JEFFERSON — The 88th edition of the Cowbell Game was a one-sided affair almost from the beginning, as an experienced Greene County team cruised to a 54-0 shelling of visiting Perry at Linduska Field Friday.
Perry gained only 51 total yards in the loss while Greene County amassed a combined 347 yards, scoring five times on offense, twice on defense and once on special teams.
“That is a good team over there,” Perry head coach Matt Hardy said afterward, referencing a Ram squad that returned most starters from a 9-2 playoff team last season. “They showed that tonight while showing that we are very inexperienced.”
The hosts had the ball first but fumbled the ball to Perry on their third snap. Perry returned the favor, mishandling their first snap on offensive, with Greene County recovering.
The Rams promptly marched down the grid, with Colby Kafer scoring on an 11-yard run. The first of six successful Cael Fisher PAT kicks put the score at 7-0, with the scoreboard moving to 14-0 six minutes later when Brent Riley connected with Carter Morton from 12 yards out.
Perry repeatedly went backward on offense, at one time being at minus-26 in yardage in the second quarter and not entering positive yardage until the second half.
The Bluejays appeared ready to trim the margin midway through the second frame when Wilber Ramirez snatched an interception and returned the ball 69 yards to the Ram 11. The offense went in reverse, with Cori Alamina’s attempted 37-yard field goal blocked.
The Rams went on to lead, 27-0, at the intermission, with Riley scampering into the end zone on a 13 yard run with 4:18 to play in the half before defensive tackle Joe Patterson scooped up a Bluejay fumble and stepped 10 yards to pay dirt.
“I thought our defense played well, in spots, but we are clearly going to have to expand our playbook on offense,” Hardy said. “We want to be a run-heavy team, but we have three sophomores starting for the first time on our offensive line and they are green and just need some time while they figure out how things need to work.”
The hosts put the game on ice in the third quarter, beginning with Morton hauling in a 32-yard scoring pass from Riley. Kafer added a 14-yard run to start a continuous clock with 2:43 left in the third quarter with the score at 40-0.
Nick Breon returned an interception 20 yard for a touchdown 63 seconds later, with Morton’s 70-yard punt return for a score early in the fourth capping the scoring.
Alamina proved to be the leading rusher for Perry, albeit almost by accident. He twice converted first downs on long gains off fake punts and on another occasion took a poor snap for a first down. He had 45 yards on four rushes.
Kato Dougan ran four times for 15 yards, Jeb Stewart three times for five yards and Jose Flores seven times for four yards. Quarterback Jacob Nelson lost 27 yards on six sacks, with Ramirez (6, minus-13) and Ever Tobar (5, minus-3) also carrying the ball.
Nelson was 4-of-9 passing with two interceptions. He had 25 yards passing, with Dougan catching one ball for 24 yards and Flores two for six yards while Ramirez lost five yards on a swing pass.
“We just have an excessive number of guys who are not coming off the field because we have so little depth, and they just got tired and worn down,” Hardy said. “I liked our effort, but we just can’t replicate game speed in practice, because we are so thin and can’t really go ‘good on good’ in preparation.”
“I told the guys it is a learning experience, that we will look at the tape, make some adjustments and be a better team next week against ADM,” Hardy said. “We are not suddenly going to have All-Stars appear out of nowhere, so we are taking it in steps. The guys have bought in, and I think it will pay off as we go forward with better play.”
Riley was 8-14-1 for 131 yards and two TDs in the air while rushing six times for four yards and a score.
Kafer (9-179, 2 TDs), Cameren Miller (4-20), Carter Morton (1-4), and Breon (3-9) also ran the ball. Morton (5-94, 2 TDs), Breon (1-19), Will Hansen (1-11) and Zach Goff (1-7) were the receivers for Greene County catching passes.
Perry hosts ADM Friday. The Tigers fell to Bondurant-Farrar, 28-21.
