After spending the last four football seasons as a Class 2A program, a return to Class 3A starts on Friday night for the Greene County Rams. Coach Dean Lansman’s team plays host to the Algona Bulldogs on Sept. 12 at Linduska Field in Jefferson in the 3A District 2 opener. Both the Rams and Bulldogs will be looking for their first victories of the season when the ball is kicked off at 7:30 p.m. Coverage on KG98 will start at 6:45 p.m.

Algona and Greene County have had similar starts to the 2014 season as the offenses have had trouble reaching the end zone with much consistency, and the defenses have been solid. The Bulldogs lost their first two games by single digit margins, 14-6 to Forest City, then to Estherville-Lincoln Central by a 14-8 final. The Bulldogs have had difficulty running and throwing the ball and have totaled just 190 rushing yards and 103 passing yards in two games. Senior quarterback Esden Carroll is 9 of 23 passing for all 103 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He also is the leading rusher with 37 carries for 78 yards and a TD the first two nights out.

The Rams dropped a 12-6 opener to South Central Calhoun, then lost in Carroll to Kuemper Catholic, 16-14. The Rams out gained the opposition in total yards both nights, but penalties have been an issue both nights, and two turnovers hurt the Rams on opening night. Greene County did not turn the ball over against Kuemper Catholic. SCC scored a TD on a pass interception and the Knights scored when a punt snap sailed over their punter’s head. He picked the ball up and ran 86 yards into the end zone for what proved to be the difference; that, and a first quarter safety when the Rams were tackled in the end zone on a running play on first and 10 from just inches away from the Greene County goal line. Defensively, the Rams have given up just one touchdown in each game.