Crittenden County's football team went to Webster County Friday night with one objective - to avoid a major letdown following its highly-celebrated victory the week before at Mayfield.
The Rockets completed their coach's commission, making easy work out of the Trojans 34-0.
The operation went as planned as Crittenden got ahead early and coasted through the second half while several of its regulars rested on the sideline late in the game. Their attention no doubt turned to the Class A First District race, which reaches an apex next week with a homecoming showdown against Ballard Memorial at Rocket Stadium.
A victory against Ballard would ensure the Rockets of first place in the league and a home field advantage for the first two rounds of the playoffs.
Webster County had no answer for Rocket quarterback J.D. Gray nor his offensive companion Gaige Courtney.
Gray scrambled out of the pocket for 113 yards, including a touchdown. Courtney, a senior tight end, caught four passes for 72 yards, including three touchdowns. Gray finished 8-for-14 through the air for 145 yards.
Tanner Nix rushed for the Rockets' final touchdown and emerging running back Brian Berry rushed for 74 and caught a 58-yard pass.
The Rocket defense recorded its first shutout of the season, forcing five turnovers and holding Webster to just 54 yards on the ground. Turnovers set up four of the Rockets' five touchdowns as Crittenden capitalized on good field position. Courtney and Nix each picked off a Trojan pass thrown by Jered Collins.
Webster, a non-district Class 3A opponent, had trouble getting anything going against the Rocket defense. The Trojans managed just one first down in the second half.
Crittenden is 2-0 in the district and 4-2 overall. Its only losses have been against Calloway County and Lone Oak, both ranked among the top Class 4A teams in the state.
The much improved Ballard Bombers will be looking to pull off the upset next week as they bring a 2-1 league record to Marion. The Bombers nearly upset Mayfield earlier this season, but lost in the fourth period. Homecoming festivities being at 7 p.m., with crowing on the queen prior to next week's game.
Pictures above is Brian Berry (3) gaining some tough yards in the second half.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Crittenden County 7 14 13 0
Webster County 0 0 0 0
SCORING PLAYS
CC-J.D. Gray 40 run (J.R. Adams kick) :00, 1st
CC-Gaige Courtney 23 pass from Gray (Adams kick) 1:45, 2nd
CC-Courtney 9 pass from Gray (Adams kick) :58, 2nd
CC-Tanner Nix 1 run (Adams kick) 4:39, 3rd
CC-Courtney 20 pass from Gray (kick blocked) 3:01, 3rd
TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: Crittenden 10, Webster 6
Penalties: Crittenden 6-45, Webster 1-5
Rushing: Crittenden 37-228, Webster 36-54
Passing: Crittenden 8-14-0, 145 yds., Webster 7-16-2, 96 yds.
Total Yards: Crittenden 373, Webster 150
Fumbles/Lost: Crittenden 3-2, Webster 4-3
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Crittenden: Gray 10-113, Brian Berry 7-74, Dustin Hernandez 5-18, Tanner Nix 5-12, Courtney 2-6, Joey Pluskota 1-6, Andrew Freeman 6-1, Devin Wallace 1-(-2). Webster: Adam McClure 10-28, Steven Hargrove 15-21, Nick Hoover 4-9, Jamie Kennada 2-(-2), Trevor Warren 1-5, Jered Collins 2-(-10).
Passing
Crittenden: Gray 8-14-0, 145 yds. Webster: Collins 7-15-2, 96 yds., Landon Harding 0-1-0.
Receiving
Crittenden: Courtney 4-72, Pluskota 1-7, Nix 1-5, B.Berry 1-58, Robert Cudnik 1-3. Webster: Warren 5-83, Kennada 1-6, James Nance 1-7.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Crittenden County 7 14 13 0
Webster County 0 0 0 0
SCORING PLAYS
CC-J.D. Gray 40 run (J.R. Adams kick) :00, 1st
CC-Gaige Courtney 23 pass from Gray (Adams kick) 1:45, 2nd
CC-Courtney 9 pass from Gray (Adams kick) :58, 2nd
CC-Tanner Nix 1 run (Adams kick) 4:39, 3rd
CC-Courtney 20 pass from Gray (kick blocked) 3:01, 3rd
TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: Crittenden 10, Webster 6
Penalties: Crittenden 6-45, Webster 1-5
Rushing: Crittenden 37-228, Webster 36-54
Passing: Crittenden 8-14-0, 145 yds., Webster 7-16-2, 96 yds.
Total Yards: Crittenden 373, Webster 150
Fumbles/Lost: Crittenden 3-2, Webster 4-3
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Crittenden: Gray 10-113, Brian Berry 7-74, Dustin Hernandez 5-18, Tanner Nix 5-12, Courtney 2-6, Joey Pluskota 1-6, Andrew Freeman 6-1, Devin Wallace 1-(-2). Webster: Adam McClure 10-28, Steven Hargrove 15-21, Nick Hoover 4-9, Jamie Kennada 2-(-2), Trevor Warren 1-5, Jered Collins 2-(-10).
Passing
Crittenden: Gray 8-14-0, 145 yds. Webster: Collins 7-15-2, 96 yds., Landon Harding 0-1-0.
Receiving
Crittenden: Courtney 4-72, Pluskota 1-7, Nix 1-5, B.Berry 1-58, Robert Cudnik 1-3. Webster: Warren 5-83, Kennada 1-6, James Nance 1-7.
Defense
Atwell assist; A.Berry 5 solos, 2 assists; TFL; B.Berry 2 solos, 6 assists; Clark 2 solos, 4 assists, TFL, fumble recovery; Copeland 2 solos, 5 assists; Courtney 6 solos, 6 assists, interception, 2 TFL, fumble recovery; Cudnik 4 solos, 3 assists, 2 fumble recoveries; Fletcher assist; Freeman 5 solos, 2 ssists, TFL, fumble recovery; Gray 5 solos, 5 assists, caused fumble; Kirk solo, assist; Long 3 solos, 4 assists; McConnell 3 solos, 2 assists; Nix interception; Piper assist; Pluskota 2 solos, 4 assists, TFL, caused fumble; Thornton 6 solos, 2 assists; Urbanowski 2 solos, 3 assists; Werne 6 solos, 3 assists, TFL, sack; Willis 2 assists.
Records: Crittenden 4-2, Webster 2-3.
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