Week 3 preview
By BRANDON HURLEY
SPORTS EDITOR
The Greene County football team opens Class 3A, district two play Friday as they host the 1-1 Dallas Center-Grimes Mustangs in their home-opener.
DC-G is fresh off a 35-13 loss at the hands of two-time defending state champion, Pella in week two. The Mustangs picked up a victory in a 35-12 beat down of A-D-M in week one.
The Rams enter Friday’s contest with a rejuvenated offense after getting shut out in week one. Quarterback Clint Dennhardt and tailback Trey Tucker look to continue their success against one of district two’s newest opponents.
DC-G spent the last two seasons in district eight, going 9-3 in 2015. Tailback Nathan Brown returns for his senior season after rushing for nine touchdowns and 530 yards a season ago. Brown waltzed his way to 119 yards and two touchdowns in the Mustangs’ week one victory but was held to just 45 yards in their loss to Pella.
Greene County’s week three opponent will try to air it out, as quarterback Damon Clapper has thrown the ball 41 times in the first two games for three touchdowns and 293 yards.
Junior Tanner Epple is DC-G’s biggest threat on the outside, hauling in five catches for 112 yards and a touchdown in the win over A-D-M. He caught three balls for 54 yards in the loss to Pella.
The Mustangs hope to take advantage of open space with quick, short passes.
“We have to be ready to defend the spread,” Greene County head coach Dean Lansman said. “They are going to spread the field and make you defend the entire thing.
This week in practice, The Rams have spent the past week of practice focusing on proper defensive alignment and not allowing the big play.
Dallas Center-Grimes finds themselves in a similar position to Greene County, as many of their most talented and veteran players from last year’s nine-win squad graduated.
Coach Lansman expects a physical game.
“They’ve played some pretty good competition,” Lansman said. “From a defensive stand point for them, they are going to be physical up front and try and take our running game away and make us put the ball in the air.”
Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Greene County High School football field following the freshman game.
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