The high school football game nicknamed “The Battle for the Cowbell” was played last night at Linduska Field in Jefferson with Greene County winning over Perry by a 55-14 final after leading by just 20-14 at halftime. Both teams are 1-1 on the season and the game was heard on KGRA 98.9 FM, 1310 AM KDLS, and streamed on www.raccoonvalleyradio.com. The Rams have won six straight times in the series and hold a 62-29-2 advantage for the 93 times the cowbell has been played for. The Rotary Clubs from Perry and Jefferson donated an actual cowbell in 1928 and the same bell has gone to the winning team’s school ever since.
Greene County put up 422 yards of total offense and scored on all nine offensive possessions, recording seven touchdowns, seven extra points and field goals of 44 and 42 yards. Kicker Nathan Behne made the two longest field goals of his career, plus a seven for seven night on extra points, and six touchbacks on kickoffs. Gabe Ebersole was 12 for 17 passing for 252 yards and three touchdowns . One TD pass went to Jack Hansen for 49 yards, another to Camden Strennen for 16, and the third to Trey Schilling covering 29 yards..Ebersole and Cody Allen had one yard TD runs with four yard touchdown runs from Strennen and Nick Stream. Ebersole led Ram rushers with 77 yards as the team totaled 170 on the ground.
Perry had 137 rushing yards and 108 on the ground with 245 total, 201 of that total was in the first half. After Greene County led 14-0 in the first quarter, Perry closed to within 20-14 at halftime, but the Rams put up 35 points in the second half and the Blue Jays were held off the scoreboard in the last two quarters. Both teams are now 1-1 on the season.
Greene County had no turnovers while the Blue Jays turned the ball over four times. Schilling, Nick Madsen, and Hansen intercepted passes while Nick Stream recovered a Perry fumble.
The Rams host Atlantic on Sept. 8, for their last non-district game of the season, all against Class 3A opponents. Friday’s game can be heard on KG98 and streamed on www.raccoonvalleyradio.com with coverage at 7 p.m. and kickoff at 7:30 p.m. following a 5 p.m. JVR contest. The Trojans are 1-1 after falling to Glenwood 47-7 on Friday night.