Ahead at halftime, but win still eludes Rams
The Greene County Rams played their best football game of the season but came up short against the Gilbert Tigers at Linduska Field in Jefferson Friday. The Rams, winless on the season, lost to the 5-1 Tigers by a score of 35-18.
The Rams had only one turnover for the game, a fumble in the fourth quarter. Sophomore quarterback Clint Dennhardt threw no interceptions. He completed six of 13 passes for 130 yards. The Rams had 312 total yards of offense, well ahead of their 206 yard average for the season. In only one game, a 42-19 loss to Harlan in Week 2, have the Rams had more than 300 yards of offense in a game.
Tiger quarterback senior Steven Lawrence completed five of 13 passes for 50 yards. Senior Cody Dvorak’s rushing capacity was potent against the Rams, as he tallied 265 yards rushing on 30 attempts. Total Tiger offense was 442 yards.
As has happened several times this season, the opponent scored on their first possession. The Tigers received the kickoff and needed seven plays to cover 83 yards and score. The drive ended with a 22-yard pass play to Keegan Sturdy. The Rams were called offside on the extra point kick; on the ‘replay’ the Tigers successfully completed a conversion and the score was 8-0.
The Rams scored on their first possession, something they also did in Harlan. The drive started well with a 48-yard kickoff return by senior Chase Stoline that put the ball on the Tigers’ 43 yard line. Senior Trey Tucker scored a touchdown on a five-yard run to finish a 10-play drive. Senior Nick Schroeder made the PAT and the score was 8-7 for the Tigers.
The Rams took a 10-8 lead into halftime with a 27-yard field goal kicked by Schroeder. The field goal came at the end of a 96 yard, 11-play drive.
The Rams had the first possession of the second half. The Rams made it to the Tigers’ 20 yard line but ended up attempting another field goal. That time the kick was short.
The Tigers scored on their first possession of the half when Lawrence sprinted 57 yards for the touchdown. Kicker Andrew Thatcher’s PAT was good and the Tigers had the lead at 15-10.
The Tigers scored again on their second possession. The Ram defense foiled a two-point conversion and the score was 21-10.
The Rams scored with 11:09 to play in the fourth quarter with a 79-yard drive that had started at the end of the third quarter. The drive included Dennhardt’s longest pass of the season, a 53-yarder to Schroeder. That brought the Rams to within three points at 21-18.
Gilbert scored with 6:46 to play in the fourth quarter to stretch their lead to 28-18. The Rams’ possession was shortened by a Tucker fumble. The Tigers capitalized and put together a drive that Dvorak ended with a 34-yard run. With the PAT good the Tigers were up 35-18 with 3:37 left to play. That proved to be the final score.
Unofficially, Schroeder had three catches for 93 yards. Tucker led in rushing with 78 yards on 21 carries and Dennhardt had 54 rushing yards on 15 attempts. Berns added 50 rushing yards on six carries.
Joe Towers led in tackles with 11 solos. Anthony Jacobsen had nine solo tackles and two assists. Logan Lansman added six solo and two assisted tackles along with a fumble recovery with a five-yard return.
Additional tackles were made by Stoline, three solo, two assists; Berns, Hunter Ruth and Bryce Burkhardt, three solo and one assist apiece; Tucker, three solo; Charlie Gunn and Trey Hinote, each with two solo and one assist; Austin Delp, Bryce Hoyle, Jordan Patterson, Kyle Peters and Calvin Skalla, one solo tackle apiece. Jacobsen and Ruth each had a quarterback sack.
The Rams play the Perry Blue Jays in the decades-old Battle of the Cowbell in Jefferson Oct. 14. One of the teams will get their first Class 3A District 1 win. Perry is 0-5 in the district, 2-5 overall, while the Rams are also 0-5 in the district but 0-7 overall.
