The Master Blaster was always one of the most feared characters any movie of the 1980's had to offer. When the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IAHSAA) released the 2012 football districts, there was a big "well, here we go" heard from the Atalissa Truck Stop to Dan's ShortStop. District 6, Class 1A has seven schools in it. But, let's be honest, the vast majority of people reading this article were focused on one opponent: Iowa City Regina. The two schools are just 8.9 miles apart, but have not played since the 2007 season. That game took place at the Little Rose Bowl: a place very few teams have defeated the Bears since the turn of the century. One of the teams to beat the Bears at the LRB? Regina. Which year was that in? 2007. The final score was 41-7. West Branch kept that game close for the first quarter. But then the overpowering Regals took control and coasted to a road victory. The Bears would go on to lose to Pekin two weeks later, finishing the season 7-2. That followed a 2006 season in which the Bears finished 8-1 and did not qualify for the playoffs. Which team handed the Bears their lone loss in 2006? Yep. That's right. Regina. The 2006 game was a two overtime 28-21 thriller. The Bears had many chances to put the game away in regulation, but mistakes happen to even the best teams. In 2005, West Branch defeated Regina 13-10 during the regular season. But, as the schedule makers - and stars would align - the two teams would meet up in the second round of the Class 1A playoffs. The Regals left no doubt as to who was the better team with a 21-0 defeat of the Bears, which was a springboard for their championship run. Regina would down Algona Bishop Garrigan in the all-parochial school 1A championship game, 19-8. So, that means Regina has defeated West Branch in the previous three match ups. Something that is certainly not lost on Head Coach Butch Pedersen. Nor will it be lost on a great many Bear fans. Symmetry could be a widely used term as it relates to the Regina of 2012 and the West Branch of 20 years previous. In 1992, the Bears were the darlings of Class 1A football. Coming off a very dominant state championship season in 1991, that helped heal the heartbreak of a semifinal loss in 1990. And, in 1989, they were the state champions for the first time in school history. Beginning in September of 1990, the Bears did not lose a regular season game until 1996. In total, WB won 62 consecutive regular season contests - which stood as the second longest streak in the United States at the time (second to only Concord DeLaSalle, California). Regina enters the game on Friday on a 30 game win streak, the longest live streak in the state of Iowa. The Regals are a two-time defending Class 2A state champion. After 32 years of not making the playoffs, all roads to the championship game seem to be detouring down Rochester Avenue in Iowa City. Even more hype is added to this game due to a somewhat rocky relationship (rivalry) that has built between the two schools. Let's be honest, very few Bear fans cheer for the Regals when they are not playing. That is not a slap in the face to Regina, but rather just the way the cookie crumbles. Every school has that one school it does not really cheer for. Wilton and Durant are rivals. Mount Vernon and Solon. Tipton and North Cedar. West High and City High. West Des Moines Dowling Catholic and West Des Moines Valley. You get the idea. It all goes down this Friday. At the Little Rose Bowl. With WMT-600 AM making it their "Game of the Week." Writers from the IC Press Citizen, Iowa Preps, CR Gazette, and the National Enquirer will be in attendance. OK, maybe not the National Enquirer. In my mind, all I can think of is Mel Gibson and Tina Turner and the Master Blaster. "Two Men Enter, One Man Leaves". One glaring difference, is both teams will actually leave. BUT, just one team leaves as District 6 frontrunner and undefeated. Mad Max 3: Beyond Thunderdome. The Regals have the 30 game win streak and two consecutive state titles in tow. The Bears have Class 1A's only four consecutive semifinalist streak, home field advantage, and a 3 game losing streak to the Regals they wish to erase. All the build up. All the hype. All the excitement leads to kickoff at 7pm on Friday night. Welcome to Thunderdome, Baby. Cue the crowd...