The Greene County Rams held a lead over the Atlantic Trojans after three quarters of football Friday, but they were unable to hold on for a fourth quarter. The host Rams didn’t score in the fourth as the visiting Trojans added 15 points to claim a 31-18 win in the Class 2A District 9 opener.
Both teams were 1-1 coming into the game, with the Trojans having been shut out in Underwood, 39-0, two weeks ago, and topping Kuemper Catholic in Carroll last week, 21-10.
The Rams received the opening kickoff and started on their own 45 yard line. After losing yardage on the first two plays the Rams found their groove and made it to the Trojan 28 yard line. Quarterback Bryce Stalder was sacked twice and the Rams ended up punting on fourth down and 22 yards to go on the Trojan 40 yard line.
The punt put the ball on the Trojans’ 3 yard line. They claimed a first down on their 15 yard line and were at second and 5 on their 20 when a face mask penalty was called against the Rams on a 17-yard play. With the penalty, the Trojans had a first down on the Ram 47 yard line. They scored three plays later on a nine-yard rush by Bodie Johnson. The Trojans had covered the needed 97 yards in nine plays. The point after touchdown was good and the Rams were down 0-7 with 3:23 remaining in the first quarter.
Ram Jackson Morton returned the kickoff to the Trojans’ 47 yard line to start the possession with good field position. Stalder rushed for 13 yards for a first down on the Trojan 34. The Rams kept the ball on the ground and made it to first and 10 on the Trojan 23. Another penalty was called against the Rams, this time for holding, and the Rams were at first and 16 on the Trojan 29. Morton rushed on the next three plays and scored on first and goal from the 3 yard line. Nathan Behne’s PAT kick was blocked and the Rams were down 7-6 with 22 seconds to play in the first quarter.
The Trojans started their next possession on their own 23 yard line and picked up a first down on the next play, putting them at their own 40 yard line. At fourth and four from their 47 the Trojans tried a fake punt, but the Ram defense prevailed and the Trojans turned the ball over on their own 49 yard line. Nathan Black rushed for seven yards on the first play, but there was a fumble on the next play. The Trojans recovered the fumble and had the ball back on their own 42 yard line.
The Trojans were at third and 5 on their 47 yard line when sophomore quarterback Caden Andersen connected with senior Colin Mullenix on a 33-yard pass to take them down to the Rams’ 20 yard line. At second down and 1 yard to go on the Ram 11 the Trojans fumbled. They recovered, but the ball was back on the Ram 20 for third down and 11 to go. At fourth and five from the Rams’ 14 the Trojans opted to attempt a field goal. The kick was good and the Trojans were up 10-6 with 5:39 to play in the half.
The Rams started their next possession on their own 47 yard line. On the second play Stalder threw a 41-yard pass to Zach Goff to put the ball on the Trojan 11 yard line. Morton rushed for his second TD to put the Rams up 12-10. Behne went in to kick the PAT. The Rams were called for a penalty and the ball was moved back five yards for a second attempt. The kick was blocked to keep the Rams’ margin at two points, 12-10.
The Rams held the Trojans on downs and the Trojans held the Rams on downs, and the half ended with the Rams up 12-10.
The Trojans had the ball to start the second half. They began on their own 32. The Rams gave them five yards via a penalty for encroachment and the Trojans were at first and 5 on their 37 yard line. They picked up a first down at their 47, but they got only to the 50 yard line when they punted at fourth down and 7.
After the punt the Rams had the ball on their own 15 yard line. They punted at fourth and 12 from their own 13 yard line.
The Trojans took possession on the Ram 35. On third and 10 a successful pass to Mullenix moved the ball all the way to the Rams’ 7 yard line. The Trojans scored two plays later. They incurred a penalty for taking too long to set up a 2-point conversion. When they did get the play going, Jesse Miller sacked the QB so the TD netted only six points. With 4:30 to play in the third quarter the Trojans were ahead 16-12.
Jaxon Warnke returned the kickoff 25 yards to the Ram 36 yard line. The Rams picked up a first down at their 47 yard line, but were in danger of turning the ball over at third and 10. Stalder threw an incomplete pass, but the Trojans were flagged for roughing the passer. The penalty moved the ball all the way to the Trojans’ 38 yard line. Nathan Black toted the ball to the Trojans’ 24 in four plays. The Rams lost a yard on the next play, but at third and 7 Stalder connected with Zach Goff for a TD. Behne was foiled again on PAT kicks. The snap was low but the Rams were called for an illegal procedure, giving Behne a second chance, but from further out. That time the snap was high and Behne was unable to hit the target. With 32 seconds to play in the third quarter the Rams led the game, 18-16.
The Trojans scored on their next possession, a nine-play, 71-yard drive that included a 32-yard run by Mullenix. The Trojans’ touchdown came at third and goal from the 2 yard line. This time the 2-point conversion was successful and the Trojans went ahead 24-18 with 7:29 left in the game.
Goff returned the kickoff to the Ram 36 yard line. The possession ended with Stalder being sacked on the Ram 39.
The home team got a bit of a break when the Trojans were flagged for holding on their first play from scrimmage, moving the ball back to their own 48 yard line. A penalty against them on the next play, this time for illegal procedure, put the Trojans at first and 23 on their 43 yard line. The Ram defense held them until they punted at fourth and 25 on their 47 yard line.
The Rams’ possession ended when Johnson intercepted a Stalder pass and ran 21 yards to score. The PAT was good and the score was 31-18 with 2:14 to play in the game. That was the final score.
The Rams totaled 186 yards of offense, their smallest output for the season. Stalder passed for 98 yards, completing five of 11 passes for 44.5 percent. He rushed for 18 yards. Morton was the Rams’ leading rusher with 45 yards, followed by Black with 32 yards.
Warnke, Morton and Richard Daugherty were credited with five solo tackles each. Bradyn Smith led in total tackles at eight, including three solo tackles.
The Trojans had 236 total yards of offense. Anderson completed three of five passes for 60 yards. Garrett McLaren completed two of three passes for 39 yards. The Trojans had 237 yards rushing; Johnson accounted for 107 yards and Corey Parrott added 79. Johnson also led his team in tackles with eight. Mullenix had 7.5 total tackles. Both Johnson and Mullenix tallied seven solo tackles.
The Rams were to host the Des Moines Christian Lions Sept. 18 for homecoming. The game has been cancelled due to positive cases of Covid-19 among DMC players. The Lions’ game scheduled for Sept. 11 against Shenandoah was also cancelled.
