For the second straight season Perry defeated Greene County in the high school football season opener and for the second time in a row Will Whiton and Ben Daniels led the way. The outcome of the Annual Battle of the Cowbell was decided early as Whiton threw for three touchdowns and caught a TD pass, all in the first half. Daniels had a 73-yard touchdown run and he was on the receiving end of two of the Whiton TD passes , which were 51 and 55 yards during the Blue Jays’ 45-14 victory over the Rams on Friday night at Dewey Field in Perry. Keegan Wolf caught a 37- yard TD pass and Seth Stetzel ran three yards for a score for the Blue Jays. Perry led 38-0 at the half and built the advantage to 45-0 with 4:25 to play in the third quarter. All but the last 29 seconds of the second half were played with the continuous clock as the margin was 35 points or greater. Perry had 372 yards of offense, 289 in the first half, with 201 through the air and 171 on the ground. Whiton was six of seven for 156 yards and Cavin Finn threw to Whiton for his only pass attempt. The Blue Jays had just one incompletion on eight passes.

Greene County had 255 yards of offense, 193 of that total in the second half. The Rams had 195 rushing yards and 60 through the air. Both Greene County touchdowns were in the fourth quarter. Daric Whipple threw to T. J. Lint for a two-yard TD pass with 11:51 to play, and with 29 seconds left, Riah Nelsen ran for a score from one yard out. Freshman Nick Schroeder kicked both extra points.

Perry is 1-0 and meets Boone (1-0) on Friday night. Greene County (0-1) has its home opener on Sept. 6 at Linduska Field vs. North Polk (Alleman).