Greene County wasted little time in pouncing on host Perry Friday, scoring 13 first quarter points before adding 30 more in the second frame en route to a 49-0 win in the 89th playing of the Cowbell Game.
The Rams were 54-0 victors last year and have now claimed the trophy three consecutive seasons and have held the prize seven of the last 10 seasons. First played in 1898 between Jefferson High and the Perry YMCA, the school now known as Greene County holds a 58-29-2 edge all-time. Perry last one the trophy in 2017 with a 17-14 overtime victory.
Perry had negative 26 yards of offense at the half last year, but gained 11 yards on their first two runs for a first down. Unfortunately, they would not have another first down until later in the second half.
Jake Morton pulled in a 23-yard TD pass from Bryce Stalder for a 6-0 Ram lead, with Richard Daugherty scored off a 27-yard aerial as the score went to 13-0.
Stalder scored on a short run and Nathan Black bulled in from a yard out as the Rams widened their lead to 27-0, with a Max Riley 17-yard scoring snag in the corner of the end zone pushing the margin to 34-0.
The Rams collected a safety when the Bluejays had a punt snap go through the back of their own end zone, with Daugherty returning the ensuing free kick 76 yards for another Greene County touchdown and a 43-0 halftime lead.
Gavin Scheuemann’s seven yard dash in the fourth quarter capped the scoring.
“I know they scored 49 points, but I saw a lot of our guys playing as hard as they could the entire game,” Perry head coach Bryce Pierce said. “We did not lack for spirit and our attitude to keep fighting was there all the way, and we can build off that.”
Emmanuel Soto had 5.5 tackles to lead the Bluejay defense, with Ben Ramirez in on four stops.
Quarterback Jeremiah Cregeen led Perry rushers with 32 yards on 14 carries in the new Bluejay QB-centered run game. Abraham Ruiz added two yards on nine runs and Jeremiah Baker three yards on one rush.
Cregeen was 3-of-10 through the air for 10 yards. Cayden Widen caught two passes for six yards and Ruiz one aerial for four yards.
Stalder was 6-of-11 for 102 yards and two TDs, with Joe Carey 3-of-5 for 42 yards and a score while Gabe Ebersole hit 1-of-2 passes for 13 yards.
Jacon Warnke (2-53) led the Ram receivers, with Black’s 41 yards on 12 carries leading the visiting rushing attack.
Perry visits Saydel Friday. The Eagles fell at South Tama, 55-6, in their season opener. The teams last, met, at Dewey Field, to cap the 2013 season, with Perry winning, 46-0.
