Week 5 football preview
By BRANDON HURLEY
Sports Editor
The Greene County football team (0-4) is still in search of their first win as they welcome new district two member Iowa Falls-Alden (2-2, 0-2) to Jefferson for the annual homecoming game Friday, Sept. 23.
After opening the season with back-to-back victories (Hampton-Dumont and Aplington-Parkersburg), Iowa Falls-Alden has dropped two straight, a 29-6 loss to Boone in week three and a 33-12 home loss to Gilbert last week.
Both squads hope to capture their first district win as well. Gilbert, Boone and Dallas Center-Grimes share the top spot with two wins apiece against no losses.
The Greene County defense will square off against another run-heavy attack this week.
Iowa Falls-Alden tailback Logan Ward has rushed for 470 yards and eight touchdowns for a 7.0 yards per carry average. Ward piled 56 yards on the ground and crossed the goal line once in the loss Friday against Gilbert. Ward has a season-best single game rushing total of 204 yards and three touchdowns in their week one win over Hampton-Dumont and followed that up with a four touchdown, 137 yard performance in week two.
Ward has carried the ball 67 times through the first four games.
As a team, the Cadets have rushed for 730 yards on the ground on 150 carries.
Quarterback Ben Scadden put the ball in the air 30 times in Iowa Falls-Alden’s loss Friday, completing 16 passes to five different receivers. He’s completed 50 percent of his passes for just 247 yards and one touchdown.
“I think we will see a balanced attack of run/pass from them offensively,” Greene County head coach Dean Lansman said. “They will run a traditional I formation, but then spread you out as well. Defensively, I feel we will continue to see 7 - 8 defenders in the box to stop the run and make us pass the ball.”
Tucker remains Greene County’s leading rusher, compiling 335 yards on the ground and one touchdown. Senior Nick Schroeder has hauled in nine catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns while quarterback Clint Dennhardt has thrown four touchdowns and 283 yards.
Joe Towers leads the Rams in tackles with 39, followed by Tucker, with 32.5 tackles. Hunter Ruth holds the team-high in sacks with two.
The Rams must achieve a few different things if they hope to come out Friday with their first victory of the season, Lansman said.
“The keys for us on offense will be to establish the run game and win the battle of field position,” the coach said. “On defense, we need to stay in position, make plays and play physical. And of course, win the battle of turnovers.”
Friday’s homecoming game is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Greene County High School football field in Jefferson.
In other district two action, No. 8 Gilbert (4-0, 2-0) hosts Boone (3-1, 2-0) this Friday as the two squads compete for district supremacy and the inside track to a title and playoff spot.
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