Rocket Football Coach’s Show is brought to you by local partners and The Crittenden Press. Join Coach Gaige Courtney and host Chris Evans along with brothers senior Brayden Poindexter and sophomore Conner Poindexter as they discuss the upcoming game and provide insights into the football program. For more, including stats, photos, articles, history and team records see RocketsFootball.com.
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. – What looked like a complete unraveling turned into destiny for the Rockets Friday night at Fort Campbell’s Fryar Stadium. Down 29-7 late in the second quarter, Crittenden County mounted the largest comeback in program history, roaring back to beat Fort Campbell 42-31 in a wild, emotional and unforgettable Class 2A First District battle.
It was an instant classic and key win for post-season seeding.
Even before kickoff, the night started off out of rhythm. The team bus spent nearly an hour getting through the Army post’s security gate – a delay that chopped warmup time to a fraction of normal. Then it took another hour and a half, or roughly two full quarters, for the Rockets to finally find their mojo.
The Rockets’ rally was equal parts grit, guts and trench work by the defense. Senior quarterback Quinn Summers and record-setting receiver Caden Howard torched the Falcons for four touchdown connections – three of them after halftime – as Crittenden erased a 22-point hole and pitched a second-half shutout to stun the Falcons after the hosts had largely dominated the first 24 minutes by keeping the ball away from Crittenden County.
Fort Campbell came out like a stealth fighter, scoring on the opening kickoff and again two minutes later on a field goal. By the time halftime provided a much-needed pause for CCHS, the Falcons had rolled up 16 first downs and a pile of yards by ground and air, exploiting Crittenden’s shorthanded defense after senior linebacker Brayden Poindexter was sidelined with a chop block injury.
Just when the Rockets seemed buried, they found a spark. Summers hit Howard for a 32-yard strike just before halftime, trimming the margin to 29-15. That connection lit the fuse.
“We had a big play going into the half when Quinn was able to hit Caden on the post and get it to two scores,” Coach Gaige Courtney said. “I thought that was huge going into the half because we were struggling, we were turning the ball over, we were having trouble getting stops and we were banged up. We had some key guys out, but that touchdown sparked us.”
The second half belonged entirely to the Rockets. Summers and Howard hooked up on touchdowns of 21, 29, and 1 yard, part of a 27-2 Crittenden run that flipped the game upside down. The only points Fort Campbell managed after intermission came on a safety when the Rockets were flagged for holding in their own end zone.
Crittenden’s defense stiffened its back nearly every time it was against the wall, forcing four red-zone stops and intercepting one pass. None was bigger than a fourth-down stand near midfield with just over four minutes left, virtually killing Fort Campbell’s chances of any late heroics.
Moments later, senior running back Trae “Juice” Taylor ripped off a 52-yard run to the Falcon 4-yard line, setting up Summers’ sneak that sealed the comeback and sent the Rocket sideline into euphoria.
“I don’t know what to say. The first half was just awful and the second half was just pretty dang good,” Courtney said. “It’s been kind of a crazy day, being stuck at the checkpoint and not even knowing if we were going to get in.”
Taylor finished with 93 rushing yards, while Summers threw for 214 and added another 36 on the ground. Howard’s night – eight catches for 102 yards and four touchdowns – added another chapter to his storied high school career.
The win, Crittenden’s fifth in six games brings its season mark to 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the Class 2A First District, guaranteeing no worse than a No. 3 playoff seed and setting up next week’s home showdown with Caldwell County for the district’s No. 2 spot, and a coveted first-round home playoff game. The critical triumph didn't come without sacrifice as star lineman Braydin Brandsasse suffered an arm injury that appeared to be serious. He didn't play the entire second half.
Rocket Football Coach’s Show is brought to you by local partners and The Crittenden Press. Join Coach Gaige Courtney and host Chris Evans as they discuss the upcoming game and provide insights into the football program. For more, including stats, photos, articles, history and team records see RocketsFootball.com.
ABOVE: Brad Madden (1996-1999) ended his career with the 6th most rushing yards in school history and had 29 career rushing TDs as well. He was a two-time ALL-WKC selection, the 1998 team offensive MVP, and was selected as a member of the East/West All-Star game. Last week, Madden had his 28-year-old record against Todd County Central broken by Caden Howard. Read below to find out which record has fallen.
Record Breaker Watch
BRAYDEN POINDEXTER
Tackles – Career
12. Billy Mills (1979-1982) – 274
13. Dylan Smith (2014-2016) – 252
14. David Beverly (1994-1997) – 247
15. Brayden Poindexter (2022-Present) – 245
16. Tanner Tabor (1996-1999) – 239
17. Joey Rich (1996-1999) – 237
Tackles for Loss – Career
9. Zack Beverly (1999-2002) – 27
10. Bobby Knox (2009-2012) – 25
T-11. Gaige Courtney (2005-2008) – 24
T-11. Gavin Dickerson (2015-2018) – 24
T-11. Brayden Poindexter (2022-Present)
– 24
CADEN HOWARD
Records Held by Caden Howard
There are 26 receiving records kept in the record book. Caden Howard has 15 of those currently with a realistic chance to add four more giving him 19 total. Ethan Dossett owns the other seven.
