Friday, September 30, 2016

Rockets beat Fulton, forging path to host playoff game

Ethan Hunt waits on
one of his four
receptions from
Hunter Boone.
FULTON, Ky. – Crittenden County’s hurry-up offense was clicking early and piled up five touchdowns before Fulton could catch its breath as the Rockets posted a 48-12 First District Class A victory.

Crittenden’s sophomore quarterback Hunter Boone had his most accurate outing to date, completing 9-of-15 passes, including three touchdowns as CCHS won its district-opener.

The road win gives the Rockets (3-4, 1-0) a clear path to a home playoff game, virtually sealing at least a second-place finish in the league. Fulton City (1-6) has already beaten is natural rival, Fulton County, a team the Rockets host in two weeks. Then, Crittenden will go to district favorite Russellville to close the season.

Senior Rocket receiver Ethan Hunt kept his streak of consecutive games with a reception in tact, making it No. 20 and just two short of a school record. Hunt caught Boone’s first touchdown pass and finished with a couple more receptions to lead the receiving corps with 52 yards.

Maeson Myers rushed for a TD then caught a scoring strike from Boone to lift the Rockets to an early 22-0 lead. Sophomore receiver Branen Lamey, surging in the last few games, set up the next CCHS touchdown with a catch for 34 yards that took his team to the one-yard line. Senior Charlie Johnson punched it in for a 28-0 halftime lead.

Boone found classmate Gavin Dickerson for his final scoring pass before the reserves cleaned up the victory in the second half behind a mercy-rule running clock.

Crittenden’s defense kept the quick Bulldog backs corralled almost the entire game. One broke a 50-yard TD run late against the reserves, but other than that the athletic Dogs were shutout by the first-team defense. Fulton scored its only other TD on a kickoff return.

Jake Gibson (59) makes a tackle
after a Fulton interception.
The Bulldogs turned the ball over four times and Crittenden made good use of the opportunities. Adam Wright, Dylan Smith and Mitchell Joyce all recovered fumbles for Crittenden and Devon Nesbitt intercepted at Fulton pass.

Nesbitt, a sophomore running back, rushed for 118 yards, his best game as a Rocket and first over the century mark.

Crittenden will play Ballard Memorial in a non-district game at home next week.


SCORE BY QUARTERS
Crittenden Co. 15 13 14 6
Fulton City 0 0 6 6

SCORING PLAYS
C-Ethan Hunt 12 pass from Hunter Boone (Gavin Dickerson run) 10:17, 1st
C-Maeson Myers 7 run (Will Perkins Kick) 3:24, 1st
C-Myers 34 pass from Boone (Perkins kick) 5:48, 2nd
C-Charlie Johnson 1 run (kick failed) 3:40, 2nd
C-Dickerson 32 pass from Boone (Perkins kick) 1:24, 3rd
F-Thomas Vincent 63 kickoff return (run failed) 1:08, 3rd
C-Myers 44 kickoff return (Perkins kick) :55, 3rd
C-Hunter Jones 2 run (kick failed) 6:54, 4th
F-Michael Downing 50 run (pass failed) 5:18, 4th

TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: Crittenden 12, Fulton 7
Penalties: Crittenden 0, Fulton 8-65
Rushing: Crittenden 34-196, Fulton 34-202
Passing: Crittenden 10-16-1, 178 yds., Fulton 1-9-1, (-5) yds.
Total Yards: Crittenden 374, Fulton 197
Fumbles/Lost: Crittenden 1-0, Fulton 4-3

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Crittenden: Devon Nesbitt 18-118, Myers 4-18, Ben Brown 1-1, Johnson 7-44, Jones 2-17, Boone 2(-2). Fulton: Areon Ferrell 11-45, KeShawn Murphey 7-32, Vinson 2-28, Tyler Bishop 8-36, Vinson 6-61.
Passing
Crittenden: Boone 9-15-1, 142 yds., Nesbitt 1-1-0, 36 yds. Fulton: Cameron Madding 1-9-1, (-5) yds.
Receiving
Crittenden: Hunt 3-52, Branen Lamey 4-49, Myers 2-45, Dickerson 1-32. Fulton: Vinson 1-(-5).
Defense
Beavers 2 solos, 7 assists; Belt 2 solos, assist; Birk 2 solos, assist, TFL; Brown assist; Dickerson 12 solos, 7 assists, TFL, caused fumble; Hunt 3 solos, 7 assists; Joyce 2 solos, fumble recovery; Lamey solo, assist; Myers 6 solos, 3 assists, 2 TFL; Nesbitt 2 solos, 2 assists, interception; O’Leary 4 solos, 3 assists, 2 TFL; Perkins, solo, assist; Smith 5 solos, 3 assists; fumble recovery; Wright solo, assist, fumble recovery.
Records: Crittenden 3-4 (1-0), Fulton 1-6 (1-1)