Emotions will certainly be high tonight when the Greene County Rams and Perry Bluejays open up the season tonight at 7:30 inside the renovated Dewey Field. Billed as one of the longest standing rivalries in the state of Iowa, the two teams will play for the coveted cowbell, a prized ringing trophy that goes to the winner following the annual event. Perry currently has the cowbell after winning last year’s game in overtime. The Bluejays enter tonight with a lot of question marks on both sides of the ball after losing key players to graduation last season. Head Coach Matt Hardy has liked what he has seen in practice and feels his team is ready to play hard tonight and try to retain the cowbell.
“This is always an emotional game. We see it every year where both teams get costly 15 yard penalties. The officiating crew usually knows how heated of rivalry this game is so they’re going to be watching early. We have to control our emotions out of the gate.”
Perry will also have to try and control one of the most dominant lineman they will face all season long. Junior Tyler Miller is back for the Rams and brings all six feet nine inches and 280 pounds to both the offensive and defensive fronts for Greene County. Miller has already received several division one offers from prominent major universities.
“Defensively, we have to make sure everybody does their job and stays in their role. Our team has to trust in one another to do their job and not try to do too much.”
Perry’s defense will be led by senior safety Kaleb Olejniczak. The talented defender is back in the safety position where Hardy felt he could make more plays over the middle.
“He is one of the smartest football players you will meet. He knows his role and is very good at reading the quarterback. It was an easy decision to put him in the safety position.”
You can listen to tonight’s big game on KDLS and streaming at raccoonvalleyradio.com. Shawn Kenney and Doug Stetzel will have the call at 6:30 from the new press box.