PRINCETON, Ky. - Crittenden County pulled to within one point in the second quarter on a touchdown by senior running back Gaige Courtney, but suffered a major loss on the previous play when Rodney Robertson broke a bone in his left hand.
Robertson, a senior running back and linebacker who rushed for a record five touchdowns and 258 yards the week before, injured his hand just before Crittenden scored its second touchdown of the game. He left the field and went to Caldwell County hospital where X-rays revealed a break in one of the small bones in hand. The prognosis is unclear at this time.
After Robertson left the field, Crittenden's offense and defense were short-handed and the team's confidence was nearly shattered. At the time, the Rockets stood toe-to-toe with the 10th-ranked team in Class 4A. However, a narrow 14-13 Crittenden deficit turned quickly into a Lone Oak rout.
The defending state finalists showed no mercy, scoring two quick touchdowns in the final two minutes of the half for a 27-13 lead.
Lone Oak, led by the passing and rushing of senior quarterback Jamarielle Brown, poured on the coal in the third period, scoring three times in that frame and winning the opening game of the Trice Hughes Bowl going away.
Courtney put Crittenden up early in the game on a 61-yard scoring pass from QB J.D. Gray. Back-to-back touchdowns by Lone Oak set the stage for Coutney's second TD to cap an 81-yard drive. But after Robertson left with a broken hand, Crittenden failed to get anything going on offense and the defense was sliced to pieces by Brown & Co.
Brown, who is being recruited by several Division 1-AA teams and even some Division I schools, threw for 282 yards and rushed for 71. He completed 15 passes to nine different receivers before turning the controls over to his reserves in the fourth period.
Crittenden's coaching staff got an opportunity to look at some of its younger players late in the game, too. Several caught the coaches' eyes with their aggressive play.
Gray led Crittenden with 54 yards rushing and he completed 8 of 17 passes for 102 yards.
Defensively, Crittenden had no answer for Brown and his spread offense. The Oakers piled up 460 yards total offense and Brown threw for four TDs.
This was Crittenden's second appearance in the Trice Hughes Bowl at Caldwell County High School. Last year, the Rockets lost 49-6 to Glasgow. Next year, Crittenden will likely play Hopkins Central in the bowl.
Next Friday, the Rockets play at Calloway County, another Class 4A opponent.
PHOTO: Crittenden's defense was chasing Lone Oak's playmaker Jamarielle Brown (8) the whole game. This photo was taken in the first quarter before Rodney Robertson (5) left the game with a broken hand.
Lone Oak 14 13 20 7
Crittenden 7 6 0 0
SCORING PLAYS
CC-Gaige Courtney 61 pass from J.D. Gray (J.R. Adams kick) 9:35, 1st
LO-Carson Beyer 25 pass from Jamarielle Brown (Jack Coorts kick) 6:30, 1st
LO-Brown 25 run (Coorts kick) 1:39, 1st
CC-Courtney 2 run (kick failed) 7:19, 2nd
LO-Alan Haase 29 pass from Brown (kick failed) 1:25, 2nd
LO-Peyton Logue 13 pass from Brown (Coorts kick) :49, 2nd
LO-Matt Starkes 2 run (Coorts kick) 11:40, 3rd
LO-Justin Jackson 55 punt return (Coorts kick) 8:58, 2nd
LO-Haase 46 pass from Brown (kick failed) 5:19, 2nd
LO-Tre Coneal 49 pass from Conrad Gholson (kick good) 3:25, 4th
TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: Crittenden 9, Lone Oak 15
Rushing: Crittenden 36-87, Lone Oak 19-118
Passing: Crittenden 10-24-1, 117 yds., Lone Oak 18-37-1, 342 yds.
Total Yards: Crittenden 204, Lone Oak 460
Penalties: Crittenden 2-30, Lone Oak 8-83
Fumbles/Lost: Crittenden 2-2, Lone Oak 0-0
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Crittenden: Gray 10-54, Bryce Willis 2-14, Courtney 4-13, Rodney Robertson 7-8, Tanner Nix 3-5, Shane Armstron 1-0, Devin Wallace 1-(-2), Andrew Freeman 7-(-5). Lone Oak: Brown 12-71, Starkes 4-33, Justin Jackson 1-10, Chayton Holland 2-4.
Passing
Crittenden: Gray 8-17-0, 102 yds., Nix 2-6-0, 15 yds., Willis 0-1-1. Lone Oak: Brown 15-25-0, 282, Gholson 2-10-1, 55 yds., Tyler Crane 1-2-0, 5 yds.
Receiving
Crittenden: Courtney 4-88, Nix 3-11, Robert Cudnick 1-11, Joey Pluskota 1-3, Chris Copeland 1-4. Lone Oak: Jackson 3-56, Starks 2-8, Haase 4-106, Logan Francis 2-43, Beyer 1-25, Holland 1-6, Cameron Louper 1-25, Blake Bickerstaff 1-5, Coneal 1-49, Logue 1-13, Brookshire 1-6.
Defense
Courtney 3 solos, 2 assists, TFL; McConnell 2 solos, assist; Clark solo, assist; Gray 4 solos, assist; B.Berry assist; Robertson 3 solos, assist; Werne assist; Long solo, TFL; A.Berry 2 solos, 4 assists; Jo.Urbanowski 2 solos; Pluskota solo, sack, assist; Nix 2 solos; Copeland solo, assist; Cudnick solo, assist; Willis assist; Wallace assist; Thornton solo; Fletcher solo; Hernandez solo; Lee interception.
Players of the Game
Offense J.D. Gray and Gaige Courtney. Defense Aaron Berry. Lineman Aaron Berry.
Courtney 3 solos, 2 assists, TFL; McConnell 2 solos, assist; Clark solo, assist; Gray 4 solos, assist; B.Berry assist; Robertson 3 solos, assist; Werne assist; Long solo, TFL; A.Berry 2 solos, 4 assists; Jo.Urbanowski 2 solos; Pluskota solo, sack, assist; Nix 2 solos; Copeland solo, assist; Cudnick solo, assist; Willis assist; Wallace assist; Thornton solo; Fletcher solo; Hernandez solo; Lee interception.
Players of the Game
Offense J.D. Gray and Gaige Courtney. Defense Aaron Berry. Lineman Aaron Berry.
