A loss in the annual Greene County high school football game rarely produces something unprecedented in the 125 year history of the sport in Jefferson. That was the case on Friday night in the 39-3 loss to Kuemper Catholic (Carroll) at Linduska Field when senior Nathan Behne kicked a Jefferson-based program record 49 yard field goal for the only points of the night for the home team. Any kicker, including Behne knows that without all 11 players performing effectively, the field goal or extra point try may not be successful.

With the Rams trailing the Knights 24-0 in the third quarter, an 11 yard loss on a quarterback sack put the ball at the Kuemper Catholic 32 on fourth down. Head coach Caden Duncan told Raccoon Valley Radio he considered keeping the offense on the field, but ultimately decided to let Behne and the field goal unit try for the record breaking kick. Senior long snapper Cody Allen will have reconstructive knee surgery this week. He was allowed to limp onto the field for this one play. Holder Jack Hansen, also a senior, also had a noticeable limp as he went onto the field from the sideline. It was one last hurrah for the trio of seniors as Allen’s season and high school football career has come to an end. The snap, hold, and blocking from the rest of the unit all was good, and Behne’s kick had plenty of leg as it sailed between the uprights.

Records from the early years of high school football in Jefferson are spotty, but it’s believed the 49 yarder is the longest made field goal in the history of the sport based in Jefferson. Behne is five for six this season on field goal attempts this season and the other makes are from 44, 42, 39, and 24 yards.

The Rams are 3-2 overall and 1-1 in Class 2A District 8 and a trip to Story City to face Roland-Story (3-2, 1-1) is on deck this Friday, Sept. 29. Coverage on KG98 and streaming on www.raccoonvalleyradio.com starts at 6:30 p.m. with kickoff at 7 o’clock.