Zack Stalder Photo courtesy of Cheri Stalder

Ten years and one day since Daric Whipple ran for 210 yards and threw for 253 in a 49-42 football victory vs. Boone on Oct. 16, 2015, current Ram quarterback Zack Stalder had a big night of his own. The junior quarterback ran for 159 yards on 14 carries with two rushing touchdowns, and he threw for 294 yards with no interceptions and a pair of TD passes. Despite Stalder’s efforts, the Rams lost on Friday at Creston to the previously winless Panthers, 42-35.

Two other quarterback performances of note include the all-time Jefferson-based football single game passing record set by Gabe Ebersole in 2023 in a 62-31 loss to Roland-Story in Story City. Ebersole threw for 464 yards and three touchdowns on a 23-41-2 effort. Stalder’s older brother, Bryce, rushed for at least 200 yards in a game twice and threw for more than 200 yards in a single game at least three times. He accomplished topping 200 yards rushing and passing in the same game twice.

Coach Caden Duncan’s Rams have lost its last three games and is 4-4 overall and 1-3 in Class 3A District 6 with just one game left in the 2025 season. That one game is against the Harlan Community Cyclones on Friday at historic Merrill Field at 7 p.m. on KG98 and streamed on www.raccoonvalleyradio.com. The Cyclones are 3-5 overall and 2-2 in district play, but have one of Iowa’s most prolific programs. Former head coach Curt Bladt and his son, current head coach Todd Bladt, have combined to coach 13 State Championship teams (11 for Curt, 2 for Todd).