Greene County lost 34-0 in the high school football season opener on Friday night to Kuemper Catholic at Carroll Athletic Field in a contest heard on KG98 and www.raccoonvalleyradio.com. Coach Dean Lansman’s inexperienced Rams couldn’t stay with a Kuemper team that scored points in every quarter. Junior running back Miles Rupiper ran for three touchdowns including a 48 yard jaunt on the Knights’ second offensive play of the game. He added a nine yard TD run early in the second quarter and went 66 yards for his final score just moments into the second half. Rupiper finished with 147 yards on just 10 carries. Kicker Kyle Derner was perfect on four extra point kicks and he booted 35 and 39 yard field goals, both in the third quarter when the Knights went from a 14-0 halftime lead to a 27-0 advantage at the end of the third. Von Kraus added a two yard TD run with 4:20 remaining in the game.

The Rams had a couple of scoring opportunities that went by the wayside. Nick Schroeder hooked a 32 yard field goal attempt wide left with six seconds left in the first half, and the Rams were held on downs at the Knights’ one yard line with 11 seconds left in the game.

Kuemper had 272 yards of total offense to 175 for the Rams. Trey Tucker and Jake Berns provided a solid one-two punch in the running game with Tucker gaining 90 yards on 16 carries and Berns adding 85 on 11. Sophomore quarterback Clint Dennhardt  with three for 18 through the air with two interceptions for 23 yards. Greene County receivers dropped a few passes including one that would have been a touchdown. The Rams also lost a fumble. Kuemper did not turn the ball over.

Middle linebacker Joe Towers played in his first varsity game and he led the team in tackles with 12 (five solo, seven assists) stops. Tackle Hunter Ruth had seven stops including a quarterback sack. Anthony Jacobsen was off to a strong start with five first quarter tackles, but left the game in the opening period with an injury and did not return. Coach Lansman reported the injury to be something with Jacobsen’s elbow.

The Rams remain on the road for the final non-district contest when they face perennial power Harlan at Merrill Field on Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m. The Cylcones lost to Class 4A Lewis Central (Council Bluffs) 45-7. The game can be heard on KG98 and streamed on www.raccoonvalleyradio.com.