Royals turn to smash-mouth football to top Raiders

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – Carter Hollenbeck doesn’t doubt the talent of his 2025 Ramstein squad.

All the Royals lack, in his opinion, is experience playing together. They lost a significant chunk of last fall’s Division I championship squad, making this year’s version an almost entirely new team.

So with Ramstein leading crosstown rival Kaiserslautern by just three points at halftime of their season opening Friday evening, the Royals coach simplified the game plan to get them on track.

“We have a lot of talented players, but they’re still finding where they’re playing,” Hollenbeck said. “That was our biggest adjustment – doing something that was comfortable for us that we feel could work.”

The halftime alterations did work.

The Royals found their groove offensively while the defense stymied the Raiders during a 15-0 win at Ramstein High School.

“It’s a brotherhood experience,” Ramstein senior Shaun Young said. “In the first half, it was tough, but then we put it together and it all came through.”

The biggest change came on offense.

The Royals (1-0) struggled putting anything together in the first half. The lone bright spot was their eight-play, 42-yard opening drive that ended in a Lincoln Bump 22-yard field goal at the 6:08 mark in the first quarter.

In the second half, Ramstein deployed a tighter, jumbo-like formation with a fullback and either two tight ends or one of the receivers lined up just behind the tackle.

That gave the Royals a powerful punch, and they used it to their advantage. The hosts bludgeoned their way to 107 of their 165 yards on the ground in the second half.

Ramstein’s Josh Black, center left, and Elijah Morris gang-tackle Kaiserslautern running back August Crisp during a Sept. 5, 2025, game at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein defender Freddie Robinson celebrates after tackling Kaiserslautern running back August Crisp for a loss during a Sept. 5, 2025, game at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein fullback Drew Varholy dives ahead during a Sept. 5, 2025, game against crosstown rival Kaiserslautern at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein quarterback Xavier Schumacher throws a pass over the outstretched arm of Kaiserslautern defensive lineman Ozius Gafa during a Sept. 5, 2025, game at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Kaiserslautern running back August Crisp runs around the edge after getting by Ramstein defender Josh Black during a Sept. 5, 2025, game at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Kaiserslautern receiver Jakob Bell takes the handoff from quarterback Keaton Crowder during a Sept. 5, 2025, game against the crosstown rival Royals at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Kaiserslautern tight end Garrett Vitter stretches out for a one-handed grab over Ramstein defensive back Rhett Dalling during a Sept. 5, 2025, game at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein defensive back Rhett Dalling stretches out to intercept a pass that was batted into the air after teammate Ahmad Williams and Kaiserslautern receiver Jakob Bell jostled for the ball during a Sept. 5, 2025, game at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein finished the game with 208 yards of total offense.

Drew Varholy set the tone with quick-hitting fullback dives that extended numerous drives. The senior from Tampa, Fla., smashed his way to 60 yards and a touchdown on 15 rushing attempts.

His success made life easier for Young on the outside. The tailback totaled 63 of his game-high 94 yards in the second half, and his 8-yard scamper on a sweep with 10:56 remaining made it a two-possession game at 9-0.

“Especially on that 36 pitch, I knew once I had the ball, I had to make a play,” Young said. “I want to say shoutout to the O-line. They really put the bodies out there for us to run through the gaps.”

That nine-point advantage proved to be insurmountable, thanks to the defense.

Ramstein held Kaiserslautern (0-1) to 70 yards of total offense. August Crisp (42 yards on 18 carries) and the rushing attack couldn’t get going, and the pass rush harried quarterback Keaton Crowder in the pocket.

The Raiders’ best play of the day came during their second drive of the game on a third-and-14 at their own 17-yard line. Crowder threw a ball over the middle to tight end Garrett Vitter, who snagged the ball for a one-handed grab.

“Coach (Chad) Horne does an outstanding job as our defensive coordinator,” Hollenbeck said. “He’s relentless, and he did a fantastic job of dialing the defense in.”

The visitors did once have the ball in the red zone, thanks to a Ramstein miscue on a punt at its own 30 early in the third quarter. The Raiders advanced the ball to Royal 11-yard line before lining up for a 26-yard field goal.

Junior Josh Black, a transfer from Nebraska, got his paw to the kick to prevent Kaiserslautern from getting on the board.

“To be honest, we were starting to get our heads down,” Ramstein senior Chris Farrington said. “But because of that (blocked kick), we were able to get our excitement back up.”

That blocked kick was just one of the numerous missed opportunities for Raider coach Jason Steadman’s squad.

While vowing to get to work Monday to correct the errors, the first-year Kaiserslautern mentor also praised his players’ efforts. He expressed his belief that the Raiders aren’t far off from putting it together.

“I saw a team that wants it,” Steadman said. “If we can just get out of our own way, we’re going to get it.”