Rockets overcome by Bombers' shock-and-awe

Ethan Hunt and Adam Beavers
try to stop Jamarion Williams.

MARION, Ky. – Call it what you’d like: Ballard’s Shock and Awe Offense or Crittenden County’s unremarkable performance. 

Whatever the case, Ballard Memorial had the Rockets (3-5) searching for the reset button as the Bombers (4-3) scored early and often en route to a non-district 41-7 decision.

Throughout history, Crittenden has dominated the Bombers, winning 18 straight meetings at one point and 24 out of 27 games through the late 1980s until the early 2000s. However, Ballard has flipped the field on the Rockets and won the last five. They did it in familiar fashion this time, too, using their athleticism at the skilled positions to grab a 35-0 lead at the break and letting the JV team mop it up in the second half.

The highlights were few and far between for Crittenden. Its defense was incapable of doing much with Ballard’s sophomore QB Erick Maranelli who threw two touchdown passes, including one to Jamarriion Williams – who caught four passes in the first half for 66 yards. The Bombers used 10 ballcarriers in the contest and seven of them had 10 or more yards rushing.

Meantime, the CCHS offense sputtered, giving up a touchdown of its own on a Ballard interception. Crittenden rushed for a mere 12 yards in the first half and had 57 yards through the air before Ballard pulled its starters.

The Rocket reserves picked up the home team’s only touchdown when Charlie Johnson reeled off four straight runs for 79 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown scamper.

Gavin Dickerson (4) and Devon
Nesbitt (1) tackle Ballard
running back Devin Bledsoe.

Crittenden will play a more meaningful game next week when Class A First District foe Fulton County comes to Rocket Stadium. Crittenden is 1-0 in league play and Fulton County is 0-2. The Pilots were idle this week.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Ballard Memorial 21 14 0 6

Crittenden County 0 0 7 0

SCORING PLAYS

B-Devin Beldsoe 8 run (pass failed) 7:32. 1st

B-Tyrell Byas 7 pass from Erick Marinelli (Jamarrion Williams pass from Marinelli) 2:39, 1st

B-Williams 11 pass from Marinelli (Maranelli kick) :34, 1st

B-Dru Collier 33 interception return (Maranelli kick) 11:20, 2nd

B-Bledsoe 1 run (Maranelli kick) :37, 2nd

C-Charlie Johnson 25 run (Will Perkins kick) 5:49, 3rd

B-Khalil Griffin 10 run (run failed) 5:39, 4th

TEAM TOTALS

First Downs: Crittenden 9, Ballard 13

Penalties: Crittenden 1-5, Ballard 9-64

Rushing: Crittenden 21-138, Ballard 30-174

Passing: Crittenden 12-22-2, 91 yds., Ballard 10-18-0, 158 yds.

Total Yards: Crittenden 204, Ballard 332

Fumbles/Lost: Crittenden 0-0, Ballard 1-0

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

Crittenden: Devon Nesbitt 11-65, Johnson 4-79, Branen Lamey 1-3, Gavin Dickerson 1-2, Hunter Jones 2-(-4), Hunter Boone 2-(-7). Ballard: Bryce Haynes 2-17, Williams 2-(-2), Drew Cox 1-19, Bledsoe 6-34, Byas 5-39, Collier 1-1, Maranelli 3-14, Trevor Howard 2-1, Gunner Abernathy 5-17, Griffin 3-34.

Passing 

Crittenden: Boone 10-18-2, 63 yds., Jones 2-4-0, 28 yds. Ballard: Maranelli 8-12-0, 128 yds., Griffin 2-6-0, 30 yds.

Receiving

Crittenden: Ethan Hunt 4-32, Lamey 4-30, Payton Riley 1-27, Jared Lundy 1-1, Maeson Myers 2-1. Ballard: Williams 4-66, Cox 1-50, Byas 1-7, Collier 2-5, Cameron Scott 1-5, Hunter Bray 1-25.
Records: Crittenden 3-5, Ballard 4-3