Caldwell dominates Rockets 46-16; gets home field

MARION, Ky. – If there was any doubt which team was second best in the Class 2A First District, Caldwell County let the question linger no more than six or eight minutes into Friday's showdown at Marion.

Tez Sivils (10) picks up yardage after catching a screen pass as
Crittenden defenders Bryce Willis (35), Jamie Atwell (38) and
Clint Asbridge (6) give chase during the first half.

The Tigers scored early and often, staking claim to the No. 2 seed in the district and home field advantage for the playoffs. Caldwell outmanned the Rockets from front to back en route to a 46-16 victory.

Crittenden will settle for third place in the league and a long road trip to Hancock County to play the Hornets in the post-season's first round. Hancock (5-4) beat Bulter County 25-20 in Friday's game to decide second place in the First Region's Second District. Butler, who finishes third, will play at Caldwell in two weeks.

Hancock County's only loss in Class 2A action was an overtime setback to second-ranked Owensboro Catholic, who will host Reidland in the playoffs. Murray, ranked No. 4 in the latest AP Poll, will host Union County in the first round of the playoffs.

Caldwell County's passing attack, triggered by 6-foot-5 freshman Elijah Sindelar, was undaunted by the Rocket defense. Sindelar completed 20 of 26 passes, shredding the Crittenden secondary for 350 yards. Senior flanker Tez Sivils caught five passes for 157 yards and he rushed for 35 on just two carries. Sindelar threw four touchdown passes, a pair to Sivils and one each to senior Tanner Vivrette and freshman Jaylen Boyd.

Boyd also rushed for a couple of touchdowns and led the Tigers with 52 yards on the ground. 

"We knew what they were capable of," Rocket coach Al Starnes said. "You have to give Caldwell County all the credit."

Crittenden scored a field goal on a 30-yard Micah Hollamon kick in the third quarter, trimming the Caldwell margin to 34-3. The Rockets tacked on a couple of late touchdowns on runs by Bryce Willis and Grant Gardner, who finished with 142 yards rushing. However, the Rockets managed little offense in the first half, when Caldwell was making it perfectly clear which team was in charge of securing home-field advantage for the playoffs.

Rocket Clint Asbridge (6) pushes Tez Sivils out of the bounds on the
Crittenden sideline after Sivils makes a catch during Friday's action.

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CLASS 2A FIRST REGION STANDINGS
District 1
Team Overall District
Murray 8-1 4-0
Caldwell County 5-4 3-1
Crittenden County 3-6 2-2
Reidland 2-7 1-3
Ballard Memorial 3-5 0-4

District 2
Owensboro Catholic 9-0 5-0
Hancock County 5-4 4-1

Butler County 7-2 3-2

Union County 4-5 2-3
Todd County Central 1-8 1-4
McLean County 0-9 0-5

Playoff Pairings - Nov. 4
Union County at Murray
Butler County at Caldwell County
Crittenden County at Hancock County
Reidland at Owensboro Catholic

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SCORE BY QUARTERS

Caldwell County      14    14    12      6

Crittenden County     0      0       3    13

SCORING PLAYS

Cald-Jaylen Boyd 10 run (kick blocked) 6:36, 1st

Cald-Tez Sivils 58 pass from Elijah Sindelar (Aggie Capps pass from Sindelar) 3:02, 1st

Cald-Tanner Vivrette 50 pass from Sindelar (Eli Pepper kick) 10:20, 2nd

Cald-J.Boyd 13 pass from Sindelar (Pepper kick) 1:07, 2nd

Cald-Sivils 17 pass from Sindelar (kick failed) 10:19, 3rd

Critt-Micah Hollamon 30 field goal 5:48, 3rd

Cald-Baxter Boyd recover blocked punt end zone (kick failed) 1:18, 3rd

Critt-Bryce Willis 1 run (Hollamon kick) 7:58, 4th

Cald-J.Boyd 9 run (kick failed) 5:22, 4th

Critt-Grant Gardner 4 run (kick failed) 2:06, 4th

TEAM TOTALS

First Downs: Crittenden 13, Caldwell 12

Penalties: Crittenden 6-62, Caldwell 13-101

Rushing: Crittenden 37-148, Caldwell 25-95

Passing: Crittenden 7-17-1, 58 yds., Caldwell 21-27-0, 352 yds.

Total Yards: Crittenden 206, Caldwell 447

Fumbles/Lost: Crittenden 1-1, Caldwell 2-0

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

Crittenden-Gardner 20-142, Willis 10-5, Brenden Phillips 4-12, Travis Gilbert 3-(-11). Caldwell-J.Boyd 18-52, Sivils 2-35, Alan Getz 3-13, Sindelar 2-(-5).

Passing

Crittenden-Gilbert 5-13-1, 31 yds., Willis 2-4-0, 27 yds. Caldwell-Sindelar 20-26-0, 350 yds., Landon Burns 1-1-0, 2 yds.

Receiving

Crittenden-Gardner 4-27, Bobby Knox 2-26, Jamie Atwell 1-5. Caldwell-Sivils 5-157, J.Boyd 5-36, Vivrette 5-69, Capps 3-64, Ty Jenkins 2-24, Eli Pepper 1-2.
Defense
Asbridge 4 solos, assist; Atwell 2 solos; Bebout 4 solos, assist, TFL; Chambliss solo, TFL; Clark 3 solos; Cozart 5 solos; Dickerson solo; Dunkerson solo; Evers 4 solos, 2 assists; Gardner solo, assist; Gilbert 2 solos; Knox 6 solos, 2 assists; Mayes assist; Overfield assist; Phillips 2 solos, TFL; Roberts solo, assist; Stone solo; Tinsley 2 solos, assist; Wagoner solo; Willis 4 solos, 2 assists.
Pizza Hut Players of the Game: Defense Bobby Knox, Offense Grant Gardner, Lineman Stephon Cozart, Special Teams Micah Hollamon.

Records: Caldwell 5-4 (3-1), Crittenden 3-6 (2-2)