Saturday, October 5, 2024

Murray beats Rockets in final 10 seconds


MURRAY, Ky. – Despite a strong start, Crittenden County was unable to overcome six turnovers and stalled offensive drives, falling 37-27 to Murray High on Friday night in both teams' initial Class 2A First District matchup of the season.

Crittenden had early opportunities to establish control of the game, reaching the red zone twice in the first half without points. Both trips ended in turnovers, setting a troubling tone. In total, the Rockets committed six turnovers—three coming from mishandled kickoffs, which greatly hampered their momentum.

First-Half Bright Spots Dimmed by Mistakes

Quarterback Quinn Summers shone in the first half, completing 15 passes for 146 yards. His biggest play came early when he connected with CamRon Belcher on an 80-yard touchdown pass to give the Rockets a 7-0 lead. Summers also found Tyree McLean twice for touchdowns in the second quarter, the second coming on a 4-yard pass.

However, even with a 20-13 halftime lead, Crittenden’s offense struggled to capitalize on further opportunities. In the third quarter, Summers completed just one of eight pass attempts, netting zero yards as Murray's defense clamped down. Rocket receivers had trouble creating separation, and Crittenden’s offense was unable to find any rhythm.

Summers did finish the game with a career-high 106 rushing yards, adding a late 28-yard touchdown run with about three minutes left to tie the game at 27.

However, the Rockets could not overcome their miscues as the Tigers sealed the win with a 32-yard field goal and a fumble return touchdown in the final 10 seconds.

“I thought the kids fought hard, especially in the fourth quarter,” Rocket coach Gaige Courtney said. “Just too many mistakes.”

He said miscues on special team “opened up the game for (Murray) and gave them a lot momentum.” 

Tigers Take Control in the Second Half

Murray High, now 6-1, rallied behind quarterback Wyatt Robbins and a balanced offensive attack. Robbins completed 24 of 36 passes for 280 yards, and added a rushing touchdown in the third quarter to help turn the tide.

Amarion Bomar’s 9-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter helped the Tigers close to within 7 by halftime. In the third quarter, Robbins connected with Nebraska-commit Jeremiah Jones for an 11-yard touchdown pass that gave Murray a 27-20 lead, which they never relinquished.

A field goal from Hank Fronza with just 10 seconds left extended the lead to 30-27. Hoping for a miracle, Crittenden tried to lateral the kickoff reception to keep the play alive with time ticking off the clock, but fumbled. Murray’s Tristen Dennis scooped and scored from the 25 and Murray won by 10.

“The score doesn’t tell the whole story,” the Rocket quarterback said, pointing out that his team was two plays away from being up three touchdowns in the game’s opening minutes.

“The first drive our defense gets a big turnover and I go down running the ball and fumble on the five. I take full blame for that and I had an interception – just missed opportunities,” Summers added. “The third quarter was kind of a mess. If we play four full quarters, we’re the best team in our district.”

For Summers, that interception at the Murray one-yard line to end the half, was his first in 122 passes dating back to the Union County game.

By the Numbers

Despite the loss, Crittenden showed offensive firepower, totaling 398 yards of offense to Murray’s 424. Summers finished with 258 passing yards on 20 completions, including six catches for 116 yards by Belcher. However, the Rockets' five lost fumbles and a lackluster second-half passing attack ultimately proved too much to overcome. Caden Howard caught 6 passes in the matchup, setting a new school record for catching a pass in 27 straight games. He is now No. 2 on the all-time reception list.

Murray, meanwhile, continued its strong season, picking up 21 first downs and narrowly outgaining Crittenden on the turf with 144 rushing yards to the Rockets’ 140. Robbins led the Tigers’ rushing attack with 57 yards, while Simon Rickman and Bomar contributed 48 and 39 yards, respectively.

Looking Ahead

The Rockets will need to regroup and clean up their execution on special teams and in the red zone as they prepare for their next matchup. The loss drops Crittenden to 2-4 overall and 0-1 in district play. The Rockets will be at home against non-district opponent Ohio County next week. Ohio County will come in winless. Meanwhile, Murray improves to 6-1 and 1-0 in district competition. The Tigers will be idle next week then play district foes Caldwell County and Mayfield over the next two Fridays.

