The annual “Battle for the Cowbell” went Greene County’s way on Friday night in Jefferson by a 38-0 score over Perry at Linduska Field. The victory was the first this season for the Rams and breaks a losing streak of eight games dating back to the final game of the 2015 season. Coach Dean Lansman’s Rams are 1-7 overall and 1-5 in Class 3A District 2 while the Blue Jays fall to 2-6 on the season and 0-6 in the district. The game was heard on KG98, KDLS 1310 AM, 99.7 FM, and was streamed on www.raccoonvalleyradio.com.

Sophomore quarterback Clint Dennhardt ran for two touchdowns and threw for two others while senior receiver Nick Schroeder had both TD receptions, and he also kicked a field goal. Senior Trey Tucker topped 100 rushing yards and had the final touchdown.

Dennhardt capped a five play, 14 yard drive with a one yard sneak to open the scoring with 7:11 to play in the opening quarter. The short field was set up when Perry’s punt hit one of their own players behind the line of scrimmage and was scooped up by Tucker on the Rams’ sideline and advanced from the 18 to the 14.

Schroeder’s 28 yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter made it 10-0 with 11:54 to go before halftime. That drive was 78 yards on nine plays. Bryce Burkhardt blocked a Perry punt a minute later and the Rams had another short field. Dennhardt ran five yards to the end zone with 9:24 left in quarter two to finish a 25 yard drive on four plays and that made it a 17-0 game. It was 24-0 at intermission after Greene County scored with :15 to play in the quarter on a Dennhardt pass to Schroeder on fourth down and goal from the three that completed a 67 yard, 11 play drive.

The Rams scored twice in the second half. Schroeder caught a Dennhardt pass with 5:13 left in the third quarter on a double reverse flea flicker on first down from Perry’s 34. That was a one play drive after defensive end Anthony Jacobsen recovered a fumble. The final points came with 9:24 left in the game on a Tucker run of 13 yards after the first of two Burkhardt fumble recoveries. That drive was 31 yards on four plays.

Greene County had 229 yards of offense to Perry’s 70. The Rams had 174 of that total in the first half while the Blue Jays had 56 of its yards before intermission. Dennhardt went 5-9-1 passing for 55 yards and two scores and Tucker ran for 106 on 24 carries.

Teams based in Jefferson are 56-28-2 in the series since a cowbell was introduced by the Rotary Clubs of Jefferson and Perry in 1928.

The Rams end the 2016 campaign in Huxley vs. Ballard (5-3, 3-3) on Oct. 21. You can hear the action on KG98 and www.raccoonvalleyradio.com.