Friday, October 4, 2013

Previously winless Marshall rolls up Rockets 43-0

MARION, Ky. – Marshall County blacked the Rockets' eye on Pink Out night at Crittenden County Friday. 

Zach Tinsley (64) latches onto Marshall QB Cole Barnard.
The previously winless Marshals rolled up the Rockets 43-0 in a game that was as lopsided as the score might indicate.

Oddly, though, Crittenden moved the ball early in the game but when the Rockets misfired from the Marshall one-yard line on their first offensive series, the momentum swung toward the Orange team and the pendulum became stuck there.

Marshall County's no-huddle offense set a fast pace in the first period as the guests used a few option running plays they dug from the back their playbook to get things going. It produced their first touchdown, but from then on, it was quarterback Cole Barnard's passing that did the biggest damage. He piled up 179 yards. Running back Nolan Nichols caught three passes for 67 yards and he rushed for 118.

Crittenden starting QB Travis Gilbert did not play in the game after hurting his knee the week before against Muhlenberg County. He will be out for at least one more game. In his place Noah Dickerson got the start. He completed two passes for nine yards and rushed for 22 yards. Rocket running back Lane Wallace was hurt in the first half after some big runs. He gained 105 yards on just nine carries before leaving the game what appeared to be a potentially serious ankle injury.

Crittenden (3-3) almost answered Marshall County's first touchdown, but stalled after being first-and-goal inside the five. Later in the first half, Rocket kicker Micah Holloman narrowly missed a 45-yard field goal attempt. Otherwise, the hosts had no answer for Marshall County's onslaught.

Rocket coach Al Starnes said his team must keep its head up as the district schedule begins next week at Murray.

"We got our tails kicked. There's nothing more you can say about it," he said. "We weren't ready to play and I will take all the blame for that."
Noah Dickerson tries to bring down Marshall RB Chris Goard.

The non-district Marshals play in Class 6A and had not won a game in their first five tries although they had played a fairly tough schedule, including a loss last week to Mayfield. In that game, Marshall was able to generate offense.

Crittenden fumbled three times, but two of the turnovers were in the second half after the game was well out of hand.

Marshall County scored on its first four offensive possessions, then added insult to injury when 219-pound lineman Sam Dunn scooped and scored on an 80-yard fumble recovery. Dunn recovered another fumble later in the game.

SCORE BY QUARTERS
Marshall County      14     22     7     0
Crittenden County     0      0      0     0

SCORING PLAYS
M-Chris Goard 3 run (kick blocked) 10:25, 1st
M-Cole Barnard 1 run (Nolan Nichols run) 8:31, 1st
M-Goard 6 run (Collin Gunn pass from Clay Allen) 9:02, 2nd
M-Nichols 35 run (Ethan Mensch kick) 4:37, 2nd
M-Sam Dunn 80 fumble recovery (Mensch kick) 1:52, 2nd
M-Thomas Alkemeyer 1 run (Mensch kick) 5:28, 3rd

TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: Crittenden 8, Marshall 14
Penalties: Crittenden 3-15, Marshall 5-50
Rushing: Crittenden 29-153, Marshall 31-165
Passing: Crittenden 2-5-0, 9 yds., Marshall 9-12-0, 179 yds.
Total Yards: Crittenden 162, Marshall 344
Fumbles/Lost: Crittenden 3-3, Marshall 0-0

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Crittenden: Lane Wallace 9-105, Brenden Phillips 6-13, Nick Castiller 4-5, Maeson Myers 4-11, Dickerson 5-22, Austin Sitar 1-(-3). Marshall: Goard 10-38, Justin Robinson 4-(-1), Nichols 8-118, Alkemeyer 6-21, Barnard 2-(-9), Marty Holbrook 1-(-2).
Passing
Crittenden: Dickerson 2-5-0, 9 yds. Marshall: Barnard 9-12-0, 179 yds.
Receiving
Crittenden: Phillips 1-8, Wallace 1-1. Marshall: Austin Spicer 3-74, Nichols 3-67, Goard 2-26, Casey Gregory 1-7, Lane Roberts 1-5.
Defense
Caraway 2 assists; Phillips 4 solos, 3 assists, TFL, caused fumble; Tinsley 6 solos, 4 assists, sack; Wagoner solo, assist; Dickerson 4 solos, 2 assists; Greenwell solo, assist; Wallace solo, assist; Birdwell 3 solos, assist; Castiller solo, assist; Cosby 2 solos; Fitzgerald assist; McConnell assist; T.McKinney solo, 2 assists, TFL; Sitar 2 solos, 2 assists, 2 TFL; Cummins 2 solos, TFL; Myers 2 solos, 3 assists; Piper assist.
Players of the Game: Defense Zach Tinsley, Lineman Zach Tinsley, Offense Lane Wallace.
Records: Crittenden 3-3, Marshall 1-5