The Greene County Rams are ranked 5th in Class 2A in Bound Power rankings and 7th by the Des Moines Register after a 34-23 gridiron win over the Red Oak Tigers in Jefferson Sept. 30. The Rams and the Tigers had identical records going into the game, at 4-1 overall and 2-0 Class 2A District 8 play going into the game. Red Oak had allowed only 19 points total in their five games prior to meeting the Rams.
As in recent weeks, the Rams relied heavily on the rushing of senior Patrick Daugherty for the win. Daugherty rushed for 259 yards, with sophomore Camden Strennen adding 56 yards and junior quarterback Gabe Ebersole rushing for 9 yards. The Rams had 454 yards of total offense, as Ebersole made two of nine passes for 130 yards. Pass receptions were nearly evenly split between junior Jack Hansen, who grabbed a 67-yard pass, and senior Jesse Miller, who hauled in a 63-yard pass.
The Tigers scored put the first points on the scoreboard to cap the first possession of the game. After returning the kickoff to the Red Oak 27 yard line, the Tigers were penalized for holding, moving the ball back to the 20 for first down and 17. The 10-play drive included a 32-yard pass by senior QB Chase Roeder to senior Dawson Bond, a 16-yard pass to senior Jack Kling, and a 28-yard Roeder rush that put the Tigers at first down and 10 on the Ram 10 yard line. At third and goal from the 5 Roeder threw incomplete, and the Tigers settled for a Bond field goal. The Tigers were up 3-0 with about 3-1/2 minutes off the clock.
Patrick Daugherty got his start on the night with the Rams’ first drive – 80 yards in seven plays, with Daugherty toting the ball for 77 yards. Strennen had the other three yards, but it was Daugherty that scored the TD, carrying the ball two yards to the goal after a 44 yard romp to give the Rams a first and goal from the 2 yard line. Junior Nathan Behne’s PAT was good and the Rams had the lead, 7-3, with 5:50 left to play in the first quarter.
The Tigers punted on their next possession, being able to move the ball only 13 yards in seven plays.
Miller was the star in the next possession. The Rams started on their 27 yard line and made it up to their 37 when, on a third and 11 yards play, Ebersole threw to Miller, who sprinted all the way to the endzone for a touchdown. Behne’s PAT was blocked, but the Rams ended the first quarter up 13-3.
The Tigers put the next score on the board after an 11-play drive covering 68 yards. The drive began on the Tiger 32 after a holding penalty against the Rams. The Rams were called for encroachment and a 5-yard face mask penalty in the same drive. The score came on a Riley Fouts run of six yards. The PAT was good and the score was 13-10 with 9:14 to play in the first half.
The Rams and the Tigers both ended their next possessions with missed field goals. The score at intermission was 13-10.
The second half started poorly for the Rams. They received the opening kickoff but weren’t able to move the ball. At fourth down and 8 from their 22 yard line Ebersole punted. The punt was blocked and a Tiger picked up the loose ball. The Tigers scored on a first and goal play from the Ram 1 yard line to take a 16-13 lead. With the PAT the score was 17-13.
The Rams, however, made the Tigers’ lead a short one. Richard Daugherty returned the Tigers’ kickoff 37 yards, starting the Ram drive on their 40 yard line. At second and 3 on the Ram 47 Strennan grabbed the ball after a teammate fumbled on the next play and ran six yards for a first down on the Tiger 47. It took five more plays for the score, with Ebersole taking the ball the last half-yard over the goal line. After Behne’s PAT kick the Rams were back in the lead, 20-17, with 7:37 to play in the third quarter.
The Rams had the ball again soon after when junior Noah Cornell recovered a Tiger fumble on the Ram 38. The Rams scored seven plays later despite incurring three penalties. The effort was greatly aided by a 67-yard pass play to junior Jack Hansen. With the PAT the Rams were up 27-17 with just more than 3 minutes left in the quarter.
Turn about was fair play for the Tigers. They scored with the benefit of a 53-yard pass play to Braden Woods, followed just two plays later with a 21-yard pass to Woods. It took the Tigers just five plays to score after starting on their own 19 yard line. The PAT kick wasn’t good, and with 1:18 left in the quarter the Rams lead was four points, 27-23.
The Rams’ final score came with 9:42 left in the fourth quarter. The Rams started the drive on their own 30 yard line and took nine plays to put Patrick Daugherty on the 2 yard line to make the final run across the goal line. With the PAT the score was 34-23. That was the final score.
Defensively, Strennen led in tackles with 10.5, six of them solo tackles. Richard Daugherty was credited with 9.5 tackles, eight of them solos. Cody Allen had six tackles, two of them solos.
The Rams were scheduled to play Shenandoah this Friday. The Mustangs announced a week ago they will forfeit the remainder of varsity games due to injuries that have made it impossible to field a competitive team at the varsity level. They’re finishing the junior varsity schedule as planned.
The Rams will finish their regular season Oct. 14 at home against the 4-2 Clarke Indians.
