Greene County is 2-0 to start the high school football season. The Rams were 38-10 winners on Friday night at Linduska Field vs. the Nevada Cubs in Greene County’s first home game of the season. Coach Mitch Moore’s team led from start to finish, dropping the Cubs to 0-2. The Rams equaled the combined win total from the 2016 and ’17 seasons with the victory, and they’ll seek the first 3-0 start in the seven seasons playing as Greene County. The Friday night contest was broadcast on KG98 and streamed on www.raccoonvalleyradio.com.
A Cael Fisher field goal of 22 yards with 1:47 to play in the first quarter put the Rams up 3-0. The score went to 10-0 with 10:15 to play in the first half with running back Colby Kafer turned an innocent looking swing pass from quarterback Brent Riley into an 87 yard scoring play. Nevada countered with a Jack Cahill field goal with 5:51 to go in quarter number two to cut the margin to 10-3. Greene County scored on a Kafer run of four yards with 3:20 to go in the half to make it 17-3, but neither team was done putting points on the board in the second quarter. The Rams made it 24-3 with 1:06 left before intermission on a Riley to Lance Hughes 15 yard scoring play, then Nevada scored on a pass play covering 34 yards with 12.6 seconds left on the first half clock with Kody Kruschwitz throwing to Andrew Saunders. The halftime score was 24-10.
Nevada dominated the third quarter stats, but could not get on the scoreboard. A fumble at the goal line pylon resulted in a touchback instead of a Cubs’ TD. Early in the fourth quarter, the Rams held Nevada on downs in Cubs’ territory inches short of a first down at the 25. Moments later, Clint Dennhardt scored on a 17 yard run to increase the lead to 31-10, and after the defense held the Cubs on downs again, the Greene County offense scored quickly on a 50 yard Riley to Carter Morton pass for a final of 38-10. Fisher went five for five on extra points. plus the field goal.
Greene County had 384 yards of offense with 231 through the air and 153 on the ground. Riley had all the aerial yardage, going 13 of 23 with no interceptions and three TDs. Morton had 100 receiving yards and Dennhardt led the rushing attack with 84 yards on 16 carries.
Nevada was held without a first down on its first four possessions, but still managed 227 total yards for the game. They had 187 through the air and just 40 rushing yards on 32 attempts. Kruschwitz was 20-38-1 with a TD pass.
Will Hansen had a late game interception for Greene County, while Brock Wuebker and Lance Hughes recovered fumbles by the Cubs. The Rams lost a fumble for its only turnover.
Next up is a September 7 trip to the northeast side of Des Moines vs. the Saydel Eagles (0-2). Saydel lost to Knoxville 19-13 on Friday night.