Editor’s note: Statistics are expanded from the recap posted Friday following the game.
~by The Scranton Journal
The 2016 football season got underway Friday for most teams in the area. Greene County traveled to Carroll for a non-district matchup with Kuemper Catholic. Kuemper had a potent offense, scoring two touchdowns in the first half, two field goals and a TD in the second half for a 34-0 shut out over the Rams.
The duo of juniors Miles Rupiper and Kyle Derner were responsible for nearly all of the Kuemper scoring. Rupiper had touchdown runs of 48, nine and 66 yards. Derner kicked field goals of 35 and 39 yards along with three PATs. The final touchdown was by Von Kraus late in the final period.
“I feel the game was closer than the score indicated,” noted Coach Dean Lansman. “We had three turnovers which they turned into points and those are hard to overcome. I felt we played a better second half when some of the nerves wore off and started to settle down. There were several positives we saw as a coaching staff as well as things we can definitely improve on.”
Sophomore Clint Dennhardt is varsity quarterback following the graduation of three-year QB Daric Whipple. Dennhardt had played as quarterback last October against Humboldt as Whipple missed the game due to injury. Against the Knights, he completed three of 18 passing attempts for 23 yards with two interceptions. Junior Jake Berns hauled in one pass for a nine-yard gain. Senior Chase Stoline and sophomore Trey Hinote each grabbed a seven-yard toss.
Senior Trey Tucker was the rushing leader, gaining 90 yards in 16 carries. Berns added 85 yards on 11 attempts. Senior Nick Schroeder had a six-yard carry and Stoline, a three-yarder. Dennhardt scrambled in the backfield, losing 32 yards.
Total offense for the Rams was 175 yards, 152 rushing, 23 passing. Kuemper accumulated 248 yards rushing, 24 passing for a total of 272. The Rams lost 31 yards on three penalties while the Knights were whistled three times for 35 yards. Greene County fumbled four times, losing possession once.
“With little experience on both sides of the ball, we knew we were going to have some mistakes, but needed to keep them to a minimum,” added Coach Lansman. “We will continue to improve each week as those younger players get more experience and gain confidence.”
Junior Joe Towers led the defense with 10 solo and seven assisted tackles. Berns had six solo and four assists. Senior Hunter Ruth added five solo, five assisted tackles and two quarterback sacks.
Additional tackles came from seniors, Bryce Burkhardt four solo, five assists; Anthony Jacobsen two solo, one assist; Logan Lansman three solo, three assists; Schroeder two solo, three assists; Calvin Skalla, one solo; Stoline one solo, one assist, and Tucker four solo, four assists; juniors, Jordan Patterson, one solo, two assists; Kyle Peters, one solo; Alex Duff, one assist, Charlie Gunn, one solo; sophomore, Hinote, one solo, one assist.
Schroeder handled kicking duties, punting four times for 148 yards along with a 53-yard kickoff. He attempted one field goal that sailed wide.
Stoline caught three kickoffs, returning the ball 53 yards. Schroeder added two catches for 24 yards and Lansman had a three-yard return.
The Rams travel to Harlan Friday for another non-district contest. They begin district action on Friday, Sept. 9, as they host their first home game of the season against Dallas Center-Grimes.
The Boys’ Athletic Union has decided that only the top two teams in each district will enter state playoff competition, along with two at-large teams for a total of 16 teams in state competition in each class.
