The Ram football team opened Class 2A District 9 playoff play Friday at Linduska Field with a 49-0 win over the Red Oak Tigers. The Tigers finished their season at 0-7 and extended their winless streak to 20.
When the Rams played the Tigers earlier this season in Red Oak, the Rams were down by two touchdowns before they scored. The Rams ultimately won, 55-14. On the second meeting of the teams, the game was into the second half before the Tigers achieved a first down.
The Rams received the opening kickoff and got on the scoreboard with their first possession. Their first line of scrimmage was at their own 37 yard line. Eight plays later they were on the Red Oak 13 yard line with a first down. Nate Black ran the ball in for a touchdown, but the Rams were penalized for holding and the touchdown was nullified. On the next play, at first and 20 from the Red Oak 23, Bryce Stalder threw a pass to Jackson Morton in the endzone for a TD. The Rams attempted a 2-point conversion but were called for illegal procedure. The ball was moved back and Nathan Behne kicked successfully for a point after touchdown. With 8:44 left in the first quarter, the Rams were up 7-0.
Red Oak started their first possession of the gam on their 24 yard line. They punted at fourth and 21 from their 13 yard line. The Rams started on the Rod Oak 36 and scored six plays later, this time with Morton carrying the ball the final six yards. On a 2-point conversion Stalder passed to Zach Goff in the endzone for the extra points. The score was 15-0 with 4:13 left in the quarter.
Red Oak’s next possession lasted only two plays. The Tigers picked up two yards on the first play, putting them at second down and eight on their 19 yard line. Brayden Smith recovered a Tiger fumble and the Rams had the ball again on the Tiger 21 yard line. They scored three plays later, with Stalder carrying the ball the first nine yards and Black picking up the remaining 12 yards in two plays. Behne’s PAT was good and the score was 22-0 with 2:06 to play in the first quarter.
The Tigers punted again on their next possession and the Rams started on the Tigers’ 43. A penalty against the Tigers for encroachment moved the ball to the 38 and first down and 5. Stalder connected with Jaxon Warnke on a pass play that put the ball on the Rod Oak 4 yard line. Another short pass to Warnke scored the Rams’ fourth TD. With the PAT the score was 29-0 with 11:19 to play in the second quarter.
The Rams scored their next touchdown at the end of the Tigers’ next possession. Play started at the Red Oak 18. At third down and 10 yards to go, still on the 18, Morton sacked Red Oak quarterback Max DeVries on the 11 yard line. The Tigers set up to punt, but after a bad snap on the punt Black recovered the ball in the end zone, scoring six points for the Rams. The PAT kick was blocked, but with the score at 35-0, a continuous clock went into effect. There was still more than nine minutes remaining in the second quarter.
The Rams scored once more in the half, this time after covering 58 yards in six plays. Stalder and Warnke again put together a short, 6-yard pass play for the TD. Behne’s PAT was good and the score was 42-0 with 2:43 to play in the half. That was the final score of the half.
Ram coach Caden Duncan gave many reserve players time on the field in the second half. Red Oak had the ball to start the half. A penalty on the kick off moved the ball to the Red Oak 40 yard line for a first down. The Tigers were at third down and two when Ram McCade Owens recovered a fumble to return the ball to the Rams on the Red Oak 46 yard line. The Rams needed four plays to score, including a 40-yard Stalder pass to Max Riley that gave the Rams first and goal from the 4 yard line. A short pass to Riley finished the job. After Behne’s PAT, the score was 49-0 with 7:01 left in the third quarter.
Freshman quarterback Gabe Ebersole led the Rams the rest of the game. He started on first and 10 from the Red Oak 36. Seven plays later, at third and goal from Red Oak’s 11 yard line, freshman Gavin Scheuermann ran for a TD. The Rams were flagged for holding and the touchdown was nullified. There was no further scoring in the game.
The Rams finished the game with 317 yards of offense. Stalder completed eight of 10 passes for 136 yards. The Rams picked up 181 yards on the ground, with Black accounting for 89 of them. Defensively, Scheuermann was credited with five tackles, two of them solos. Daniel Rivera had four tackles, two of them solos.
The Rams will host a second round playoff game Oct. 23 against Clarinda. The Rams are 6-2 on the season while the Cardinals are 4-4. The Rams won 22-15 when the two teams played Oct. 2 during regular season play.
