We really had them beat on that drive.”

The Clippers, however, countered with strong offensive attack of their own. After five minutes and 15 plays, Clear Creek Amana stood 23 yards from the end zone.

With 29 seconds left and the Clippers facing a fourth down with no time-outs, Smith looked to tie the game on a deep touchdown pass. But the toss was picked off by Regal defensive back Daniel Larew, who effectively secured the victory.

Regina head coach (and ex-Hawkeye star) Marv Cook was more than pleased with his team’s effort after the game, especially after being behind early and giving up the ball so readily.

“To their credit they didn’t get down on themselves. The defense obviously slammed the door on them,” he said. “We could have easily been knocked out of the game pretty early with four turnovers.”