The Greene County Rams opened their 2022 gridiron campaign Saturday, Aug. 27, with a hard-fought win over the Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center Chargers. The Chargers were ranked #9 in Class 1A in pre-season rankings.
The game was scheduled as a home game for the Rams, but it was played in Ogden because a renovation of the turf and irrigation at Linduska Field isn’t yet finished. Greene County activities director David Wright said the field may be ready for the Rams’ homecoming game Sept. 16.
Junior Gabe Ebersole stepped into the role of starting varsity quarterback successfully, but it was the tough Ram defense that carried the game, holding the Chargers half a yard short of a first and goal with less than 20 seconds to play in the game and the Rams ahead 20-14. With only 17 seconds left to play, the Rams had the ball on their own 10 yard line. The Ram offense took a knee and the victory.
The AC/GC defense was tough, too. AC/GC received the kick-off and started on their own 36 yard line. The first snap resulted in a fumble, which was recovered by Ram junior Michael Rumley, putting the ball on the AC/GC 33 and in the Rams’ hands. Five plays later the Rams were at first and goal on the 9 yard line. At fourth and goal on the 7 yard line Ram junior Nathan Behne kicked a field goal. The Chargers blocked the kick, leaving the Rams scoreless.
The Chargers’ possession started on their 20 yard line with just a little less than nine minutes in the quarter. They ran 14 plays in those nine minutes, 13 of which were on the ground. They picked up four first downs and ended the quarter at third and goal on the Ram 11 yard line, but the score still tied at 0. Two plays later Charger quarterback Austin Kunkle scored. The point-after was no good and the Chargers were ahead 6-0.
The Rams returned the Charger kick-off 18 yards and started play on their own 33 yard line. They scored 12 plays later in a drive that included passes to senior Patrick Daugherty and junior Jack Hansen, and the benefit of a 15-yard penalty against AC/GC. The touchdown came on a pass play to senior Jesse Miller on third and 9 from the AC/GC 29 yard line. Behne’s PAT kick was good and the Rams were ahead 7-6 with 7:44 to play in the half.
Ram fans were excited late in the half when after getting possession of the ball on their own 21 yard line following an AC/GC punt, a long Ebersole-Hansen pass play resulted in a touchdown. The Rams were flagged for a block in the back, the TD was nullified, and the ball was moved back to the AC/GC 40 yard line. The Ram drive included a 20-yard run by Ebersole, but they couldn’t get past the 2 yard line. The Chargers got the ball back with 6 seconds left in the half, and the score was 7-6 at the intermission.
The Rams wasted no time when they came on the field for the second half. Senior Richard Daugherty received the kick-off. He dropped it, picked it up and ran 85 yards for a TD. Behne’s PAT put the Rams ahead 14-6 with only seconds off the clock in the third quarter.
The Chargers and then the Rams ended their next possessions with punts. With about 8 minutes to play in the quarter the Chargers took possession of the ball on their 28 yard line. They scored 12 plays later from the 1 yard line. A 2-point conversion tied the score at 14 with 1:22 to play in the third quarter.
The Rams began their next possession on their 33 yard line, but on the first play Patrick Daugherty ran 34 yards, putting the ball on the AC/GC 32. Ebersole was sacked on the next play but more than made up for it with a 21-yard run on fourth down, taking the ball all the way to the Charger 14 yard line. The Rams lost yards on a penalty, but at second and 16 on the 20 yard line Daugherty managed a 15-yard run for first and goal on the 5 yard line. Ebersole scored two plays later. The PAT kick didn’t clear the uprights and the score was 20-14 with seven minutes left in the game.
The Charger offense kept the ball for the next 6:43, moving from their own 25 yard line all the way to the Ram 10 yard line, but they didn’t score.
Ebersole finished the night with 86 passing yards, 76 rushing yards for one touchdown, and punting 48 yards. He completed four of 11 pass attempts. Jack Hansen caught three aerials for 57 yards. Jesse Miller snared a 29-yard pass for a touchdown.
Patrick Daugherty ran nine times for 75 yards. Sophomore Camden Strennen picked up ten yards on five carries.
Juniors Cody Allen and Gavin Scheuermann topped the defense. Allen had one solo in 9.5 tackles. Scheuermann grabbed four solo and nine tackles. Strennen added three sols in 6.5 tackles; Richard Daugherty three solo, six tackles; and Patrick Daugherty, one solo, seven tackles;
Richard Daugherty fielded two kicks for 104 yards, including the third quarter touchdown. Behne kicked off four times with two touchbacks, for 223 yards. He kicked two out of three extra point attempts.
The Rams are scheduled to play again on Friday at Perry High School in the “Battle for the Cowbell”. Kickoff is at 7 pm.
