On September 7, the Varsity Football team played the Biglerville Canners at home for the third game of the season. In the second game of the year, the Rams lost to Solanco 46-6. However, this week, the Rams were able to bounce back and shutout the Canners 34-0.

The student section, “The Goat Pen”, was full of  students in their farmer gear. Head coach Christopher Grube said, “it was another great turnout by our student section. Playing our games in the new stadium instead of the old stadium has created a fun student atmosphere for the game.”

Senior linebacker Ryan Gibney said there is no better feeling than running out of the tunnel in front of a packed student section.

In addition, that win against Biglerville was the second shutout in just three games so far this season. Grube said, “we were able to do things offensively that we prepared for during the week and our defense played lights out in the first half.”

To begin, the Rams won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. A few plays into that first drive, junior running back Joshua Vipperman ran for a 46-yard touchdown with a little over nine minutes left in the first quarter. After the converted extra point, the Rams led 7-0.

The Canners’ first drive of the game ended on a three and out forcing them to punt the ball back to the Ram’s offense.

However, the Rams could not do anything with that possession and also went three and out. Biglerville got the ball back before the end of the first quarter but started the second quarter with a fourth down.

To start the next quarter, the Canners could not convert on fourth down, giving the ball back to the Rams.

On the first play of that next drive, junior running back Wyatt McCleary ran a near 89-yard touchdown extending their lead to 14-0 after junior kicker Ryan Jones converted his second extra point of the night.

With a little under two minutes left in the first half, senior quarterback Noah Hulslander threw a 45-yard dart to get the Rams into the redzone.

On the very next play, the Rams got into the endzone, and extended their lead to 20-0 over the Canners after the missed extra point.

A few minutes after that score, rain began to fall. However, Grube said, “we ignore the elements and just play football.”

Senior running back Jacob Rose noted that it was very humid at the start of the game; however, the temperature cooled down after the rain started.

Neither team scored in the last couple of minutes left in the first half after that Ram’s score, leaving the score 20-0 at halftime.

“(Biglerville) got us off guard after halftime adjustments, but we were able to adjust and continue to force them in bad situations,” said Grube about the start to the second half.

The Canners opened the second half with the ball, but could not do anything with it. The Rams defense came up big on fourth down, stopping the Canners’ drive.

Grube thought that the big defensive stop and the big 89-yard run helped seal the victory.

Once again, the next Rams possession ended in a touchdown, extending the shutout lead to 27-0.

Senior safety Garrett Lowe intercepted a Canners throw to start the fourth quarter, giving the Rams great field position for their next drive.

The Rams were able to execute on their next drive; Rose scored the last Rams touchdown of the night with 9:58 left in the game. Rams led 34-0 at that point.

Biglerville was able to get the ball over midfield, but fumbled to the Ram’s defense with about four minutes left in the game. The Canners would not get the ball back before the end of the game, and the Rams ran the clock out for the victory.

The Rams advanced their record to 2-1 after the 34-0 shutout against Biglerville.

Also, the Rams have won each of their two home games with dominant shutouts. “It always feels good to know that you play strong at home. We are excited for the Suburban (next home game) game, and hopefully we can get it done again this year and start out 1-0 in the division,” Grube reflected on the strong start at home this season.

Grube also added that Gibney does an incredible job making sure the defensive players know the play. Grube also credited the whole coaching staff for the strong start to the season.

The Rams rushed for a total of 279 yards, the leading rusher being McCleary with 133 yards. Hulslander threw for 55 yards on just two completions. Grube said that the passing game definitely needs to be improved. He also added that they have to give Hulslander more opportunities to throw the football.

Grube also feels that once Hulslander starts getting into a groove, the Rams offense will be very hard to stop.