Russellville runs away with district crown

Jared Lundy had a career
night receiving.

RUSSELLVILLE, Ky. – If there was ever any doubt where the district trophy belongs this season, it was cleared up quite definitively early Friday as undefeated Russellville scored on every possession of the first half and piled up hundreds of yards rushing en route to the crown.

The Panthers beat Crittenden County 49-7 and the second-ranked team in Class A celebrated with a mercy-rule running clock in the final two periods as the reserves mopped up the game.

Crittenden (4-6, 2-1) finishes second, behind Russellville, in the First District for the second straight season. The Rockets still earn a first-round home field advantage in the playoffs and will host Fort Knox (1-8) in two weeks. Crittenden completed its regular season at Russellville and will be idle next week.

Rockets Devon Nesbitt (1), Cody
Belt (38) and Dylan Smith
try to run down Johnny Drumgole.

The Rockets may need the week off to lick their wounds after this one. Starting running back Devon Nesbitt left for the hospital in the first half with what appeared to be a broken thumb. Whether he will be available in the playoffs is unknown at this time.

The Panthers used their incredible speed to make easy work of the Rockets. The Panthers rushed for 340 yards in the first half and quarterback Jaylyn McMurry completed just one pass, but it went for a touchdown.

Rocket receiver Ethan Hunt just missed a TD on this pass.

If there was a bright spot for the Rockets, it was the play of senior receiver Jared Lundy, who caught four passes for 45 yards. The Rockets had 184 yards passing, but 110 of it came off the arm of backup QB Hunter Jones in the second half. Rocket starter Hunter Boone was 10-for-19 with one interception. He threw for 74 yards in the first half and sat out the rest of the game.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Crittenden 0 7 0 0

Russellville 21 28 0 0

SCORING PLAYS

R-Johnny Drugola 55 run (Milam Watkins kick) 11;00, 1st

R-MJ Jones 3 run (Watkins kick) 7:08, 1st

R-Drumgole 66 run (Watkins kick) 4:43, 1st

C-Gavin Dickerson 2 run (Will Perkins kick) 11:35, 2nd

R-Jones 40 run (Watkins kick) 10:59, 2nd

R-Damon Hales 49 run (Watkins kick) 7:16, 2nd

R-Drumgole 29 pass from Jaylyn McMurry (Watkins kick) 4:30, 2nd

R-Jacolbie Mason 2 run (Watkins kick) 2:48, 2nd

TEAM TOTALS

First Downs: Crittenden 10, Russellville 7

Penalties: Crittenden 5-35, Russellville 8-61

Rushing: Crittenden 26-67, Russellville 28-412

Passing: Crittenden 15-28-2, 184 yds., Russellville 1-4-0, 39 yds.

Total Yards: Crittenden 251, Russellville 451

Fumbles/Lost: Crittenden 1-1, Russellville 4-2

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

Crittenden: Devon Nesbitt 5-12, Charlie Johnson 4-36, Dickerson 7-30, Mason Myers 2-6, Seth Jackson 2-(-3), Hunter Jones 1-(-6), Hunter Boone 5-(-6). Russellville: Drew West 4-48, Drumgole 3-143, Hales 4-52, Jones 4-76, Edward Barber 1-5, Mason 1-2, McMurry 2-17, Charles Barnett 3-42, DeShawn Mason 2-16, Jacob Naylor 3-16, Brennan Hughes 1-(-5).

Passing

Crittenden: Hunter Boone 10-19-1, 74 yds., Hunter Jones 5-9-1, 110 yds. Russellville: McMurry 1-4-0, 39 yds.

Receiving

Crittenden: Ethan Hunt 3-27, Jared Lundy 4-45, Nesbitt 1-6, Branen Lamey 2-9, Myers 1-8, Kyle Castiller 1-16, Cody Belt 1-11, Payton Riley 1-5, Ben Brown 1-57.
Defense
Beavers 2 solos, assist; Belt solo; Brown solo; Castiller 2 solos, 2 TFLs; Dickerson solo, 5 assists; Gobin 2 solos; Hayes assist, fumble recovery; Hunt solo, assist; Jackson 3 solos, 2 assists; Johnson solo; Joyce 2 solos, assist; Lamey 2 solos; Myers 3 solos, 2 assists, fumble recovery; O’Leary solo, assist; Phillips 2 solos, 2 assists; Porter assist; Smith solo.

Records: Crittenden 4-6 (2-1), Russellville 9-0 (3-0)