SCORE BY QUARTERS
Crittenden 7 13 0 7
Murray High 0 13 14 10

SCORING PLAYS
C-CamRon Belcher 80 pass from Quinn Summers (Adri Berry kick) 5:47, 1st
C-Tyree McLean 17 pass from Summers (Berry kick) 10:15, 2nd
M-Wyatt Robbins 14 run (Elias Houk kick) 7:56, 2nd
C-McLean 4 pass from Summers (Berry kick blocked) 5:02, 2nd
M-Amarion Bomar 9 run (kick fail) 1:16, 2nd
M-Simon Rickman 2 run (Houk kick) 3:27, 3rd
M-Jermiah Jones 11 pass from Robbins (Hank Fronza kick) 2:00, 3rd
C-Summers 28 run (Berry kick) 3:06, 4th
M-Fronza 32 field goal :10, 4th
M-Tristen Dennis 25 fumble return (Fronza kick) :03, 4th

TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: CCHS 18, MHS 21
Penalties: CCHS 10-89, MHS 9-85
Rushing: CCHS 22-140, MHS 35-144
Passing: CCHS 20-40-1, 258; MHS 24-36-1, 280
Total Yards: CCHS 398, MHS 424
Fumbles/Lost: CCHS 5-5, MHS 2-2

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS 
Rushing
CCHS: Summers 14-106, Jacob Carder 5-19, Brayden Mahnke 3-15. MHS: Robbins 14-57, Rickman 8-48, Bomar 13-39.
Passing
CCHS: Summers 20-40-1, 258. MHS: Robbins 24-36-1, 280.
Receiving
CCHS: Belcher 6-116, Caden Howard 6-56, Dakota Sosh 3-37, McLean 3-33, Carder 2-16.
Defense
Check back later
Records: CCHS 2-4 (0-1), Murray 6-1 (1-0)

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

THE SHOW | 6w 2024 | District vs Murray


Week 6 - Murray

 BY: ANDY HUNT

Murray 2024 Schedule

  • Union City, TN – 35-28 – LOSS
  • Calloway County (4A, 0-6) – 42-7 – WIN
  • Marshall County (5A, 3-3) – 34-19 – WIN
  • Union County (3A, 4-2) – 33-13 – WIN
  • Christian County (6A, 0-5) – 54-36 – WIN
  • McCracken County (6A, 2-4) – 28-12 – WIN
  • Crittenden County (2A, 2-3)
  • Caldwell County (2A, 2-4)
  • Mayfield (2A, 3-2)
  • Madisonville – North Hopkins (5A, 4-2)

Murray 2024 Stat Leaders

  • PASSING – Wyatt Robbins (#1, JR) – 109/153, 1,561 yards, 17 TDs, 2 INTs
  • RUSHING – Simon Rickman (#5, JR) – 25 attempts, 214 yards, 2 TDs
  • RUSHING – Wyatt Robbins (#1, JR) – 50 attempts, 202 yards, 4 TDs
  • RECEIVING – Jeremiah Jones (#7, SR) – 33 receptions, 547 yards, 5 TDs
  • RECEIVING – Isaiah Martin (#2, JR) – 30 receptions, 456 yards, 7 TDs
  • RECEIVING – Tristan Dennis (#21, SO) – 17 receptions, 236 yards, 3 TDs
  • KICKING

Saturday, September 28, 2024

Rockets fall 51-0 at No. 1 O’Cath


OWENSBORO, Ky. – Had it not been for three first-half misfires within smelling distance of the goal line, Crittenden County might have made things more interesting at Owensboro Catholic Saturday.

Whether Class 2A’s top-ranked Aces (6-0) would have been in jeopardy of losing the encounter is highly questionable, but Rocket coach Gaige Courtney strongly lamented missed opportunities in the 51-0 loss.

“We really did some good things offensively,” Courtney said. “Coach (Austin) Berry dialed up a really good plan and Quinn (Summers) and the receivers were executing it and we were even running the ball at times. We were moving it up and down the field, just couldn’t get it in the end zone.”

Like the coach explained, the Rocket quarterback found the trusty hands of Caden Howard and CamRon Belcher early and often. But after closing in on the goal line, CCHS stalled at the 18, the 11 and again at the 25.

