Wounded Rockets fall 35-0 at Murray

Zach Tinsley barrels ahead en route to a team-high

55 yards against Murray High.

MURRAY, Ky. – With 11 players sideline, including the Rockets first five running backs, it's no wonder Murray had little trouble dispatching Crittenden County 35-0 Friday at Ty Holland Stadium.

Injuries and other personnel issues are mounting like the black plague. Nearly one-third of the Rocket team was unavailable for play in the crucial Class 2A First District matchup. 

The loss means Crittenden (2-5, 1-1) will have to find enough bodies to steal a win from Ballard Memorial next week in order to guarantee a spot in the playoffs. 

Meanwhile, Murray (5-1, 2-0) put itself in position to face off against Caldwell County (4-3, 2-0) next week with the district title on the line. This is the first season for the new alignment with Crittenden, Caldwell, Murray, Ballard and Reidland in the same league. Reidland – a team the Rockets have already defeated – beat Ballard 41-13 Friday. The Bombers are now 3-4 overall and 0-3 in district play.

For the Rockets, survival was objective No. 1 at Murray.

Count them, four running backs were on the shelf going into the game, including leading rusher Dustin Hernandez, Grant Gardner, Brenden Phillips and Bowe Wallace, who hasn't played a down this year because of chronic back problems. 

The Rockets worked all week to get senior Devin Wallace – normally an offensive guard – ready at fullback, and coach Al Starnes put quarterback Bryce Willis at tail back. Backup QB Travis Gilbert went behind center for the first time in three games. That strategy fell to pieces in the first quarter when Wallace – a linebacker, too – sprained his knee trying to chase down a defender who intercepted a pass.

By then, Crittenden was limping along with its No. 6 running back getting carries and the offense stalled. Zach Tinsley came off the bench and rushed for a game-high 55 yards, but it was hardly enough to match Murray's versatile attack.

An all-too-familiar sight: Crittendne's Devin Wallace is helped

off the field in the first quarter after another injury.

Tiger quarterback Kendall Deese threw three touchdown passes and tailback Dylan Boone rushed for two more. Murray scored its first two touchdowns after interceptions gave the hosts great field position. 

Wes Evers caught six passes from Gilbert for a team-high 41 yards. The backup Rocket QB threw 22 times and completed 10 as his team was in catch-up mode all night.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Crittenden    0    0    0     0

Murray          7   14   14   0

SCORING PLAYS

M-Dylan Boone 7 run (Carson Greifenkamp kick) 2:31, 1st

M-Boone 6 run (Greifenkamp kick) 11:55, 2nd

M-Torrance Williams 9 pass from Kendall Deese (Greifenkamp kick) 3:30, 2nd

M-Williams 31 pass from Deese (Greifenkamp kick) 5:48, 3rd

M-Deon Howard 41 pass from Deese (Greifenkamp kick) 1:04, 3rd

TEAM TOTALS

First Downs: Crittenden 10, Murray 7

Penalties: Crittenden 2-10, Murray 4-25

Rushing: Crittenden 30-105, Murray 30-140

Passing: Crittenden 10-22-2, 65 yds., Murray 7-8-0, 135 yds.

Total Yards: Crittenden 170, Murray 275

Fumbles/Lost: Crittenden 2-0, Murray 0-0

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

Crittenden-Zach Tinsley 9-55, Bryce Willis 19-34, Travis Gilbert 1-14, Devin Wallace 1-2. Murray-Boone 7-59, Bob Fields 6-14, Jonothan Curd 3-6, James Holland 3-19, Dalton Gray 3-12, Andre Phillips 2-13, Deese 5-16.

Passing

Crittenden-Gilbert 10-22-2, 65 yds. Murray-Deese 7-8-0, 135 yds.

Receiving

Crittenden-Wes Evers 6-41, Wallace 1-16, Bobby Knox 2-8, Jamie Atwell 1-0. Murray-Fields 1-4, Kody There'll 1-36, Boone 2-14, Williams 2-40, Howard 1-41.
Defense
Asbridge 4 solos, 2 assists; Atwell 2 solos, assist; Bebout 4 assists; Clark 8 solos, 4 assists, TFL; Cozart 5 solos, 2 assists; Evers 5 solos, assist; Day solo, assist; Gaston solo, fumble recovery; Gilbert solo, assist; Knox 2 solos, 3 assists; Lynch 6 solos, 4 assists; Mayes 5 solos, 3 assists, 3 TFL; Overfield solo; Roberts assist; Tinsley 2 solos, assist; Wagoner 2 assists; D.Wallace solo, assist, TFL; Willis solo, 2 assists.
Pizza Hut Players of the Game: Offense Zach Tinsley, Defense Devin Clark, Lineman Corey Mayes.

Records: Crittenden 2-5 (1-1), Murray 6-1 (2-0)