The Greene County Rams finished their second consecutive perfect season in Class 2A District 8 play, defeating the Indians of Clarke Community (Osceola) 54-8 in Jefferson Oct. 14. The Rams now have a 22-game winning streak in the district. They finished the regular season 6-1, with their loss being to non-district foe Kuemper Catholic of Carroll.
The Rams begin post-season play Oct. 21 hosting the Union Community Knights (2-6) of La Porte City.
The Rams hadn’t played a game since Sept. 30, as Shenandoah, their scheduled opponent for Oct. 7, forfeited the final games of their season due to a high number of injured players.
The Rams’ first possession was very short-lived. They received the opening kick-off and immediately fumbled the ball, giving the Indians the ball on the Ram 19 yard line. The Rams, though, were aided by a 10-yard penalty against the Indians and Gavin Scheuermann sacked quarterback Jack Cooley, moving the Indians back to the 38 yard line on fourth down. They attempted a 56-yard field goal rather than punt; the field goal was not made and the Rams had the ball back.
The two teams traded possessions until late in the first quarter when Cody Allen recovered an Indian fumble on the Clarke 29 yard line. Ram QB Gabe Ebersole was sacked on the first play. At second down and 17 on the Clarke 36 yard line Ebersole connected with Richard Daugherty on a 26-yard play for first and goal from the 10 yard line. Ebersole connected with Jesse Miller for a touchdown. Nathan Behne’s point after touchdown kick was good and the Rams were up 7-0 with just less than 2 minutes left in the first quarter.
The Rams scored again midway through the second quarter, with Behne kicking a 22-yard field goal, edging the score up to 10-0.
The Rams’ next possession began on their own 44 yard line with a 31-yard pass play to Jack Hansen, putting the Rams in Clarke territory at the 25 yard line. The Rams made it down to the Clarke 5 yard line but at fourth down coach Caden Duncan sent Behne in for another field goal. Behne’s 23 yard kcick was good again, notching the score up to 13-0 with just less than 2:52 left in the half.
The Rams made the most of their remaining time. The Indians picked up only six yards on their next possession, punting at fourth and 4 on their 26 yard line. Starting at first and 10 on the Indians’ 47 yard line, two consecutive penalties pushed them back to the Ram 32 yard line at first down and 31 yards. Richard Daugherty kicked into high gear, as Ebersole connected with him on a 68-yard pass play for the touchdown. With Behne’s PAT the Rams were up 20-0 with 1:59 on the clock.
Just 20 seconds later the Indians were at second and 10 on their 20 yard line when Michael Rumley forced a fumble. Richard Daugherty grabbed the loose ball and toted it 27 yards for another TD. With the PAT the score was 27-0 with 1:39 left in the half.
Daugherty had one more trick to play before the half ended. On the Indians’ possession they had a first down on the Ram 44 yard line when Daugherty intercepted a Cooley pass, claiming the ball for the Rams on the Ram 23 yard line. Ebersole passed to Strennen, moving the ball to the 45, and then he passed to Daugherty, picking up another 17 yards. With time running out, Behne tried a 50-yard field goal that was blocked by the Indians.
The score at the intermission was 27-0 in favor of the Rams.
The Indians received the second half kickoff and punted four plays later after progressing only to 26 yard line. The Rams also struggled to move the ball during their possession, gaining only 13 yards in six plays before punting from their 48 yard line.
Ebersole’s kick started the Indians on their 8 yard line. At second and 10 the Indians fumbled and Ram Nick Stream recovered on the Clarke 15 yard line. Four plays later it was Stream who carried the ball over the goal line for a touchdown. With the score 33-0 the Rams tried a 2-point conversion, looking to build the 35 point margin needed for a continuous clock. The Indians held the Rams, though, and the score remained 33-0 with just more than 6 minutes to play in the quarter.
It took the Rams two minutes to have the required margin. The Indians possession ended with Jesse Miller recovering a fumble and running the ball to the Clarke 47. Ebersole threw an incomplete pass on the first play, but on the second play, Camden Strennen, with Miller blocking for him, ran the needed 47 yards for a TD. The PAT was good, giving the Rams a 40 point lead and setting the clock to run continuously with 4:04 left in the third quarter.
The Indians got on the scoreboard on their next possession, covering 80 yards in eight plays, including a 35-yard pass to Brock Watson. Austin Gonseth received a pass at third and 4 from the Rams’ 20 yard line and scored the TD. After a 2-point conversion the score was 40-8 with 9:48 to play in the fourth quarter. The continuous clock ended.
The clock was once again continuous 2 minutes later. Ebersole is not usually on the kick-off return team, but he was on the field for the Indians’ kick and returned it a whopping 93 yards, all the way to the Clarke 6 yard line. Two plays later Ebersole hit Hansen with a short pitch in the end zone. With the PAT the score was 47-8.
The Rams weren’t finished, though. Behne once again hit the end zone with his kick off, his seventh touchback for the game, starting the Indians on their 20 yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, Strennen intercepted a pass and ran 73 yards for a TD. After the PAT the score was 54-8 with 7:45 left to play in the game.
Coach Duncan substituted liberally in the remainder of the game. The less-experienced defensive line still held the Indians back. Letting them get no closer than the Ram 49 yard line.
The Rams compiled 327 yards of offense – 241 yards passing and 86 yards rushing. Ebersole completed 12 of 22 passes. Strennen was the leading rusher with 54 yards. Patrick Daugherty, who has been in triple digits in rushing, was on the sidelines for much of the Ram offensive play. He rushed for 21 yards. He led the Rams on defense, though, being credited with eight tackles, six of them solo tackles.
The Indians tallied 201 yards of offense, with 124 yards passing and 77 yards rushing.
