Greene County jumped to a 10-0 lead after one quarter and simply kept tacking on scores from there en route to a 61-0 victory over host Perry in the 91st playing of the Cowbell Game. The Rams have now claimed the trophy five consecutive seasons.
Nathan Bahne kicked a 33-yard field goal to start the scoring, then hit the first of eight consecutive PAT kicks to create the 10-0 lead, with Jesse Miller pulling in a 19-yard touchdown pass from Gabe Ebersole.
Miller scooped a fumble and rumbled 17 yards for a TD, with two other Ram TDs in the second quarter surrounding a safety off a blocked punt as the score suddenly erupted to 33-0 at the half.
“Similar feelings to the Panorama game,” Perry head coach Bryce Pierce said. “We just didn’t execute plays consistently enough to move the ball down and field or get stops.”
“We completed our short passing game as well as we have in three seasons and rattled off a number of good runs and forced a number of fourth downs,” Pierce added. “While it doesn’t show up on the scoreboard this is an improved football team from a season ago and I’m proud of the work they have put in and the progress they have made.”
Camden Strennan returned the second-half kickoff 78 yards for a Greene County score and Miller caught a second TD pass from Ebersole after the latter had extended a drive by scrambling for a first down on a 3rd-and-25 play. Those scores pushed the margin to 47-0 entering the four quarter.
A 28-yard pass from Ebersole to Jack Hansen and a short Ebersole run, both the final frame, capped the scoring.
Ebersole finished 9-of-18 for 144 yards and four TDs passing. Miller (3-52, 2 TDs), Hansen (3-43, 1 TD), Richard Daugherty (3-20, 1 TD) and Strennan (1-29) were the targets.
Ebersole (6-68, 2 TDs), Patrick Daugherty (4-28), Jackson Turner (3-26), Strennan (2-20), Gavin Scheuernmann (1-19), and Richard Daughert (1-1) all carried the ball for the guests.
Cody Allen had 11.5 tackles and Scheuermann eight, with both recovering fumbles, with Stennan in on 8.5 denials and Patrick Daugherty 7.5.
Caden Heck was 4-of-6 for 25 yard passing for Perry, with Drake Levan 1-of-1 from nine yards while Geren Kenney misfired on his one attempts. Receiving numbers were not available.
Keegan Snyder led the Bluejay rushers with 74 tough yards on 22 carries. Juan Hernandez added 14 yards on 13 runs with Heck rushing twice for one yard.
Cruz Calderon had five tackles, two for a loss of yards, and a sack to guide the Perry defense. Anthony Chavez had five stops, with Kevin Colin having a sack and joining Gavin Hegstrom in making a tackle behind the line of scrimmage.
Perry travels to Clarke Friday to face the 2-0 Indians. Clarke has defeated Saydel, 71-0, and Colfax-Mingo, 57-0, so far this season.
