The Greene County Rams and the Odebolt-Arthur/Battle Creek/Ida Grove Falcons faced off Friday in Ida Grove in their last regular game of the season, a game that ended up being a test of two undefeated teams and the Class 2A District 9 championship game.
Both teams were tested in ways they hadn’t been tested before, but it was the Falcons who claimed a 35-13 victory and the home field advantage in the first round of post season play next week.
Both defenses challenged the opponent’s offense, resulting in Ram senior quarterback Brent Riley and Falcon junior QB Cooper Dejean both completing passes below their season percentages. Riley completed 22 of 53 passes for 41 percent, and Dejean completing 21 of 45 passes for 46 percent. Their percentages were 61.2 and 65.1 percent, respectively, going into the game.
The Falcon defense zeroed in on Ram receiver Carter Morton, limiting his receptions to five for 84 yards. The Ram defense was fast enough not only to thwart Dejean’s pass completion, but to grab his passes for themselves. Riley and Dejean had both been intercepted only three times during the season. The Ram defense intercepted four Dejean passes; Riley was intercepted twice
The Rams have struggled much of the season with penalties, and Friday was no different. The Rams incurred 12 penalties; the Falcons were penalized twice.
The game was scoreless until one minute remained in the first quarter. The Rams put up their first points in an 8-play, 57-yard drive that began when Ram junior Zach Goff intercepted a Dejean pass, giving the Rams the ball on their own 46 yard line at with 3:47 to play. The Rams made it to the Falcon 26 yard line in four plays, with Colby Kafer carrying the ball for 29 of those yards, before a penalty moved the ball back to the 35 yard line and put the Rams at first down and 19. Kafer added another two yards to his total for second and 17, and Riley threw two incomplete passes. With the Rams at fourth and 17, still on the Falcon 33 yard line, coach Caden Duncan gambled on Riley’s arm. Riley threw a 26-yard pass to Will Hansen and the Rams were at first and goal on the 7 yard line. Kafer rushed for the touchdown on the next play. After Cael Fisher’s kick the Rams were up 7-0 with 1:03 to play in the quarter.
The second quarter began with Goff intercepting Dejean’s pass with the Falcons on the Ram 27 yard line. The Rams’ possession ended three plays later with Falcon Beau Nieman intercepting Riley’s pass at the Falcon 43 yard line. It took the Falcons just four plays to score, with Dejean connecting on a 38-yard pass to move the ball all the way to the Ram 19. At third and 12 on the Ram 21 Dejean connected with William Grote in the end zone for a TD. The PAT tied the score at 7 with 9:27 to play in the half.
The Rams had possession of the ball on their own 42 yard line. Riley passed to Carter Morton, who ran 51 yards down the sideline, his longest run for the game. The Rams were at first and goal on the Falcon 7. Kafer rushed for two yards and on the third play Morton ran the ball up the middle to score. The snap on the PAT was high and holder Joe Carey tried a running play without success. With 8:56 to play in the half the Rams were up 13-7.
Jaxon Warnke ended the Falcons’ next possession by intercepting a DeJean pass on first and 10 at the Ram 23 yard line. The Rams weren’t able to move the ball and they punted from their own 27 yard line. The punt was short and the Falcons started their possession on the Ram 42 yard line. They scored 10 plays later with Dejean running the ball the last yard into the end zone. The PAT was good and the Falcons took the lead, 14-13, with 3:18 on the clock. That was the last score of the half.
The Falcons had the ball to start the second half. The possession ended with a punt at fourth and 20 on their own 21 yard line. The Rams started on the Ram 23 yard line. They made three first downs and used up 3-1/2 minutes of clock before punting from the Falcon 44 yard line. Kicking into the wind Carter Morton punched the ball 33 yards. The Falcons ended their next possession with a punt from their 34. Dejean is also the Falcons’ punter, and with the wind at his back he landed the ball 66 yards down field on the Ram 20 yard line. Three plays later Nieman grabbed his second interception and the Falcons had the ball on the Ram 49. Dejean passed for 22 yards on the first play, then carried the ball four yards, and at second and 4 on the Ram 23 he connected with Easton Harms for a TD. After the PAT the home team was up 20-13 with 4:49 to play in the third quarter.
The kick off went into the end zone and the Rams started on their 20 yard line. Kafer grunted out yards a few at a time and Riley connected with Will Hansen on a 9-yard pass play, but the Rams were forced to punt into the wind again. That time Morton’s kick went 44 yards and the Falcons ha the ball on their 39 yard line. Dejean made fast work of it, connecting on a 49-yard pass play and then rushing 21 yards for the Falcons’ second TD of the quarter. After the PAT the Falcons held a 28-13 lead with 1:47 to play in the third quarter.
The fourth quarter opened with the Rams at fourth and 1 on the Falcon 39. Riley threw two incomplete passes before hitting Hansen at the Falcon 27 yard line. Kafer rushed for 15 yard and with the aid of a Falcon penalty the Rams were at first and goal on the 7 yard line. Riley threw an incomplete pass and on the second play he made it over the goal line but fumbled in the end zone. The Falcons recovered the fumble for a touch back reclaimed possession of the ball on their 20 yard line.
Three plays later Dejean threw his fourth interception of the game, this one fielded by sophomore Brayden Smith. Eleven plays later the Rams were at fourth and goal on the Falcon 2 yard line. Riley’s pass to Warnke was caught but dropped, and the Falcon defense had held the Rams from scoring.
Dejean threw an incomplete pass from the 2 yard line. On the next play he kept the ball and raced 98 yards for a TD as his teammates bottled up Morton, the Ram best suited to give chase in a dash. The score was 35-13 after the PAT with a bit more than 5 minutes left in the game.
That was the final score. The Rams were held on downs on the Falcon 48 in their next possession. The Rams were able to hold the Falcons on downs on their 11 yard line. During the Rams’ final possession of the game they moved the ball out to the Falcon 34 before being held on downs. The Falcons needed only to take a knee in their last possession to claim the District 9 title.
