The Greene County Rams locked up a playoff berth and will finish no lower than third place in Class 3A District 2 football after a convincing 52-23 win over the Boone Toreadors in Boone Friday night. Fans got their money’s worth in a game with only a few penalties, only a few time-outs, and many offensive series without huddles.
In years to come, the play people will most remember will be a 48 yard field goal kicked by sophomore Nick Schroeder early in the fourth quarter.
The Toreadors led twice in their homecoming game. They scored first with 3:59 to go in the first quarter on their second possession of the game. The Rams’ first possession ended with a fumble, recovered by Boone, on Boone’s 48 yard line. Five plays, finished off with a 16 yard touchdown pass, put the score at 6-0. The extra point put the Toreadors up 7-0.
The lead didn’t last long. Ram senior Dylan Hamilton returned the kickoff 69 yards to begin an offensive drive on the Boone 11 yard line. Hamilton ran to the end zone on the next play, but the touchdown was nullified by a holding penalty against the Rams. With the ball back out at the 21 yard line, junior quarterback Daric Whipple hit senior Jake Carey with a 10 yard pass, Hamilton carried for four yards and Whipple hit junior Max Neese with a seven yard touchdown pass. The kick after was good and the game was tied 7-7 with 2:39 to play in the first quarter.
Boone punted on their next series. The Rams moved the ball down to the Toreadors’ 29 yard lie, but a Whipple pass was intercepted on the 20 yard line. On the next play, Boone sophomore quarterback Tanner Schminke threw a long pass and connected with senior Caleb Wallace. Wallace kept running and scored in a play that covered 80 yards. That kick was also good and Boone was ahead 14-7 with 8:18 left in the second quarter. It was the Toreadors’ last lead of the game.
The Rams tied the game with an 11 play series that covered 82 yards. The touchdown came on a 20 yard Whipple pass to Carey. With a successful kick, the score was 14-14 with 3:16 left in the quarter.
The Rams’ last score of the half came after the Toreadors had a bad snap on an attempted punt on their own 31 yard line. Neese recovered the ball and ran it to the Toreadors’ 8 yard line. Three plays later Neese was the receiver for a short Whipple touchdown pass. The score was 21-14 in favor of the visiting Rams at halftime.
Whipple owned the first drive of the second half. Hamilton ran the kickoff out to the 25 yard line. The Rams scored in three plays, including a 64 yard run to the end zone by Whipple. With 10:59 on the clock the score was 28-14.
The score was 35-14 after a seven play series that covered 60 yards. It was senior Jordan Challen’s turn to run, as he scored on a 31 yard run.
The Toreadors were deep in Ram territory and posed to score when JC Weitl forced a fumble that Carey recovered on the one yard line. The Rams’ brief possession ended with a Toreador safety and the score was 35-16. Boone had the ball after the safety, and the Toreadors put together an 11 play, 57 yard drive to score. With the extra point good, the score was 35-23 with 4:07 left to play in the third quarter.
At that point, the game still could have been won by either team. The Toreadors were again close to scoring, with the wind at their backs and a first down on the Rams’ 21 yard line. But, Challen intercepted a pass on the 15 yard line and returned it 33 yards to the Rams’ 48 yard line with 1:10 left in the quarter.
At the end of the quarter, the Rams were on the Toreadors’ 15 yard line with a first down. Three consecutive rushing plays resulted in 18 lost yards. The Rams set up for a 43 yard field goal attempt but were pegged for a five yard penalty for delay of game. With the wind behind him, Schroeder made the long field goal with 10:05 left to play in the game. The score was 38-23.
The Rams scored again with 7:25 left to play with a five play, 57 yard drive that included two penalties against Boone. The score was 45-23 with 7:25 left to play.
The last score of the game came with 5:45 to play. The Rams got an onside kick recovery on the Boone 41 yard line. They scored in four plays, capped with a Hamilton 14 yard run.
The Rams’ highest score of the season had been 27 points. The Rams had their highest offensive output, with 341 yards rushing and 130 yards passing for a total of 471 yards. The Toreadors’ offensive yardage would win many other games. Schminke had a total of 283 yards passing, with the team’s total offense at 360 yards.
The Rams are 4-4 overall, but 4-1 in the district. Next Friday the Rams host Carroll in the last regular game of the season. Carroll is 5-0 in the district. Regardless of the outcome of that game, the Rams have qualified for post season play.
