MARION, Ky. – Crittenden County debuted a new quarterback and a new placekicker Friday night against winless McLean County with first-rate results.The sixth-ranked Rockets (3-0) dominated the contest, holding the Cougars to negative total yards and winning 61-8.
Junior Bryce Willis got his first start behind center because of an injury to starter Brian Berry. Willis completed 3-of-4 passes for 81 yards and a touchdown. He executed every snap and every exchange to his running backs, who racked up 260 yards on the ground.
"I think Bryce handled himself very well. He managed the offense and for his first start I would say he did an excellent job," said Rocket coach Al Starnes.
Also getting his first start was freshman kicker Micah Hollamon, a first-time football player, who made nearly a half dozen extra points after missing three straight to start the game. With Crittenden scoring on every offensive series except the very last one, Hollamon had plenty of opportunities to flush the butterflies.
A 14-year-old recreational league soccer player, Hollamon said was indeed nervous at the opening bell, but battled through kickoffs and extra points early and eventually gained confidence thanks to teammates and the coaching staff.
"Once I got the hang of it, I got in the rhythm and everything was okay," he said.
Hollamon became inspired to play football after watching kickers on television. His uncle, Brian, played football on the 1985 state championship team and his father, Greg, coached football early in his teaching career.
Hollamon made five straight PATs to finish the contest, which will help shore up a kicking game that was suspect in the first two outings.
Also getting his first start was freshman kicker Micah Hollamon, a first-time football player, who made nearly a half dozen extra points after missing three straight to start the game. With Crittenden scoring on every offensive series except the very last one, Hollamon had plenty of opportunities to flush the butterflies.
A 14-year-old recreational league soccer player, Hollamon said was indeed nervous at the opening bell, but battled through kickoffs and extra points early and eventually gained confidence thanks to teammates and the coaching staff.
"Once I got the hang of it, I got in the rhythm and everything was okay," he said.
Hollamon became inspired to play football after watching kickers on television. His uncle, Brian, played football on the 1985 state championship team and his father, Greg, coached football early in his teaching career.
Hollamon made five straight PATs to finish the contest, which will help shore up a kicking game that was suspect in the first two outings.
"Once he got past the nerves and trusted his mechanics, he was fine," Starnes said.
The Rocket defense was superb, stopping the Cougars in their tracks and posting its own touchdown on a fumble return by sophomore lineman Daniel Price in the first period. The defense also forced a safety. McLean completed no passes and rushed for minus-3 yards on 25 tries, mostly off-tackle runs by quarterback David Burden who carried the ball 15 times.
"The reason we won the football game is because we dominated both sides of the football," Starnes said. "Our line played very well."
The Cougars' only touchdown came on a kickoff return late in the first half. Meanwhile, the Rocket offense was unstoppable, scoring at will as Tanner Nix, Andrew Freeman and Brenden Phillips rushed for two TDs apiece and Dustin Hernandez caught a 31-scoring pass.
Crittenden will be on the road next week at Webster County.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
McLean County 0 8 0 0
Crittenden Co. 18 29 7 7
SCORING PLAYS
CC-Tanner Nix 23 run (kick failed) 6:14, 1st
CC-Daniel Price 37 fumble return (pass failed) 5:58, 1st
CC-Andrew Freeman 1 run (kick failed) 2:33, 1st
CC-Dustin Hernandez 31 pass from Bryce Willis (kick failed) 10:22, 2nd
CC-Safety 7:42, 2nd
CC-Brenden Phillips 2 run (Micah Hollamon kick) 7:23, 2nd
CC-Nix 14 run (Hollamon kick) 1:25, 2nd
MC-Anthony Head 76 kickoff return (Jordan Ward pass from David Burden) 1:12, 2nd
CC-Freeman 60 run (Hollamon kick) :26, 2nd
CC-Zach Tinsley 11 run (Hollamon kick) 9:21, 3rd
CC-Phillips 9 run (Hollamon kick) 9:38, 4th
TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: Crittenden 9, McLean 1
Penalties: Crittenden 7-60, McLean 10-57
Rushing: Crittenden 32-260, McLean 25(-3)
Passing: Crittenden 3-4-0, 81 yds., McLean 0-1-0
Total Yards: Crittenden 341, McLean (-3)
Fumbles/Lost: Crittenden 0-0, McLean 3-1
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Crittenden-Freeman 4-66, Bowe Wallace 3-28, Nix 7-47, Hernandez 3-14, Phillips 6-26, Tinsley 7-48, Willis 1-6, Aaron Owen 1-25. McLean-Head 9-7, Burden 15-(-9), Chris Patton 1-(-1).
