When the Greene County football players ran to the Perry sideline to gather the “Cowbell” following Friday night’s 14-6 season opening football victory over the Blue Jays at Dewey Field, it would have been appropriate had the bell been covered with an official’s yellow flag. Greene County overcame 218 yards of penalties and a mostly stagnant second half offense to win the non-district game and start the season with a 1-0 record. Each of the past two seasons have seen the Rams go 1-8, so this team has already equaled those teams in the win column. Flags were thrown more than 20 times against the Rams with 19 of those enforced. The Greene County penalty yardage was more than twice the amount of the 91 total yards Perry gained on offense for the contest. The Blue Jays had 46 rushing yards on 20 attempts and 45 yards through the air on six completions in 17 attempts. Greene County totaled 346 of offense (259 in the first half) with 248 through the air on 17 of 39 passing and 98 rushing yards on 22 carries.
Coach Mitch Moore’s Rams took a 7-0 lead on a 24 yard pass play with 1:01 to play in quarter number one. Quarterback Brent Riley found receiver Lance Hughes in the upper right corner of the end zone to cap an 81 yard drive covering nine plays. Nick Breon kicked the extra point. The lead went to 14-0 with 10:42 to play in the second quarter when Riley found Carter Morton, who then turned a nice gain into a 77 yard TD. Because of penalties, the 58 yard, three play, scoring drive was 19 yards shorter than the touchdown pass.
The Blue Jays made it a one possession game in the fourth quarter with 6:28 to play on a run of two yards by Justin Stammer. A 29 yard Kaleb Olegniczak pass to Conner Kenyon set the Blue Jays up at the Rams’ six yard line. The drive covered 57 yards and six plays. Perry tried passing for two conversion points, but the ball was batted more than once before hitting the ground in the end zone.
Riley was 17-39-3 for 248 yards passing with three receivers each hauling in four passes. Morton had 111 yards with Hughes at 72, and Trey Hinote totaling 43 yards. Greene County’s leading rusher was Clint Dennhardt with 80 yards on 16 carries.
In addition to the penalties, the Rams had three turnovers, all second half pass interceptions. Clay Smith picked off a Perry half and that was the only turnover by the Blue Jays. The contest took nearly three hours to play and was broadcast on KG98 and streamed on www.raccoonvalleyradio.com.
Nevada visits Linduska Field on Friday night for the Greene County home opener. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. with coverage at 6:30 p.m. on KG98 and streamed on www.raccoonvalleyradio.com.