Consecutive Games with a Reception - 37
Consecutive Games with Multiple Receptions - 26
Receiving Yards in a Career- 2,369
Receiving Yards by a Sophomore - 626
Receiving Yards by a Freshman - 248
Receptions in a Career - 176
Receptions by a Sophomore - 62
Receptions by a Freshman - 19
Receptions in a Game - 13 (Tied with Ethan Dossett)
Receiving TDs in a Career - 35
Receiving TDs by a Sophomore - 10
Receiving TDs by a Freshman - 5
Receiving TDs in a Half - 5 (Previous: Ethan Dossett)
Most 125-yard Receiving Games - 6 (Tied with Ethan Dossett)
Most 125-yard Receiving Games in a Season- 4 (Tied with Ethan Dossett)
Receiving Yards – Career
1.Caden Howard (2022-Present) – 2,369
2. Ethan Dossett (2015-2018) – 2,130
3. T.K. Guess (2002-2005) – 1,774
4. Chad Perryman (1990-1993) – 1,655
5. Preston Morgeson (2019-2022) – 1,556
KHSAA Career Receiving Yards List (List has not been updated since
2021)
MARION, Ky. – On a rare Thursday night homecoming game, under lights borrowed from Friday’s usual keepers of the game, two seniors found their rhythm again.
For a couple of weeks early this season they had been ghosts of themselves, both sidelined in weeks one and two, and Crittenden County was struggled to define its identity without the dynamic duo. But now, with October air sharp as a blade, quarterback Quinn Summers and wideout Caden Howard played as if to make up for lost time, and the Rockets rolled 45-8 over Todd County Central.
Quinn Summers on his TD run.
Summers’ arm and legs painted the field with big plays, and Howard caught nearly everything thrown his way, scoring five touchdowns, one shy of the school record. Together, they wrote a first-half masterpiece that essentially ended the game before halftime. The mercy-rule running clock deployed before intermission.
Crittenden (4-3, 2-1 Class 2A District 1) has now won four of its last five, solidifying itself in the playoff picture with two straight district victories. Todd Central fell to 1-6, 0-3.
“Adversity can really show you who you are and how you can handle bad times and bounce back. Coming back out here and feeling 100 percent feels amazing,” Howard said, after setting fire to the Rebel secondary with 204 yards receiving.
Summers opened the scoring by zipping a 26-yard strike to Howard, then breaking loose on fourth down off the left end for a 61-yard touchdown run. He would finish with 241 yards through the air on 12-of-19 passing, plus another 69 on the ground.
Howard did the rest. His 67-, 51-, 43- and 6-yard touchdown receptions all came in the first two quarters, torching Todd Central’s defense with a mix of speed, precision routes and Summers’ uncanny touch. By halftime, Crittenden led by what would be the final score, and never looked back.
Rockets celebrate recovery of onside kick by Azeriah Rich.
After surrendering a 24-yard touchdown pass to Rigney Harrison on Todd’s opening drive, the Rocket defense tightened its grip. Hayden Hughes and Dokota Sosh picked off passes, while Jay Stevenson and Braydin Brandsassee combined for a sack. Todd Central managed only 129 total yards, including 55 through the air on 4-of-15 passing.
Coach Courtney said his offense was clicking and defense did its job after that early letdown when Todd scored its only TD. The Rockets scored on all six of their possessions in the first half.
Howard, who last week became the school’s all-time leader in career receiving yards, nearly added another record with his five-touchdown haul. Summers, meanwhile, continues to flash dual-threat brilliance over the past two games, giving the Rocket offense yet another weapon, particularly with starting running back Trae Taylor sidelined with an injury.
With a bye week ahead, Crittenden will prepare for a road test at district foe Fort Campbell before closing district play at home Oct. 24 against rival Caldwell County in the final league game of the season.
Thursday’s contest was one of a handful in the state moved off Friday due to a shortage of officials across Kentucky.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Todd Central 8 000
Crittenden Co.232200
SCORING PLAYS
C-Caden Howard 26 pass from Quinn Summers (Brayden Poindexter pass from Summers) 11:03, 1st
T-Rigney Harrrison 24 pass from Eli Morgan (Morgan run) 6:06, 1st
C-Summers 61 run (Mitchell Brown kick) 5;05, 1st
C-Howard 67 pass from Summers (Eli Lovell run) 2:56, 1st
C-Howard 51 pass from Summers (Noah Byford pass from Summers) 10:12, 2nd
C-Howard 43 pass from Summers (Brown kick) 8:45, 2nd
C-Howard 6 pass from Summers (Brown kick) 4:07 2nd
TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: CCHS 8, TCC 6
Penalties: CCHS 5-35, TCC 9-55
Rushing: CCHS 13-104, TCC 27-74
Passing: CCHS 15-21-0, 264; TCC 4-15-2, 55
Total Yards: CCHS 368, TCC 129
Fumbles/Lost: CCHS 0-0, TCC 0-0
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
CCHS: Summers 2-69, Logan Nolan 6-20, Kaden Harrington 1-2, Azariah Rich 1-8, Conner Poindexter 3-5. TCC: Lister 8-27, Miller 4-5, Morgan 4-13, Martin 5-14, Rigney 6-15.
