Yesterday, we mentioned some of the top offensive returning players for the Greene County Rams football team. Today, we look at some of the returning players on defense. First year head coach Caden Duncan has about half of 2018’s starters back on defense. The Rams allowed just nine points per game last year while going 8-1 in the regular season, sharing the Class 2A District 9 title, and qualifying for the playoffs. Greene County lost in Van Horne to Benton Community 46-20 in the postseason.

Nick Breon is a senior who tied for the team lead in solo tackles a season ago with 40, and he had 64 total tackles. That includes 18 solo tackles for loss, 5.5 assisted tackles for loss, and five solo sacks. Will Hansen is a senior who had 51.5 total tackles as a junior with 15 solo tackles for loss and four assisted tackles for loss. He had four sacks.Carter Morton is also a senior. He totaled 32 tackles last year including three for loss. Tyler Miller, the 6′ 9″, 285 lbs. senior defensive lineman had 25.5 total tackles and that included 8.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Xavier Hayes is a senior who had 22.5 total tackles and senior Joe Patterson totaled 13 tackles as a junior. More than 35 other tackles went to a combined number of players.

Eight players return that each recovered one fumble last season. Morton intercepted three passes a season ago, while Hansen and Miller each had one INT, and Miller’s was returned for a TD.

Official practice began yesterday. This Saturday the 17th is the first day of full contact. Friday, Aug. 23 will be a controlled scrimmage vs. North Polk in Alleman, with the first official game on Friday, Aug. 30 in Jefferson at Linduska Field vs. Perry in a renewal of the Annual Cowbell Game. The game with Perry and all the Greene County football games this season can be heard on KG98 and streamed on www.raccoonvalleyradio.com.