Week 5 recap: Five things we know about Greene County football

By BRANDON HURLEY

Managing Editor
sports@beeherald.com

@BrandonJHurley

The Greene County Rams are in the midst of a four-game winning streak after securing their third shutout in four weeks, dismantling Clarinda, 41-0 on the road Sept. 24.

Greene County has bounced back rather nicely after losing their season-opener, entering the final three weeks of the regular season with a 4-1 overall record, coupled with a stranglehold on the district eight title race.
The statistics are staggering, no matter how you slice it.

Greene County is ranked in the top 10 in a number of categories, continuously slaughtering on-comers.
Here are a few things we know about the Rams with three weeks to go before playoff time:

1. Defense is king

The Rams have been absolutely lights out on the defensive side of the ball during their four game streak, securing back-to-back shutouts in the process.

The Rams have not allowed a single point since their week two contest against Kuemper Catholic. Greene County has also not allowed a touchdown in four straight weeks. The last time the Rams surrendered a touchdown was back in August in week one, when AC/GC secured the win in overtime with a touchdown. Greene County has held their opponents scoreless in 15 of the last 16 quarters of play, a span of 180 minutes.

For the season, the Greene County defense is surrendering just 6.4 points per game, having held each of their last four opponents under five points.
The air-tight defense held Clarinda to 122 total yards, the third time in four games the Rams have held a team under 150 total yards.

The nearly impenetrable Greene County defense is tied for first in Class 2A with 48 tackles for loss while they are second with 14 total sacks. The Rams are tied for fourth with 8 interceptions. Michael Rumley is tied for first in Class 2A along with Clarinda’s Logan Green with 10 tackles for loss while he is tied for fourth in the state with 3.5 sacks.

Richard Daugherty is tied for fifth in the state with three interceptions.

2. Rising through the ranks
Greene County has not only captured four straight victories, but they’ve done so in remarkably dominant fashion. The Rams have outscored their opponents 172-3 during their streak, an average margin of victory of 42 points per game. Greene County leads all of Class 2A with 29 total touchdowns. The Rams have looked like one of the best teams in the state since their opening night loss.

They are currently ranked sixth in the Class 2A AP rankings with an overall record of 4-1, jumping up from No. 8 a week prior.  Southeast Valley is ranked No. 1 with a 5-0 record, the only remaining undefeated team in the Top 10. The Jaguars are followed by two-time defending state champion O-A/BCIG (4-1), Waukon (4-1), Spirit Lake (4-1) and West Marshall (4-1).

Greene County’s week eight opponent, Clarke (4-1) received votes but did not crack the Top 10.

3. Offense is hitting its stride

The Rams scored in nearly every facet of the game last week, dismantling Clarinda by 41 points.  

Richard Daugherty returned a kick 88-yards for a touchdown while Lamar Anders picked off a pass and returned it for a two-yard score. The Rams also secured a trio of passing touchdowns in addition to one rushing touchdown. Quarterback Bryce Stalder produced one of his best passing performances of his career, finishing the night 12-of-16 (75 percent) for 255 yards and three touchdowns against no interceptions. Greene County is tied for fourth in Class 2A with 18 total rushing touchdowns.
The Rams are third in the state with 2,283 all purpose yards (456.6 yards per game) while they are sixth in rushing yards with 1,084, anchored by the third-best yards per carry average (7.1 ypc).

Stalder is tied for 12th in 2A with 12 total touchdowns.

Greene County has averaged 43 points per game since losing to AC/GC.

4. Jackson Morton yet again displays versatility

The senior has crossed the 100-yard, two-touchdown plateau in back-to-back games, achieving the mark in a variety of ways. After rushing for more than 100 yards the week prior along with four touchdowns, Morton compiled a seven catch, 136-yard, two touchdown performance in the Rams week five rout, an average of 19.4 yards per reception.

Morton has tallied six total touchdowns and 286 yards in the past two weeks of action, an average of three touchdowns and 143 yards per contest. Morton also leads the team in tackles with 25.5.
 

5. Rams in line for a title

Greene County is atop the Class 2A, District 8 standings, sporting a perfect 2-0 record. Clarke, Clarinda, Des Moines Christian and Red Oak (Greene County’s opponent Friday night) each boast 1-1 district records, tied for second place.
Shenandoah sits at the bottom with a 0-2 record. Greene County is on the path to an elusive district title, as they’ll face Red Oak (2-3), Shenandoah (1-4) and Clarke to wrap up the season.

Clarke is the only team remaining on Greene County’s schedule with a winning record at 4-1 overall. Clarinda recently ended the Indians early undefeated streak with a dominant, 40-7 victory back in week four. Greene County’s five district opponents are 10-15 so far this season. Varsity Bound ranks Greene County’s schedule as the 177th hardest across all classes, with an overall opponents record of 18-22.