Updated Sept. 14 with additional stats prepared by The Scranton Journal
The Greene County Ram football team opened its home season and Class 3A District 2 play with a 18-12 loss to the Dallas Center-Grimes Mustangs. The Mustangs were ranked #8 in Class 3A two weeks ago, but fell out of the rankings with a loss to Pella High School last week.
In the early minutes of the game it appeared the Mustangs would have their way easily. They were ahead 10-0 early on, but the Rams “clicked.” The defense was able to slow the Mustangs, particularly leading rusher Nathan Brown, and sophomore Clint Dennhardt started connecting on passes. When the first half ended the Rams had a two point lead at 12-10.
The Mustangs received the kick off and scored their first touchdown with less than three minutes off the clock. The five-play, 64-yard drive was all on the ground, with quarterback Trey Washington and Brown carrying the ball. The drive ended with a 44-yard Brown run. The point after touchdown was good and the Mustangs were up 7-0 with 9:07 remaining in the first quarter.
The Rams went out on downs on their possession and the Mustangs got the ball again on the Ram 39 yard line. Brown took the ball 29 yards to the Ram 10 yard line but the Ram defense held and the Mustangs ended up kicking a 35-yard field goal. With 4:53 to play in the first quarter the score was 10-0.
The Rams’ next possession ended with a 14-yard punt that gave the Mustangs the ball on the Ram 40 yard line. The Mustangs went out on downs and it was the Rams’ ball on their own 39 yard line. The possession ended with a 59-yard Nick Schroeder punt.
Dallas Center-Grimes ended their possession with a punt that gave the Rams possession on their own 33 yard line. On the first play quarterback Clint Dennhardt handed the ball off to running back Trey Tucker. Tucker ran 58 yards down to the Ram 9 yard line. Dennhardt threw a pass to Nick Schroeder in the end zone and the Rams were on the scoreboard with 8:11 to play in the second quarter. The point after touchdown kick was blocked and the score was 10-6 for the Mustangs.
In the next series Ram noseguard Bryce Burkhardt intercepted a DC-G pass and ran to the Mustang 2 yard line. The good fortune didn’t last, as the Rams fumbled the snap on the next play. The Mustangs made it back up the field to the 39 yard line and punted.
The Rams started their last possession of the first half on their own 20 yard line. They put together 14 plays that included a 13-yard pass to Schroeder, a 14-yard pass to Chase Stoline, and a pass play to Tucker that gained 12 yards. With the Rams at second and 10 on the DC-G 27 yard line, Dennhardt threw an incomplete pass to Schroeder in the end zone. There was a pass interference call on the play, though, moving the ball to the 13 yard line with 20 seconds to play in the half. Dennhardt threw again to Schroeder, and this time it was good. The Rams were up 12-10. They attempted a two-point conversion but didn’t make it across the goal line.
The Ram offense came back for the second half lacking spark. Stoline returned the kick-off 23 yards out to the 33 yard line, but the Rams ended up punting and the Mustangs had the ball on their own 20 yard line. The Mustangs were penalized on the next three plays and were backed up all the way to their own 4 yard line. Washington punted the ball to the Ram 42 yard line, but a 15-yard sideline penalty against the Rams put the ball on the Rams’ 27 yard line. Excellent field position went that quickly.
The next three possessions ended with punts, first by the Rams, then by the Mustangs, and then again by the Rams. The Mustangs claimed the ball on their own 39 yard line and used 4-1/2 minutes in a 10-play, 61-yard drive that saw Brown and Tanner Epple both rushing. The drive ended with a one-yard run across the goal line by Brown. The Mustangs added two extra points on a conversion and the third quarter ended with the Mustangs up 18-12.
For the third quarter, the Rams had minus nine yards of offense. They had no first downs.
The fourth quarter continued the same way. The Rams punted, the Mustangs punted, and the Rams punted again. The Mustangs were at fourth down with one yard to go on the Ram 21 yard line when Tucker forced a fumble and Lansman recovered it. The Rams had the ball on their own 25 yard line and lost yardage back to their own 12 yard line before Schroeder punted at fourth and 23 yards. The Mustangs took possession at the Ram 45 yard line, but again, the Ram defense didn’t let them score.
The teams again both went out on downs. The Rams started their last possession with 1:11 to play on their own 16 yard line. On second and 10 Dennhardt connected on a 14-yard pass to Schroeder and the Rams had earned their first first down for the second half. At second and 8 Dennhardt connected again with Schroeder for another first down on the Ram 41 yard line. Dennhardt lost 10 yards on the next play and a five yard penalty put the Rams at third and 25. Dennhardt’s final pass was intercepted with :04 on the clock.
The statistics show the second half struggle. Unofficially, the Rams had 124 yards of offense in the first half but only 132 for the game. Dennhardt was seven of 12 passing in the first half for 63 yards, but finished the game 11 of 30 with 87 yards. The Rams tallied 61 yards of rushing in the first half on 17 carries, but finished game with 27 yards of rushing on 45 carries.
Trey Tucker was the Rams’ leading rusher with 62 yards in 13 carries. Nick Schroeder was the leading receiver with 58 yards on five receptions, including two touchdown passes.
The Mustangs had a total of 263 yards of offense. DC-G quarterback Damon Clapper did not play due to injury. Playing in the QB position, Trey Washington was four of 10 passing for 21 yards. Brown finished the game with 201 yards rushing in 37 carries.
Final score was 18-12 for Dallas Center- Grimes. The Mustangs are now 2-1 on the season and 1-0 in Class 3A District 2 play. The Rams are 0-3 on the season and 0-1 in district play.
Stats added: Schroeder caught five passes for 58 yards and two TDs. Tucker pulled down three aerials for 14 yards; Stoline caught an 11-yarder; Hinote added two yards on a catch and Lansman lost a yard on one reception.
Tucker gained 62 yards on 13 carries; Schroeder two yards on one carry; Lansman, negative one yard on one attempt; Jake Berns, two carries for minus five yards. Dennhardt was chased for -13 yards on 10 carries.
Tucker led the defense with 12 solo and two assisted tackles. Joe Towers added eight solo and four assists while Berns had nine solo and one assist.
Additional tackles were made by Bryce Burkhardt, four solo, five assists, one interception with 23-yard return; Lansman four solo, three assists, fumble recovery; Hunter Ruth, four solo, two assists; Nick Hidlebaugh, three solo, two assists; Dylan Davis, two solo; Bryce Hoyle, one solo, two assists; Jordan Patterson and Kyle Peters, one solo, one assist apiece; Hinote, Thomas Jacobsen, Calvin Skalla, Caden Gerdes, one solo tackle each; Schroeder and Brock Wuebker, one assisted tackle apiece.
Schroeder kicked off three times for 129 yards. He punted nine times for 336 yards. Stoline returned four kickoffs for 60 yards.
Greene County had six penalties for 45 yards while DC-G incurred 11, losing 120 yards.
The Rams travel to Webster City to play the Lynx next Friday.
