The Greene County Ram defense held on mightily against the Carroll Tigers, limiting them to 14 points, well below their 38 point average per game this season, but the Ram offense could muster no points. The Tigers topped the Rams 14-0 at Linduska Field in Jefferson in the last regular season game. The Rams were the fourth team to be shut out by the Tigers this season.
To the Ram defense’s credit, defending state champion Sioux City Heelan is the only team to hold the Tiger offense to fewer points. The Heelan game is Carroll’s sole loss on the season. The Tigers finished regular season play with an 8-1 overall record and 6-0 in class 3A District 2 play. The Rams ended the season at 4-5 on the season and 4-2 in the district. Both teams start post season play next Wednesday, with Carroll as a number 1 seed and Greene County as a number 3 seed.
The Rams very nearly scored in the first quarter. Their first possession of the game looked like it would end with a punt, but the Tigers were called for a 15-yard penalty for roughing the kicker. The penalty gave the Rams a first down on the 50 yard line. With the help of a 34-yard Daric Whipple pass to Max Neese, and a 10-yard personal foul penalty against the Tigers, the Rams had a third down and four yards to go on the Tigers’ 9 yard line. On the next play, Whipple’s pass was intercepted in the end zone. The next time the Rams had possession of the ball it was on their own 23 yard line.
The Tigers were scoreless until midway through the second quarter. With 5:31 left to play, the Tigers scored after an 11-play series that covered 62 yards. Tiger quarterback Addison Ross and running back Matt Pauk carried the ball most of those yards. The point after touchdown was good and the Tigers led 7-0.
The Rams started on offense the second half and opened with a 20-yard rush by Jordan Challen. The Rams moved the ball to the Tigers’ 43 yard line, but on a third down with two yards to go the Rams lost yardage. At fourth and six on the Tiger 47 yard line, the Rams tried to fake a punt and run the ball. The play was unsuccessful and the Tigers claimed the ball on their 49 yard line. They scored on a six play drive that included a 10 yard holding penalty against them. Of the 61 gross yards, Ross rushed 49 yards. The PAT was good and the Tigers were up 14-0 with 6:37 to play in the third quarter.
With 2:41 left to play in the third quarter, Ram Jake Carey intercepted a pass – his fourth for the season – on the Carroll 17 yard line. The Carroll defense played tough, dropping Dylan Hamilton for a loss on the first play and sacking Whipple on the second play. The Tigers got the ball back on downs on their own 26 yard line.
The Tigers attempted a 27 yard field goal with 5:01 to play in the fourth quarter. The kick was not good, and the score remained 14-0. That gave the Rams the ball on their own 20 yard line. The drive started well, with a 22 yard pass to Tyler Beger, but ended four plays later with a pass interception on the Tigers’ 40 yard line.
Even after that much grueling play, it was the Ram defense that played tough. With the help of a five yard delay of game penalty against the Tigers, the Rams allowed them to get only as far as the Tiger 43 yard line with third and 20 yards to go. On the next play Ross broke lose for a long run all the way to the Ram 5 yard line. It was first and goal at the 5 when Pauk fumbled and Riah Nelsen recovered it.
The Rams’ last possession, with 1:08 on the clock, started with Beger as the receiver of an 18 yard Whipple pass. The razzle-dazzle needed to score at that point was not to be found. Whipple was sacked on the next play and had a pass intercepted to finish the game.
Unofficially, the Rams had 153 yards total offense, with 52 yards rushing and 101 yards passing. The Tigers had 295 yards total offense, with 233 yards rushing and 129 yards rushing.
