BANCROFT — Last season, North Gem was embarrassed 48-6 by rival Rockland on the road.
The Cowboys couldn’t wait for the 2015 rematch.
“All week long they talked about revenge,” said North Gem coach Dana Strong. “And they talked about hitting them hard and coming back and taking it to them.”
As the Cowboys broke the huddle before kickoff, they chanted a message in unison.
“They can’t tackle us!”
The Cowboys battered the Bulldogs 54-6 Friday in Bancroft. North Gem forced seven turnovers, held Rockland to 147 yards of offense and scored 20 points before calling four offensive plays. The Cowboys laid huge blocks, stiff armed would-be tacklers and attacked Bulldogs players with veracity. The mud and grass marks on Rockland’s jerseys nearly stained out the white on a soggy day at North Gem High.
In the locker room after the win, players blasted the timeless 1992 anthem “Jump Around.” They were all born years after the song’s release and the band didn’t have another hit. But it was fitting. The Cowboys brought the House of Pain.
“I’ve never been around a team before that likes to hit as much as this one does,” Strong said. “In practice sometimes we have to pull them back, otherwise they’ll hurt each other.”
Rockland’s first play from scrimmage was intercepted by Dallin Lloyd. Tyler Perkins ripped off a 31-yard touchdown run on the ensuing play.
The Bulldogs (0-6, 0-3 1A DII District 5-6) lost two yards and fumbled on their next drive. Two plays later, the Cowboys were up 14-0 after a 29-yard burst by Karson Lloyd.
The next time North Gem touched the ball was following Rockland’s lone touchdown of the game. Dylan Low slipped at the 20, broke tackles to the outside and housed the kickoff 80 yards. It was 20-6 and pouring.
Pack it up, pack it in, let me begin
I came to win, battle me, that’s a sin
North Gem (4-1, 1-0) punted once and scored on each drive other than their last, which ended with a fumble as time expired. Quarterback Walker Davids’ first pass was a 70-yard score to Bridger Jensen, and Low had home-run scoring plays of 71 and 60 yards.
Low’s 60-yard run in the fourth quarter was North Gem’s final scoring play and summed up the day. Low ran right, was wrapped up 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage, spun free and sprinted down the sideline to the end zone.
“Just keep chopping your feet — keep going with it,” Low said.
“They can’t tackle us!”
Rockland was hampered by the wet conditions. The Bulldogs like to utilize the pass but were forced to stick to the ground.
“(Quarterback) Spencer (Permann) was having a heck of a time trying to throw that ball,” said Bulldogs coach Lance Freeman. “It definitely impacted us in all aspects.”
Permann completed 6 of 10 passes for 109 yards, no touchdowns and two picks. He was the team’s leading rusher with 27 yards on 18 carries, and Zakery Smith hauled in three catches for 87 yards. Smith scored Rockland’s touchdown on a 4-yard run in the first quarter.
Low finished with 125 rushing yards and three total touchdowns (two rushing, one kick return). Davids went 6 of 8 through the air with 118 yards and two TDs, adding 12 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Perkins racked up 84 total yards and three touchdowns.
The Cowboys have won three straight, outscoring opponents 168-58 in the process.
“Everything seems to be rolling,” Strong said. “The kids have good confidence and they know the playbook now for the most part. We’re just anxious to play. It seems like a long week between games. They’re so ready to play.”
North Gem hosts conference foe Clark County (3-1) next week for homecoming. The Cowboys will be without Perkins, who was ejected for a targeting penalty in the fourth quarter and will be unavailable for North Gem’s next game.
“He’s our leading scorer and really been one of our most effective players,” Strong said. “That’s going to hurt.”
Perkins’ absence was already a concern Friday. But nothing could damper the win too much. The celebration from North Gem’s locker room oozed outside into the rainy afternoon. Revenge enacted.
I came to get down, I came to get down
So get out your seat and jump around!