High school football teams based in Jefferson and Perry have played each other for well over a century. Last night’s Battle for the Cowbell at Dewey Field in Perry may have been as frenetic at the end as any in the long series. Greene County overcame a 14-point deficit late, tied the game with no time left on the fourth quarter clock, only to watch Perry kick a field goal in overtime and win the game, 17-14. The Rams are 1-7 overall and 1-5 in Class 3A District 2, while the Blue Jays improve to 3-5 overall and 2-4 in district play.

The Blue Jays were in control nearly the whole game and led 14-0 with time running out. Perry scored on its first possession of each half and was up 14-0 before the Rams got the offense going. Perry held the Greene County offense to just 88 first half yards, and 131 through three quarters of play. The fourth quarter was different as Coach Mitch Moore’s team racked up 144 yards of offense in the last period, scored twice in the final 5:34 of playing time, including a touchdown with no time on clock at the end of regulation to force overtime. The Rams had the ball first in overtime and went backwards from the Perry 10 yard line, where the possession started. Mana Martinez intercepted a fourth and goal pass from the 18 to end the Greene County possession. Perry had the ball last in OT and German Alvaranga kicked an 18-yard game-winning field goal on fourth down and one to send the Cowbell back to Perry after three straight Greene County wins in the series.

Greene County’s first scoring drive went 55 yards on six plays, ending with a 39 yard scoring strike from Clint Dennhardt to Lance Hughes on third and 13. Hughes caught the ball falling backward at the goal line. After hesitating, the official threw his hands in the air to signify the ball had crossed the plane of the goal line. Leo Marques kicked the extra point to cut the deficit to 14-7 with 5:34 left.

Perry’s next possession went 50 yards on 10 plays, but stalled at the Rams’ 35. A punt of 24 yards backed the Rams up to their 11 with less than 2-1/2 minutes to play and just one timeout left. What followed was a 13-play scoring drive covering 89 yards that resulted in Carter Morton catching a Dennhardt pass of one yard with 0:00 on the clock. The Rams spiked the ball with time running out. After o:00 showed on the clock and Perry thinking the game was over, the officials decided the ball was grounded with one second left, and Greene County took advantage. A dead ball 15 yard penalty after the catch meant Marques, a foreign exchange student from Brazil, had to boot a 35 yard extra point, which he did, and the game went into OT. The Rams had nine plays of between seven and 18 yards on that last drive in regulation and Dennhardt was seven for eight passing, excluding the ball being grounded twice.

The interception in OT was the only turnover the Rams had, while the Blue Jays overcame four turnovers. Wade Adcock and Joe Towers recovered fumbles, with Austin Delp and Xavier Hayes collecting pass interceptions.

Greene County finishes the season in Jefferson at Linduska Field on Oct. 20 by hosting the Ballard Bombers.