The Greene County football team kicked off their season last Friday, falling 20-0 at Carroll High School in a hot and humid contest.
The first quarter resulted in no points for either team, with Carroll putting up six points in the second, eight in the third and six more in the fourth.
Ram senior quarterback Gabe Ebersole ran 62 yards from scrimmage on the first play of the game, but two plays the Rams lost the ball via fumble on the Tigers’ 11 yard line.
The Tigers’ first possession ended the same way. The Tigers had taken the ball 77 yards to the Ram 9 yard line when they fumbled the ball.
The Rams held the Tigers scoreless in the first quarter. The Tigers scored early in the second quarter on a 3-play, 70-yard drive that ended with a 53 yard pass by Carroll junior QB Carter Essick. A two-point conversion failed and the score was 6-0 at halftime.
The Tigers received the second half kickoff and used 5 plays to cover 88 yards for a TD. The yardage included a 15 yard penalty against the Rams for a late hit. This time the Tigers completed a two-point conversion, giving them a 14-0 lead with just over 9 minutes left in the third quarter.
The Tigers scored again on the first play of the fourth quarter, finishing a 40-yard drive with a short pass from Essick to Evan Hammer. A kick for an extra point missed and the score was 20-0.
Neither team scored in the fourth quarter as players on both teams showed the stress of playing in hot, muggy conditions.
For the game, the Rams were out gained 403 to 213. Quarterback Gabe Ebersole accounted for most of the yardage with 88 yards on the ground on 13 carries and 104 through the air, going 14 of 28 with one interception.
Ram senior Jack Hansen was the top receiver with seven catches for 68 yards. Seniors Noah Cornell and Gavin Scheuermann had fumble recoveries.
Junior Camden Strennen led the Rams in tackles with six solo tackles and 1.5 assists. He also led the team in kick returns with three returns totaling 48 yards.
Greene County hosts Perry on Friday, Sept. 1, at Linduska Field in Jefferson. This is the yearly battle for the cowbell which the Rams have won consistently in recent years. The team is excited to start their home campaign with the annual rivalry. Perry won its opener vs. Des Moines Hoover 33-12.
Friday is also Heroes Night. All veterans, active service members, first responders, fire fighters and law enforcement officers will enjoy free admission to the game by presenting the appropriate ID. The school will also recognize these heroes at halftime.
The Rams are at home again on Friday, Sept. 8, hosting Atlantic. ~Taylor Teays of The Scranton Journal contributed to this post
