DIXON, Ky. – For a team that wasn't supposed to be very explosive this season, the sixth-ranked Rockets sure haven't lived up the billing.
In two weeks, Crittenden has posted 114 points en route to a 4-0 start. The Rockets have done it via the air, on the ground, returning fumbles for touchdowns and intercepting passes.
The victim Friday was home-standing Webster County in a 53-0 shutout.
The Trojans were helpless against a havoc-wreaking Rocket defense that disrupted everything senior Trojan quarterback Landon Harding tried to accomplish. The QB had racked up 341 yards and four passing touchdowns in the first three games, but Crittenden picked him off twice and snuffed out nearly every third-down pass with a heavy rush.
The Rocket defense forced four turnovers and scored after each one.
Crittenden coach Al Starnes praised junior quarterback Bryce Willis for this play, especially his accurate passing early when Webster was picking it in up front against the Rocket rushing attack.
"He really opened things up for us by throwing the ball," Starnes said.
Tanner Nix ran for two touchdowns and caught a scoring pass from quarterback Willis, who was starting for the second time this season. Willis finished with 156 yards passing on 8-of-11 accuracy. Two of his passes were on target, but dropped by receivers. He spread the ball around, too, finding seven receivers for completions.
Willis threw three touchdowns passes with senior Robert Cudnik and junior Dustin Hernandez getting one apiece. Senior Andrew Freeman rushed for two TDs and sophomore Bowe Wallace broke an 87-yarder in the final minute of the game.
On defense, sophomore lineman Eli Bebout had two sacks and classmate Grant Gardner had another. Senior Terry Werne picked off a pass and Hernandez had an interception. The pass Werne intercepted was batted out of the air by defensive end Devin Clark. Werne also recovered a fumble as did sophomore Devin Clark, preserving the shutout in the final two minutes of the game for his father, defensive coordinator Vince Clark, as the Class 3A Trojans (2-3) had penetrated the red zone for the first time in the game.
Senior Brian Berry, a quarterback and linebacker, was back in the lineup after missing last week with a broken thumb. He played defense with a cast on his right hand, a handicap he'll wear for at least a couple more weeks.
The Rockets will be at Caldwell County next week. The Tigers are 2-2 after losing to Lone Oak Friday.
Read more about Caldwell's game against Lone Oak in the Princeton Times Leader Online, click here.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Crittenden Co. 7 25 14 7
Webster County 0 0 0 0
SCORING PLAYS
CC-Tanner Nix 35 run (Micah Hollamon kick) 7:55, 1st
CC-Dustin Hernandez 71 pass from Bryce Willis (kick failed) 11:07, 2nd
CC-Robert Cudnik 16 pass from Willis (kick failed) 7:09, 2nd
CC-Nix 23 pass from Willis (pass failed) 3:15, 2nd
CC-Andrew Freeman 1 run (Hollamon kick) :18, 2nd
CC-Nix 36 run (Hollamon kick) 3:19, 3rd
CC-Freeman 9 run (Hollamon kick) :15, 3rd
CC-Bowe Wallace 87 run (Hollamon kick) 1:00, 4th
TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: Crittenden 8, Webster 11
Penalties: Crittenden 4-45, Webster 4-15
Rushing: Crittenden 30-311, Webster 27-30
Passing: Crittenden 8-11-0, 156 yds., Webster 11-22-2, 96 yds.
Total Yards: Crittenden 468, Webster 126
Fumbles/Lost: Crittenden 1-1; Webster 2-2
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Crittenden-Freeman 11-59, B.Wallace 2-86, Nix 6-97, Hernandez 3-42, Brenden Phillips 7-29, Zach Tinsley 1-(-2). Webster-James Nance 8-10, Jamey Kenneda 11-36, #55 2-2, #27 1-4, Landon Harding 5-(-22).
Passing
Crittenden-Willis 8-11-0, 156 yds. Webster-Harding 11-22-2, 96 yds.
Receiving
Crittenden-Grant Gardner 1-20, Cudnik 2-15, Hernandez 1-71, Bobby Knox 1-13, Nix 1-23, Phillips 1-4, Freeman 1-10. Webster-Laken Benson 3-24, Derrick Douglas 2-38, Kenneda 2-3, Trenton Foe 1-10, #84 2-21, Nance 1-0.
Defense
Asbridge 2 solos, assist; TFL; Bebout 6 solos, 2 assists, TFL, sack; Clark 2 solos, 2 assists, fumble recovery; Cozart 3 solos, 2 assists; Cudnik 4 solos, 3 assists; Freeman 2 solos, 4 assists, caused fumble; Gardner 4 solos, 3 assists, sack; Gaston solo; Hamby solo, assist; Hernandez 6 solos, 2 assists, interception; Knox 2 solos, 3 assists; Long 4 solos, 4 assists; Nix 3 solos; Owen solo; Phillips solo, 2 assists; Tinsley assist; B.Wallace solo, TFL; D.Wallace 2 assists; Werne solo, 3 assists, interception; Willis solo, assist.
Pizza Hut Players of the Game
Offense Tanner Nix and Bryce Willis. Defense Eli Bebout and Dustin Hernandez. Lineman Eli Bebout.
Records
Crittenden 4-0, Webster 2-3
Pictured at top is QB Bryce Willis getting off a first-half pass. Directly above is Rocket senior Brian Berry, sporting a cast on his right hand, while disrupting up a pass in his first game back since breaking his thumb in week 2. Berry played only on defense at Webster. VIDEO below is by ReeseBaker.com.
