The Greene County Rams claimed their third win in Class 2A District 9 football when they traveled to Red Oak to play the Tigers Friday. The 35-14 win makes the district title dependent on next week’s game against OABCIG.
The first quarter opened with the Tiger offense running a 15-play drive that took almost seven minutes off the clock. The drive started on the Tigers’ 24 yard line, and using all rushing plays the home team made it to the Ram 27 yard line. At fourth and 11 quarterback Carter Bruce threw his first pass of the game. The pass was incomplete and the Rams finally had the ball on their own 27 yard line.
The Rams started with a pair of Brent Riley passes to Carter Morton and they had a first down on the Tigers’ 21 yard line. At third and eight the ball got loose on a bad snap and rolled in the wet grass. The Rams recovered the ball but ended up punting at fourth and 20 on the Tigers’ 32 yard line.
The Tigers and the Rams both went out on downs in the next possessions, with the Rams having the ball as the first quarter ended. The Rams punted from the Tiger 35 yard line on the first play of the second quarter. The Tigers punted to end their next possession. Ram junior Nick Breon returned the punt 74 yards for a touchdown, running solo the last 40 yards. Cael Fisher kicked the point after touchdown and the Rams were ahead 7-0 with 9:45 to play in the second quarter.
The Rams scored again with 2:18 to play in the quarter. The drive started on the Rams’ own 30 yard line, with a 58-yard Brent Riley pass play to Carter Morton starting the drive. The Rams scored five plays later, with Clint Dennhardt running the last five yards. Fisher’s kick was good and the Rams were up 14-0.
The Ram defense again held the Tigers, forcing them to punt and the Rams had the ball on the 50 yard line. On the first play Riley and Morton partnered on a pass play again to score. Another Fisher kick and the Rams were ahead 21-0 with 1:16 left in the half.
The Rams had the ball first in the second half. The kick-off was short and the Rams started on their own 42 yard line. They took eight plays to get to the goal line with the aid of a 20-yard Colby Kafer rush and a 22-yard pass play to Trey Hinote. Dennhardt hauled the ball the last two yards to score. Fisher’s PAT went wide right so didn’t score. With 8:18 to play in the third quarter the Rams held a 27-0 lead.
The Tigers scored on a 10-play, 80-yard drive that included a 40-yard pass play to Codie Bentley and a 13-yard run into the end zone by Carter Maynes. Kyndal Kells, the first female the Rams have played against this season, kicked the PAT and the score was 27-7 with 3:44 to play in the third quarter. Rain started in earnest soon after.
The fourth quarter began with the Rams at second and eight on their own 37 yard line, having started the possession on their own 16 yard line. A penalty against the Rams for holding moved the ball back to the 25 yard line. At second and 20 Riley connected on a pass to Hughes and Hughes raced the 80 yards to the end zone, putting the Rams up 33-7. The Rams tried a 2-point conversion and Dennhardt didn’t disappoint. The score was 35-7 just barely into the fourth quarter.
The Tigers scored their second TD on another long drive, this time moving the ball 75 yards in 18 plays. The Ram defense had the Tigers at fourth down and 16 at the Ram 41 yard line when a penalty against the Rams for unsportsmanlike conduct made it fourth and 1 on the Ram 26 yard line. The defense stood fast at their 9 yard line and held the Tigers for three downs until a short pass to Isaac Birt gave the Tigers the TD. Kells’ kick was good and the score was 35-14 with 4:53 to play in the game. The Rams worked the clock and that became the final score.
The Rams had 406 total yards of offense, with 274 through the air. Riley completed eight of 15 passes. Morton was the leading pass receiver with 156 yards on four passes. Rushing yardage totaled 132 yards. Dennhardt rushed for 82 yards and Kafer rushed for 61.
Bryce Hoyle led in tackles with six solos and nine assists. Clkayton Smith had five solos and five assists, Lance Hughes had five solos and four assists, Nick Breon had three solos and 11 assists, and Austin Delp had four solos and eight assists.
Red Oak had 263 yards of offense. Bruce completed five of 13 passes for 104 yards. Bentley was the leading receiver, catching two passes for 66 yards. Justin McCunn was the leading rusher with 82 yards.
The win puts the Rams 7-1 on the season and 3-1 in Class 2A District 9. The Red Oak Tigers are 4-4 on the season and 2-2 in the district.
The Rams host the Odebolt-Arthur/Battle Creek/Ida Grove Falcons next week. OABCIG topped the Kuemper Knights in Carroll this week, putting all three teams at 3-1 in District 9. The Knights play winless Shenandoah next week. Unless the Mustangs upset the Knights, the winner of the Greene County-OABCIG game will claim second place in the district. If the upset were to happen, the winner at Linduska Field next week will finish first in the district.
The top two teams in the district qualify for post-season play.
