Week 3 Preview: A return home should serve as a much-needed antidote against Saydel

By Brandon Hurley 

Sports Editor 

sports@beeherald.com

@BrandonJHurley

Game time: Saydel (0-2) vs. #5 Greene Co. (2-0), 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13 in Jefferson 

Last meeting: Greene County won, 68-0 in 2018

What to watch for: Can the Rams defense get back on track and stifle the struggling Eagles? 

X-Factor: Look for RB Colby Kafer to continue his rampage through the record books. He could easily touch 200 yards again. 

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Embarrassment can be one hell of a motivator. 

Sprinkle in a revenge factor and you’ve certainly got a sneaky recipe for a trap game. 

After last week’s scare against Nevada, the fifth-ranked Greene County Rams (2-0) are ready. 

Greene County produced a school-record 68 points last fall in a ridiculous shutout victory of Saydel in Des Moines. They’ll be in search of more of the same the second time around.  

The Eagles are winless two weeks into the 2019 season and have lost 10 of their last 11 regular season games. They were 1-8 a year ago, with a mere 3-0 win over Des Moines Christian their only victory. 

Saydel, Greene County’s latest non-district opponent, has struggled to score yet again this fall, having only managed 13 total points two weeks in, including a 56-0 dismantling at the hands of Knoxville in week 2. 

Greene County on the other hand, is averaging 48 points per game (fourth in 2A) and 465 total yards per game (third in Class 2A). 

The Rams recovered five fumbles a year ago, and look to get back on track defensively after allowing 41 points to Nevada last week. 

Not a single statistic has been recorded by the Saydel program on Quikstats, though they will trout out a new quarterback this time around after graduating Cash Lee. 

A challenge from a pesky Nevada squad just a week prior to a game with what seems like a fairly easy opponent was definitely a nice jolt to the system, Greene County head coach Duncan said. It served as a nice test leading into the Saydel battle.  

“We know that we can’t take anybody for granted,” the coach said. “We knew Nevada was going to be a good team. We weren’t coming in expecting to just have our way. This should definitely be our wake up call. 

Guys are ready, I can sense it. They’re going to have a renewed focus next week. We’re going to be intense and really take next week and work on getting better.” 

Running back Colby Kafer, Class 2A’s leading rusher with 540 yards in two games, rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns on just seven carries in last year’s win. He should have little trouble navigating the Saydel defense once again behind a offensive line that has come out strong. Kafer is averaging 240 yards and three touchdowns per game on the ground, an average of 14.9 yards per carry.  

Carter Morton is off to a hot start at receiver as well this year. He’s tallied 214 yards and three touchdowns on eight catches while he’s also scored on a 70-yard punt return. The Rams continue to produce a well-balance offense, as Brent Riley has thrown for 382 yards and four touchdowns. Two of his three interceptions have come off of tipped passes. 

Greene County held firm at number five in the latest Associated Press Class 2A rankings following last week’s win. Waukon remained number 1, while the rest of the top five also stayed the same. Fellow district 9 foe, OA-BCIG, entered the rankings for the first time, tying for 10th overall. 

The top 10 is as follows: 

1. Waukon

2. Clear Lake

3. Algona

4. Spirit Lake

5. Greene County

6. Waterloo Columbus 

7. Des Moines Christian

8. Benton 

9. Cresco

10. (tie) OA-BCIG

Monticello

In order for the Rams to improve to 3-0 Friday, Greene County offensive lineman Tyler Miller believes they must perform more as a cohesive unit. There was too much interior grumbling during their scare with Nevada, he said. 

“We need to come together better. In the second half (when we were losing last week), everyone was kind of down in the dumps. I tried ripping some butt but it wasn’t working,” the senior said. “They were in the dumps. Then we finally pulled together and played as a team. (When we do that) we have fun, we are energetic and are able to fly around. 

Miller continued, “When we get down on ourselves I think it really kills us. We need to learn to play together more and know that every guy next to you, you have to trust.” 

Friday’s kick-off is set for 7 p.m. at Linduska Field in Jefferson. 

Class 2A, District 9 Standings

#5 Greene County 2-0

#10 OA-BCIG 2-0

Kuemper 1-1

Atlantic 1-1

Red Oak 0-2

Shenandoah 0-2