The Greene County Rams were no match for the larger, more experienced Harlan Cyclones in non-district football Friday night in Jefferson. A 41-7 loss to the Cyclones put the Rams at 0-2 as they begin district play next week.
The Rams had five turnovers during the game, two of which resulted in fast TDs for the Cyclones.
The Cyclones’ first touchdown came after just 1:30 of play. The Cyclones received the Leo Marques kick-off to start the game at the 1 yard line and returned it 48 yards to their own 49 yard line. They gained three yards in their first two plays. At third and seven on the Rams’ 48 yard line the Cyclones scored on a Nick Foss pass play. There was a penalty on the play, the first of more than a dozen in the game, and although it was against Harlan it didn’t nullify the touchdown. The point after was good and with 10:30 left to play in the first quarter the visitors were up 7-0.
The Cyclones’ second touchdown came on a short pass into the end zone to finish a 12-play, 67-yard drive, most of which was on the ground. With 1:45 to play in the first quarter the Cyclones were up 14-0.
The Rams made their first first down for the game in the next drive on a pass play to Jake Berns. The Rams were first and 10 on Harlan’s 43 yard line when Jordan Patterson caught a long pass. Ram fans cheered, but Patterson was out of bounds when he made the catch. The Ram offense claimed another first down with a pass play to Wade Adcock and made it to the Harlan 17 yard line. A penalty against the Cyclones put the Rams at first and 5 yards on the 12 yard line, but three incomplete passes later Harlan had the ball back on their own 12.
The Cyclones went out on downs, the Rams went out on downs, and the Cyclones went out on downs again. At fourth and 34 yards (again, a 15 yard penalty was charged against the Cyclones), the Cyclones punted to the Rams’ 15 yard line.
The punt was returned to the Rams’ 20 yard line, but on the Rams’ first play from scrimmage quarterback Clint Dennhardt fumbled the snap and the Cyclones had the ball again, with 5:32 to play in the first half. They scored five plays later with a short pass into the end zone. Ram Will Hansen blocked the PAT but with 3:47 to play the visitors were ahead 20-0.
On the Rams’ first play after receiving the kickoff a pass intended for Lance Hughes was intercepted and the Cyclones had the ball again on the Rams’ 21 yard line. Nick Foss ran the needed yards to score. The PAT was good, and with 3:23 to play in the half the Cyclones were up 27-0.
The Rams had one more turnover in the first half, an intercepted pass, but only 25 seconds remained in the half and the Cyclones didn’t score.
The second half was much like the first. The Rams received the kick off return and Nick Breon returned it 29 yards to the Ram 44 yard line. The Rams made it to third and 1, but were pushed back to fourth and 3 and punted. The Cyclones took over the ball on their own 18 yard line. On the first play, Foss ran the 82 yards to the goal line, but a personal foul called against Harlan at the 50 yard line nullified the run and moved the ball back to the Cyclones’ 35 yard line. It was the 10th penalty against the Cyclones.
The Cyclones prevailed though, and scored eight plays later on a much shorter Foss run. After the PAT, with 6:02 to play in the third quarter Harlan was up 34-0.
Breon again returned the kick off, this time making it to the Rams’ 29 yard line. On the first play the snap was bad and Harlan recovered it. Harlan had possession on the Rams’ 20 yard line. They scored three plays later to stretch the lead to 40-0 with 4:40 to play in the third
The clock moved continuously after that score.
Coach Mitch Moore put sophomore quarterback Brent Riley in the game at that time. Riley passed on the next seven plays, with one of them complete to Jordan Patterson for 20 yards, and another complete to Patterson for 16 yards. On a third and goal play at the 12 yard line Hughes dropped the ball. Harlan had possession of the ball on their own 6 yard line. They made it out to the 13 yard line before punting.
The Rams took possession of the ball on the 50 yard line. Jake Berns rushed 24 yards to give the Rams a first down on Harlan’s 26 yard line. Riley threw two incomplete passes before connecting with Patterson to put the Rams on the scoreboard with 2:36 left to play in the game. Marques’ PAT was good and the score was 41-7.
The Cyclones had one more possession but punted with :34 seconds to play. The Rams did not score again and the game ended 41-7.
The Rams had 157 total yards of offense, with 111 of them through the air. Riley threw for 77 yards on five of 11 passing. Dennhardt completed six out of 16 aerials for 34 yards. He was intercepted twice.
Patterson caught three passes for 62 yards and the score. Berns snared a 20 yard pass while Hinote grabbed two for 17 yards.
Kafer led in rushing with 61 yards on 16 carries. Berns ran twice for five yards. The Ram quarterbacks scrambed four times, losing 22 yards.
The Cyclones had 238 rushing yards and 73 yards passing for 311 total yards of offense.
Leading the Ram defense were Brock Wuebker and Berns with 12 tackles each. Will Hansen was credited with eight tackles; Clay Smith and Austin Delp, six; Adcock, five and Charlie Gunn, four.
Also credited with tackles were Nick Breon, Cayden Gerdes, Xavier Hayes, Hinote, Kafer, Caden Lowmiller, Tyler Miller, Charlie Minnehan, Carter Morton, Joe Patterson and Kyle Peters. Jordan Patterson recovered a fumble and picked up a tackle.
Unofficially, the Rams incurred six penalties and the Cyclones incurred 11. (The Scranton Journal contributed to this post.)
