The South Central Calhoun Titans’ defense and running back Blake McAlister were too much for the Greene County Rams, as the Rams lost their home gridiron opener 34-7 Friday night in Jefferson. Both teams had won their first game and both were ranked going into Friday’s game, with the Rams ranked #9 on Class 2A and the Titans ranked #2 in Class 1A.
Ram junior quarterback Bryce Stalder connected on 14 of 33 passes for 200 yards, but the Rams’ rushing yards totaled just 44, with Stalder contributing 36 of them. Titan senior quarterback Cole Corey threw 10 passes and connected on six for 99 yards, but the Titan rushing game added 247 yards, with 179 of those belonging to junior running back McAlister.
The Titans won the coin toss and opted for the first possession in the second half. Sophomore Richard Daugherty returned the kick off to the Ram 38 yard line. The Rams made it only as far as their own 41 before going out on downs for the first of seven times in the game.
The Titans started their first possession on their own 45 yard line. It took them seven plays, including three successful passes by Corey, to score with 7:09 left in the quarter. The point after touchdown kick was good and the Rams were down 0-7.v
Daugherty returned the kick-off 38 yards to give the Rams the ball on their own 48. A bad snap on the first play from scrimmage cost the Rams eight yards, and the Rams ended up punting at fourth and 20 from their own 38 yard line. Ram junior Max Riley ended the Titans’ next possession when he intercepted a Corey pass and ran 17 yards back up the field.
The Rams started on the Titan 48 yard line to begin a 12-play drive that included 13 yards in penalties against the Rams, pass plays to senior Jaxon Warnke and juniors Jackson Morton and Nathan Black, and ended with a 12-yard TD pass to Warnke. Black kicked the PAT twice, as there was a flag on the first kick with a penalty against the Titans. The second time Black’s kick was good and the score was tied at 11:09 to play in the half.
The Titans’ possession began on their own 20-yard line after a touch back on the kick-off. The Titans collected three first downs and were at first and 10 on the Ram 44 when Morton intercepted a Corey pass and ran 16 yards back to the Ram 40 yard line. The Rams turned the ball over at fourth and 32 on their own 48 yard line.
Two plays later, including a 23-yard pass play, the Titans were at first and 10 on the Ram 26. Sophomore Owens McKade recovered a Titan fumble. The officials disallowed the fumble recovery and the Titans got the ball back, still at first and 10 on the Ram 26. At third and 7 on the Ram 23 freshman Michael Rumley tacked Corey for a loss, moving the ball back to the Ram 31 at fourth down and 15 yards to go. Corey connected with McAlister on a pass play for a touchdown. After the PAT the visitors were up 14-7 with 4:15 to play in the half.
The Rams next possession was highlighted by a 30-yard Stalder to Morton pass play that put the ball on the Titan 15 yard line. Stalder threw three incomplete passes and the Rams went out on downs at the Titan 15 with 1:25 to play in the half. The half ended with the Titans on their own 29 yard line.
The second half was grueling for the Ram defense. They held the Titans on downs on the visitors’ first possession. Warnke returned the punt to the Titan 33 yard line. The Rams lost three yards for second and 13, and Stalder threw a trio of incomplete passes. The Titans put together nine plays to move the ball 64 yards and score on their next possession. The drive ended with a 20-yard pass to McAlister. After the PAT the Titans were up 21-7.
Black returned the kick off to the Ram 35 yard line, The Rams picked up yardage on rushing by Stalder and junior Joe Carey. They had a first down on the Titan 48, but were pushed back to their own 45 before punting at fourth and 17. The Ram defense held the Titans on that possession, forcing them to punt at fourth and 8 on their own 25 yard line.
Warnke returned the punt 22 yards and the Rams started on the Titan 39. A penalty against the Titans gave the Rams first down with 5 yards to go on the Titan 34. Stalder rushed for 13 yards for first and 10 on the Titan 21. Stalder threw incomplete to Black and then connected with Warnke. The Rams were at fourth and 6 on the Titan 17 when a pass to senior Zach Goff was knocked down and the Titans had the ball on their own 17 yard line, with the Rams having scored.
The Titan offense ground out 83 yards in 10 plays, most of them rushing. Corey crossed the goal line with 5:41 to play in the game. The PAT was not good; the score stood at 27-7.
The Rams began their next possession well, with Black returning the kick off to the Ram 31 yard line. Stalder connected with Carey in a 17-yard pass play and then connected with Morton for another 15 yards. With 5:00 on the clock the Rams were on the Titan 39. Stalder threw an incomplete pass and a bad snap on second and 10 put the ball on the Titan 34. Corey intercepted Stalder’s pass and ran 66 yards for a TD. The PAT was good and the score was 34-7.
The Rams’ last possession began on their own 27 yard line. Stalder rushed to the Ram 35, and then Morton carried the ball to the Ram 43 for a first down. Stalder threw his best pass of the night, a 37-yarder to Warnke and the Rams were at first and 10 on the Titan 17. Stalder kept the ball and made it to the 13 yard line, but then threw incomplete twice and ended the possession at fourth and 6 on the 13 with less than 30 seconds left in the game.
Game stats show Warnke receiving for 88 yards, Morton receiving for 78, Black receiving for 20 and Carey receiving for 14 yards.
On defense, Morton was credited with 12 tackles including nine solo tackles. Junior Brayden Smith was credited with eight tackles, five of them solo tackles. The Ram defense tallied 51 tackles. 29 of them solo tackles. Rumley and sophomore Patrick Daugherty were both credited with sacks.
QB Stalder covered punting duties. His three punts totaled 89 yards.
The Rams host the Atlantic Trojans for Senior Night Friday, Sept. 11. The Trojans are 1-1, having topped the Kuemper Knights in Carroll by a 21-10 score, and then being shut out on the road by Underwood, 39-0.
