MARION, Ky. -- Crittenden County's defense just keeps getting better and better.
The Rockets swamped visiting Kentucky Country Day 47-0 in the opening round of the Class A First Region playoffs Friday at Rocket Stadium. The outcome was never in doubt as Crittenden piled it on early, taking advantage of seven Bearcat turnovers.
The victory sets up a rematch against Ballard Memorial in the First Region semifinals next week at Rocket Stadium. Ballard, the No. 3 team in the First District, beat Caverna, the No. 2 team in the Second District Friday. The Rockets defeated Ballard by 22 points earlier in the season. See Class A Playoff Bracket.
Crittenden's first playoff game was played in a steady rain, but the wet conditions created virtually no problems for the seventh-ranked Rockets (8-2). Senior running back Rodney Robertson kept his footing on the soggy turf and raced for 233 yards on just 13 carries. That put him over the 1,000-yard threshold for the second straight season.
For Country Day, the slippery pigskin was equally as troublesome as Crittenden's persistent frontal attack that pinned down the Bearcat offense. Along with losing five fumbles and two interceptions, KCD was hobbled by Crittenden's pressure at the point of attack.
The Rocket defense, a mainstay through its Class A First District title run, was in top form against the 2-9 Bearcats. Crittenden threw Country Day for a loss on seven plays and held the Bearcat runners to just 12 yards on the ground. The Rocket defense has allowed just 5 touchdowns against its first team in the past 6 games. Friday's shutout was its second of the season.
KCD's quarterback Ben Richter was able to generate only a token aerial offense, posting 106 yards on 11-of-24 passing.
The Rockets scored on five of their first six offensive possessions and got a couple of other touchdowns from the defense. Sophomore nose guard Andrew Freeman had a career night, scoring twice on fumble recoveries. Freeman ran one in from 21 yards out and fell on another in the end zone.
Allen Kirk, Jackie Fletcher and Aaron Berry also had fumble recoveries, and Tanner Nix and Josh Urbanowski intercepted passes in the defensive ram job.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Ky Country Day 0 0 0 0
Crittenden Co. 27 13 7 0
SCORING PLAYS
CC-J.D. Gray 1 run (kick failed) 9:28, 1st
CC-Gray 1 run (Gaige Courtney pass from Gray) 5:46, 1st
CC-Rodney Robertson 4 run (pass failed) 3:25, 1st
CC-Andrew Freeman 21 fumble recovery (J.R. Adams kick) 1:07, 1st
CC-Freeman fumble recovery in end zone (kick failed) 7:18, 2nd
CC-Robertson 3 run (Adams kick) 1:11, 2nd
CC-Robertson 2 run (Adams kick) 11:00, 3rd
TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: Crittenden 11, KCD 9
Penalties: Crittenden 3-25, KCD 1-5
Rushing: Crittenden 32-300, KCD 23-12
Passing: Crittenden 2-4-0, 37 yds., KCD 11-24-2, 106 yds.
Total Yards: Crittenden 337, KCD 118
Fumble/Lost: Crittendden 2-0, KCD 6-5
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Crittenden: Robertson 13-233, Gray 6-49, Dustin Hernandez 3-12, Courtney 2-4, Devin Wallace 3-3, Bryce Willis 1-2, Brian Berry 1-1, Freeman 2-(-4). Country Day: Ryan Scinta 6-9, Ben Richter 9-7, Trevor Miles 1-0, David Smith 4-(-3), Chris Kessler 3-(-1)..
Passing
Crittenden: Gray 2-4-0, 37 yds., Country Day: Richter 11-24-2, 106 yds.
Receiving
Crittenden: Robertson 1-25, Courtney 1-12. Country Day: Kessler 4-34, Beau Stoess 3-33, Miles 1-22, Scinta 1-7, Will Smith 1-6, David Giesel 1-4.
Ky Country Day 0 0 0 0
Crittenden Co. 27 13 7 0
SCORING PLAYS
CC-J.D. Gray 1 run (kick failed) 9:28, 1st
CC-Gray 1 run (Gaige Courtney pass from Gray) 5:46, 1st
CC-Rodney Robertson 4 run (pass failed) 3:25, 1st
CC-Andrew Freeman 21 fumble recovery (J.R. Adams kick) 1:07, 1st
CC-Freeman fumble recovery in end zone (kick failed) 7:18, 2nd
CC-Robertson 3 run (Adams kick) 1:11, 2nd
CC-Robertson 2 run (Adams kick) 11:00, 3rd
TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: Crittenden 11, KCD 9
Penalties: Crittenden 3-25, KCD 1-5
Rushing: Crittenden 32-300, KCD 23-12
Passing: Crittenden 2-4-0, 37 yds., KCD 11-24-2, 106 yds.
Total Yards: Crittenden 337, KCD 118
Fumble/Lost: Crittendden 2-0, KCD 6-5
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Crittenden: Robertson 13-233, Gray 6-49, Dustin Hernandez 3-12, Courtney 2-4, Devin Wallace 3-3, Bryce Willis 1-2, Brian Berry 1-1, Freeman 2-(-4). Country Day: Ryan Scinta 6-9, Ben Richter 9-7, Trevor Miles 1-0, David Smith 4-(-3), Chris Kessler 3-(-1)..
Passing
Crittenden: Gray 2-4-0, 37 yds., Country Day: Richter 11-24-2, 106 yds.
Receiving
Crittenden: Robertson 1-25, Courtney 1-12. Country Day: Kessler 4-34, Beau Stoess 3-33, Miles 1-22, Scinta 1-7, Will Smith 1-6, David Giesel 1-4.
Defense
Atwell assist; A.Berry 2 solos, assist; 2 TFL, fumble recovery; B.Berry 2 solos, 3 assists; Clark 5 solos, 2 assists, TFL, batted pass; Courtney solo, 3 assists, TFL; Cudnik 2 solos, 3 assists; Fletcher 3 assists, fumble recovery; Freeman 2 solos, 4 assists, 3 fumble recoveries; Gray solo, 4 assists; Kirk 2 assists, fumble recovery; Long solo, 3 assists; Mitchell 5 solos, 4 assists; Nix assist, interception; Piper solo; Robertson solo, assist; Thornton 5 solos, 4 assists, TFL; Urbanowski 5 solos, 4 assists, interception; Wallace 5 assists; Werne assist; Willis 2 solso, assist, TFL.
Players of the Game: Offense Rodney Robertson, Defense Dylan Clark, Lineman Andrew Freeman.
Records: Crittenden 8-3, Kentucky Country Day 2-9
Records: Crittenden 8-3, Kentucky Country Day 2-9