“We were deep in the red zone twice and the third time I’d say it was the outer red zone, but just couldn’t get it in,” he said. “Against that team, we know we have to score there.”

Scoring wasn’t in the cards, however, for the Rockets (2-3). Meanwhile, after a cool start, O’Cath ramped it up the pressure a strong running game in the second period and led 27-0 at the break. From there, Crittenden went off the rails as some big passing strikes let the Aces speed up the clock early in the third period, courtesy of the 35-point-lead mercy rule.

CCHS lineman Keegan Pierson said conditions were not optimal with a steady, light rain, yet his team’s offense was able to move the chains with its passing game. Remnants of Hurricane Helene – which battered Florida Friday – dumped more than five inches of rain on western Kentucky prompting the game to be postponed for 24 hours. Footing was fine on the turf at Kentucky Wesleyan’s Steel Stadium, but the Rockets did have some uncharacteristic pass drops, particularly in the red zone.

“We just weren’t able to execute those little extra plays when we needed to,” Pierson said.

O’Cath piled up 462 yards of offense, and held Crittenden to 173. Summers was able to throw for 166, but the Rocket running game – which did have brief success early with Jacob Carder gaining a net 20 on the ground – finished with 7 rushing yards as a team.

Crittenden, which went into the matchup ranked No. 8 in the latest Courier-Journal Class 2A poll, will regroup and begin district action next week at Murray High.

SCORE BY QUARTERS
Crittenden County 0 0 0 0
Owensboro Catholic 6 21 11 13

SCORING PLAYS
OC-Miles Edge 2 run (kick failed) 9:36, 1st
OC-Vince Carrico 11 run (Andrew Garvin kick) 9:13, 2nd
OC-Waryn Ebelhar 53 pass from Dremail Carothers (Garvin kick) 6:31, 2nd
OC-Ebelhar 75 pass from Carothers (Garvin kick) :48, 2nd
OC-Carrico 1 run (Dereon Crowe run) 5:22, 3rd
OC-Garvin 49 field goal 2:54, 3rd
OC-Jude Evans 1 run (Garvin kick) 7:45, 4th
OC-Chris Burns 20 interception (Garvin kick) 3:28, 4th

TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: CCHS 8, OCHS 14
Penalties: CCHS 6-45, OCHS 7-66
Rushing: CCHS 15-7, OCHS 22-225
Passing: CCHS 21-35-1, 166; OCHS 14-22-0, 238
Total Yards: CCHS 173, OCHS 462
Fumbles/Lost: CCHS 0-0, OCHS 2-1

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
CCHS: Jacob Carder 10-20, Michael Porter 1-0, Eli Lovell 1-5, Conner Poindexter 1-(-5), Quinn Summers 1-(-5). OCHS: Evans 2-4, Edge 8-99, Cameron Woodward 2-24, Crowe 5-67, Carrico 4-25, Mitchell Shaiden 1-6.
Passing
CCHS: Summers 21-34-0, 166; Conner Poindexter 0-1-1. OCHS: Brady Atwell 9-12-0, 76; Carothers 5-10-162.
Receiving
CCHS: Caden 9-87, CamRon Belcher 6-31, Dakota Sosh 3-24, Brayden Poindexter 1-11, Tyree McLean 2-13. OCHS: Woodward 5-24, Crowe 1-5, Ebelhar 4-183, Carrico 1-3, Edge 1-1, Braylin Coots 1-19.
Defense
Trae Taylor 2 solos, caused fumble, TFL; Tyree McLean 4 solos; Belcher 3 solos, assist; Howard 4 solos, assist; Michael Porter solo; B. Poindexter 4 solos; Carder solo, 2 assists; Blake French solo, 2 assists; Landon Curry solo, 4 assists; Sosh fumble recovery; Carson Yates assist; Kaiden Travis solo, 2 assists.
Records: CCHS 2-3, OCHS 6-0

Friday, September 27, 2024

FOOTBALL GAME ALTERT | Rockets postponed at O'Cath

Crittenden County at Owensboro Catholic football game is postponed until Saturday due to weather. 

Game time will be 7pm at Kentucky Wesleyan's stadium.

Cash gate.