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Give ’em the boot

WEBSTER CITY – It had been 10 months since Chuck Tack put on a football helmet and stepped onto the field prior to Saturday afternoon. He was so far removed from the sport that he had trouble locating his gear before making the long trek from his Nebraska home to town to play for the Midwest Rampage.

His gear was still intact, and so was his canon of a kicking leg.

He put both to good use.

Tack drilled four field goals, including a you-wouldn’t-believe-it-if-you-didn’t-see-it 63-yard bomb in the third quarter to help the Rampage fend off the North Iowa Bucks, 32-27, in a Southern Plains Football League showdown.

Tack also connected from 37, 47 and 22 yards. But it was the one from 63 that had fans talking. The rocket bounced off the crossbar and went through to give the Rampage (2-0) a 23-7 lead.

The Bucks (0-2) – an improved club from a season ago – made things interesting with three touchdowns in the final period. Still, the outcome was never in doubt; North Iowa scored for the final time as regulation ended.

“We knew the Bucks weren’t going to be anything like they were last year based on their numbers and who’s on their roster,” Rampage head coach Matt Girdley said. “We were tested a few times.”

Rampage quarterback Ben Jass completed 14 of 24 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns. He connected with Jeromy Keehn on scoring tosses of 26 and 20 yards in the opening half to help stake the orange and black to a 17-7 edge at intermission.

Tailback Ross Haren found the end zone in the fourth quarter on a 2-yard rumble. He was responsible 204 yards rushing on 33 carries.

The Rampage played without three starters, including leading receiver Gunnar Wyatt. Keehn filled the void by making nine catches for 106 yards.

“I”m happy with getting the win, but we have some things to improve upon if we want to take it to the next level,” Jass said.

Jass threw his first interception of the season in the second quarter, which gave the Bucks good field position on the Rampage side of the 50. But just three plays later, defensive back Tyler Mosbach stepped in front of a Mitchell Syverson pass to thwart the Bucks’ drive.

Todd Sauer also blocked a field goal for the Rampage late in the first half.

Shon Osborn and John Elkin both had 12 tackles for the Rampage defense, and Tyler Kibbee threw his hat in on 11 stops. Eric Walechka (nine tackles), Andy Sowle (six), Brian Miller (six) and Mosbach (six) were also key contributors.

Patrick Jackson – the twin brother of Fred Jackson, an NFL running back who plays for the Buffalo Bills – reeled in a pair of TD grabs for the Bucks.

The Rampage will head north of the border again this Saturday when it heads to Albert Lea, Minn., to face the unbeaten Albert Lea Grizzlies (2-0). Kickoff is set for 5 p.m.

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