HICKMAN, Ky. -- It was over by the time it started.
Crittenden County took no chances on letting its final Class A First District game turn into anything other than victory, snatching three straight onside kicks to start the game and converting each one into a touchdown.
The Rockets were ahead 23-0 before Fulton County ever touched the ball and went on to an easy 58-8 victory and a perfect 4-0 mark in league play. The Rockets led 51-0 at the half and held Fulton County to just 57 yards total offense.
Crittenden kicker J.R. Adams started off the game with a perfectly executed onside kick as J.D. Gray fell on the ball. Four plays later the Rockets went ahead on quarterback Gray's eight-yard keeper and they never looked back.
Gray fell on the next two onside kicks and he and Brian Berry rushed for two more touchdowns before Fulton's offense ever stepped onto the field.
Crittenden kept the pressure on the hapless Pilots, scoring on all six first-half possession and once on defense. Linebacker Dyllan Thornton picked up a fumble and ran it back 19 yards for his first career touchdown.
The Rockets went to the bench in the second half and Devin Wallace scored their final touchdown for a 58-0 lead in the third period as the game clock was running continuously -- a mercy rule in Kentucky high school football. The second half was even shortened to two 10-minute periods because the game was so lopsided.
Gray ran for three touchdowns and threw for one. He finished with 94 yards on the ground and 98 in the air. Senior tight end Gaige Courtney caught three passes for 81 yards.
Courtney also became the career tackles leader at Crittenden County, surpassing hall of famer Wompie Stewart on the all-time list. Courtney currently has 300 career tackles. From incomplete records available from the 1980s, Stewart was the school leader with 297.
Rocket running back Rodney Robertson, playing for the first time since Week 2 without a cast on his hand, rushed for 90 yards and a touchdown. Robertson broke his hand in the Lone Oak game.
The Rockets had already clinched the district championship and although the Fulton County game had no bearing on the standings or playoff seeding, Crittenden made sure it finished the district slate on a positive note.
The Rockets will be at Caldwell County next week to close out the regular season in a non-district matchup. After that, Crittenden will host a first round game in the Class A playoffs, likely against Kentucky Country Day.
Pictured above are teammates congratulating linebacker Dyllan Thornton (61) after his fumble recovery and touchdown return in the second period. It was his first career touchdown.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
CC 30 21 7 0
FC 0 0 0 8
SCORING PLAYS
CC-J.D. Gray 8 run (Gaige Courtney run) 8:41, 1st
CC-Gray 17 run (Dustin McConnell pass from Gray) 7:44, 1st
CC-Brian Berry 3 run (J.R. Adams kick) 4:44, 1st
CC-Gray 10 run (Adams kick) :29, 1st
CC-Rodney Robertson 33 run (Adams kick) 9:20, 2nd
CC-Courtney 39 pass from Gray (Adams kick) 7:43, 2nd
CC-Dyllan Thornton 19 fumble recovery (Adams kick), 5:00, 3rd
CC-Devin Wallace 7 run (Adams kick) 4:29, 3rd
FC-Tyler Wilson 42 blocked kick return (Johnathan Burnette run) 5:15, 4th
TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: Crittenden 11, Fulton 3
Penalties: Crittenden 1-5, Fulton 2-10
Rushing: Crittenden 27-236, Fulton 19-57
Passing: Crittenden 5-7-0, 98 yds., Fulton 0-0-0
Total Yards: Crittenden 334, Fulton 57
Fumbles/Lost: Crittenden 0-0, Fulton 2-2
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Crittenden: Gray 6-94, Robertson 11-90, Tanner Nix 2-29, Andrew Freeman 2-15, Wallace 2-8, B.Berry 2-6, Dustin Hernandez 1-2, Bryce Willis 1-(-8). Fulton: Chris Smtih 7-26, Burnette 7-18, Shun Udley 3-16, Victor King 1-6, Eric McClure 11-(-9).
Passing
Crittenden: Gray 5-7-0, 98 yds. Fulton: 0-0-0.
Receiving
Crittenden: Courtney 3-81, Nix 1-7, Robertson 1-5.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
CC 30 21 7 0
FC 0 0 0 8
SCORING PLAYS
CC-J.D. Gray 8 run (Gaige Courtney run) 8:41, 1st
CC-Gray 17 run (Dustin McConnell pass from Gray) 7:44, 1st
CC-Brian Berry 3 run (J.R. Adams kick) 4:44, 1st
CC-Gray 10 run (Adams kick) :29, 1st
CC-Rodney Robertson 33 run (Adams kick) 9:20, 2nd
CC-Courtney 39 pass from Gray (Adams kick) 7:43, 2nd
CC-Dyllan Thornton 19 fumble recovery (Adams kick), 5:00, 3rd
CC-Devin Wallace 7 run (Adams kick) 4:29, 3rd
FC-Tyler Wilson 42 blocked kick return (Johnathan Burnette run) 5:15, 4th
TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: Crittenden 11, Fulton 3
Penalties: Crittenden 1-5, Fulton 2-10
Rushing: Crittenden 27-236, Fulton 19-57
Passing: Crittenden 5-7-0, 98 yds., Fulton 0-0-0
Total Yards: Crittenden 334, Fulton 57
Fumbles/Lost: Crittenden 0-0, Fulton 2-2
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Crittenden: Gray 6-94, Robertson 11-90, Tanner Nix 2-29, Andrew Freeman 2-15, Wallace 2-8, B.Berry 2-6, Dustin Hernandez 1-2, Bryce Willis 1-(-8). Fulton: Chris Smtih 7-26, Burnette 7-18, Shun Udley 3-16, Victor King 1-6, Eric McClure 11-(-9).
Passing
Crittenden: Gray 5-7-0, 98 yds. Fulton: 0-0-0.
Receiving
Crittenden: Courtney 3-81, Nix 1-7, Robertson 1-5.
Defense
A.Berry solo, 2 assists, TFL; B.Berry assist; Clark solo, 3 assists; TFL, caused fumble; Courtney 5 solos, assist, 2 TFL, sack; Cudnik 2 solos, assist, fumble recovery; Fletcher 2 assists; Freeman 2 solos, 4 assists; Gray 2 solos; Kirk assist; Long 2 solos, 3 assists, TFL; McConnell assist; Nix 2 solos, 2 assists; Pluskota solo, 2 assists; Sitar assist; Thornton solo, 3 assists, TFL, fumble recovery; Wallace 2 assists.
Records: Crittenden 7-2 (4-0), Fulton County 1-6 (0-4).
Records: Crittenden 7-2 (4-0), Fulton County 1-6 (0-4).
