Smith named to Shrine Bowl roster, Duncan tabbed as offensive coordinator

By Brandon Hurley
Managing Editor
news@beeherald.com

Greene County two-way senior Braydn Smith was a four-year mainstay on the Rams’ football roster, helping usher in one of the most successful runs in school history.

His dedication has been rewarded with a prestigious honor.

The Paton-Churdan student was named to the 2022 Iowa Shrine Bowl recently. He’ll be a member of the South squad.
The annual high school football all-star game will be played at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 23 at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls.
Smith earned a third-team, all-state distinction by the Iowa Print Sports Writer’s Association in November as a linebacker, helping guide the Rams to an 8-2 overall record as well as the school’s first district title. Smith also started on an offensive line that paved the way for a 42.6 points per game average.  

Smith tallied more than 100 tackles in his career, earning a second team, all-state honor in 2021 as well as a third team, all-state distinction in 2020 as a junior.
Smith secured 4.5 sacks in addition to 12.5 tackles for loss in 2021, which ranked him 22nd in Class 2A. He also tallied a pair of fumble recoveries and a team-leading 54.5 tackles and an interception. The Rams’ scoring defense was the best in 2A, surrendering just 8.9 points per game in addition to being fourth in total sacks (21) and second in tackles for loss (85).

Smith helped pilot a defense which ripped off one of the greatest streaks in school history, pitching shutouts in three straight games while surrendering just a single touchdown during five games of district play.
Third-year Greene County head coach Caden Duncan has earned a prestigious honor as well. He’ll join Smith at the Shrine Bowl as offensive coordinator for the South squad. Duncan led the Rams to Greene County’s first-ever district title as a consolidated district in 2021, sporting a perfect 5-0 record in Class 2A, District 8. The Rams led the district in nearly every offensive and defensive statistical category, 15 to be exact, leading the league with a 42.6 points per game scoring average. The Rams out-scored their five district opponents by 245 points (254-9).
Duncan was named district coach of the year. He’s tallied a 24-7 record in three years in Jefferson.

Dallas Center-Grimes’ Scott Heitland will be the South head coach. He’ll be joined by Des Moines Roosevelt’s Jared Barnett, Solon’s Lucas Stanton, I-35’s Mike Stuart, Sidney’s Donnie Sears and Audubon’s Sean Birks.
The 2022 version of the Iowa Shrine All-Star Classic will be the 50th edition. The annual competition has raised more than $2.5 million for the Shrine Hospitals for Children.

ACADEMIC ALL-STATE

Five Greene County athletes showed remarkable talent on and off the field this past fall. For that, the district-title winning Rams were honored with a number of 2021 Iowa Football Coaches Association Academic All-State selections. Seniors Brenner Gallagher, Jackson Morton, Max Riley, Bradyn Smith and Bryce Stalder were all honored with the prestigious distinction.

The five veterans helped pilot the Rams to an 8-2 overall record, anchored by an undefeated district title as well as a playoff victory for the third straight year.