Passing
Crittenden-Willis 3-4-0, 81 yds. McLean-Burden 0-1-0.
Receiving
Crittenden-Robert Cudnik 1-38, Hernandez 1-31, Phillips 1-12.
The Cougars' only touchdown came on a kickoff return late in the first half. Meanwhile, the Rocket offense was unstoppable, scoring at will as Tanner Nix, Andrew Freeman and Brenden Phillips rushed for two TDs apiece and Dustin Hernandez caught a 31-scoring pass.
Crittenden will be on the road next week at Webster County.
Pictured directly above is junior Bryce Willis looking downfield during his first start at quarterback. At top is first-time kicker Micah Hollamon, a freshman. Photos by Reese Baker. Click here to see more photos.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
McLean County 0 8 0 0
Crittenden Co. 18 29 7 7
SCORING PLAYS
CC-Tanner Nix 23 run (kick failed) 6:14, 1st
CC-Daniel Price 37 fumble return (pass failed) 5:58, 1st
CC-Andrew Freeman 1 run (kick failed) 2:33, 1st
CC-Dustin Hernandez 31 pass from Bryce Willis (kick failed) 10:22, 2nd
CC-Safety 7:42, 2nd
CC-Brenden Phillips 2 run (Micah Hollamon kick) 7:23, 2nd
CC-Nix 14 run (Hollamon kick) 1:25, 2nd
MC-Anthony Head 76 kickoff return (Jordan Ward pass from David Burden) 1:12, 2nd
CC-Freeman 60 run (Hollamon kick) :26, 2nd
CC-Zach Tinsley 11 run (Hollamon kick) 9:21, 3rd
CC-Phillips 9 run (Hollamon kick) 9:38, 4th
TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: Crittenden 9, McLean 1
Penalties: Crittenden 7-60, McLean 10-57
Rushing: Crittenden 32-260, McLean 25(-3)
Passing: Crittenden 3-4-0, 81 yds., McLean 0-1-0
Total Yards: Crittenden 341, McLean (-3)
Fumbles/Lost: Crittenden 0-0, McLean 3-1
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Crittenden-Freeman 4-66, Bowe Wallace 3-28, Nix 7-47, Hernandez 3-14, Phillips 6-26, Tinsley 7-48, Willis 1-6, Aaron Owen 1-25. McLean-Head 9-7, Burden 15-(-9), Chris Patton 1-(-1).
Passing
Crittenden-Willis 3-4-0, 81 yds. McLean-Burden 0-1-0.
Receiving
Crittenden-Robert Cudnik 1-38, Hernandez 1-31, Phillips 1-12.
Defense
Bebout solo, assist; Clark solo, 3 assists; Cozart 2 assists; Cudnik assist; Freeman 5 solos, assist, 2 sacks; Gardner 2 solos, 5 assists, TFL; Gaston solo; Gilbert assist; Hamby 3 solos, TFL; Hernandez 2 solos, 2 assists; Knox 3 solos; Long 5 solos, 5 assists, 2 TFL, sack; Nix solo, assist; Phillips 3 solos, 3 assists, TFL; Price 3 solos, fumble recovery; Tinsley assist; B.Wallace solo; D.Wallace 4 solos, 3 assists, TFL, sack, caused fumble; Werne 2 solos, assist, TFL; Willis 2 assists.
Players of the Game
Offense Bryce Willis; Defense Andrew Freeman; Lineman Entire Offensive Line; Special Teams Micah Hollamon.
Records: Crittenden 3-0, McLean 0-4
Records: Crittenden 3-0, McLean 0-4
