 |
| Caden McCalister rushed for 5 touchdowns. |
But things could have turned out much differently if the Rockets (6-1) were not fortified with plenty of amperage to handle about anything Russellville (3-3) could throw at them. In fact, Crittenden County sent a clear message with regard to its ability to adapt and overcome.
Despite losing senior running back Xander Tabor in the first period, Crittenden demonstrated that it has plenty of juice to elsewhere, beating the Panthers in resounding fashion 47-6 on their home field.
Sophomore Preston Morgeson returned the opening kickoff 88 yards to the end zone then running back Caden McCalister scored five unanswered touchdowns. Although McCalister starts in the backfield, he is not typically the featured rusher in Crittenden game plan. Yet, when Tabor sprained his ankle seven minutes into the game, McCalister took the baton and rushed for 197 yards. It was the best offensive performance of his career.
“I have to give everything to the our linemen,” McCalister said. “Every single hole was open.”
 |
| The Rocket defense was in enforcement mode. |
McCalister had rushed for just 61 yards on seven carries in the previous six games this season.
Meanwhile, the Rocket defense was its typical stingy self, not allowing the Panthers to score an offensive touchdown and holding Russellville to just 58 total yards. The Panthers only points came off a short fumble return.
Scoring at will, Crittenden turned on its fourth running clock in as many games, striking down the the state’s No. 10 Class A team, according to the KHSAA power rankings. The Rockets went into the matchup ranked eighth in the power rankings, which are used to seed the playoffs starting in the the third round.
The victory ensures Crittenden County home field advantage through the first two rounds of the postseason.
At this point, there’s a slight chance that the Rockets may not be on the field again until the playoffs being Nov. 13. Due to COVID-19 issues that are forcing the next two scheduled opponents – Todd Central and Paducah Tilghman – to abort their dates with the Rockets, Crittenden County will have to find a new opponent for each of the next two Fridays or their regular season is done.
CCHS coach Sean Thompson said it’s likely that at least one more game can be found for his team before the clock runs out on the regular season.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Crittenden 20 7 13 7
Russellville 6 0 0 0
SCORING PLAYS
C-Preston Morgeson 88 kickoff return (Noah Perkins kick) 11:46, 1st
R-Jackson Hampton 12 fumble return (kick blocked) 9:39, 1st
C-Caden McCalister 44 run (Perkins kick) 3:53, 1st
C-McCalister 1 run (run failed) 1:21, 1st
C-McCalister 33 run (Perkins kick) 10:25, 2nd
C-McCalister 10 run (Perkins kick failed) 8:34, 3rd
C-McCalister 4 run (Perkins kick) 2:11, 3rd
C-Kaleb Nesbitt 12 pass from Luke Crider (Perkins kick) 10:35, 4th
C-Preston Morgeson 88 kickoff return (Noah Perkins kick) 11:46, 1st
R-Jackson Hampton 12 fumble return (kick blocked) 9:39, 1st
C-Caden McCalister 44 run (Perkins kick) 3:53, 1st
C-McCalister 1 run (run failed) 1:21, 1st
C-McCalister 33 run (Perkins kick) 10:25, 2nd
C-McCalister 10 run (Perkins kick failed) 8:34, 3rd
C-McCalister 4 run (Perkins kick) 2:11, 3rd
C-Kaleb Nesbitt 12 pass from Luke Crider (Perkins kick) 10:35, 4th
TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: CC 13, RHS 4
Penalties: CC 1-5, RHS 3-20
Rushing: CC 31-247, RHS 34-34
Passing: CC 5-15-1, 62 yds., RHS 5-12-0, 24 yds.
Total Yards: CC 309, RHS 58
Fumbles/Lost: CC 3-2, RHS 4-2
First Downs: CC 13, RHS 4
Penalties: CC 1-5, RHS 3-20
Rushing: CC 31-247, RHS 34-34
Passing: CC 5-15-1, 62 yds., RHS 5-12-0, 24 yds.
Total Yards: CC 309, RHS 58
Fumbles/Lost: CC 3-2, RHS 4-2
INDIVDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Crittenden: McCalister 21-197, Gattin Travis 4-33, Xander Tabor 4-15, Crider 2-2. Russellville: Javari Gamble 9-54, Jamarcus Hickman 1-(-2), Chevis Elliott 6-13, Jaquis Todd 1-0, Hampton 8-(-36), Lennon Ries 9-5.
Passing
Crittenden: Crider 5-15-1, 62 yds. Russellville Ries 3-9-0, 15 yds., Hampton 2-3-0, 9 yds.
Receiving
Crittenden: Preston Turley 3-30, Nesbitt 2-32. Russellville: Hampton 1-12, Todd 1-(-1), Xavier Coleman 2-7, Josh Allen 1-6.
Defense
Noah McGowan 3 solos, 2 assists, 2 sacks, TFL; Preston Turley 2 assists; Noah Perkins assist; Ben Dobyns 3 solos, 2 assists; Braxton Winders 4 solos, assist, 3 TFL; Tyler Boone 13 solos, 4 assists, 4 TFL; Caden McCalister 3 solo, 2 solo; Lathen Easley 3 solos, 4 assists; Ian Ellington 2 solo, 2 assists; Luke Mundy 3 solos, fumble recovery, TFL; Dalton Wood solo; Trace Derrington 2 solos; Dylan Yates 2 solos, assist, blocked kick; Logan Bailey solo; Maddox Carlson 2 assists, fumble recovery; Preston Morgeson solo, assist; Seth Guess solo, assist; Gattin Travis solo.
Records: Crittenden 6-1 (3-0), Russellville 3-3 (1-1)
Rushing
Crittenden: McCalister 21-197, Gattin Travis 4-33, Xander Tabor 4-15, Crider 2-2. Russellville: Javari Gamble 9-54, Jamarcus Hickman 1-(-2), Chevis Elliott 6-13, Jaquis Todd 1-0, Hampton 8-(-36), Lennon Ries 9-5.
Passing
Crittenden: Crider 5-15-1, 62 yds. Russellville Ries 3-9-0, 15 yds., Hampton 2-3-0, 9 yds.
Receiving
Crittenden: Preston Turley 3-30, Nesbitt 2-32. Russellville: Hampton 1-12, Todd 1-(-1), Xavier Coleman 2-7, Josh Allen 1-6.
Defense
Noah McGowan 3 solos, 2 assists, 2 sacks, TFL; Preston Turley 2 assists; Noah Perkins assist; Ben Dobyns 3 solos, 2 assists; Braxton Winders 4 solos, assist, 3 TFL; Tyler Boone 13 solos, 4 assists, 4 TFL; Caden McCalister 3 solo, 2 solo; Lathen Easley 3 solos, 4 assists; Ian Ellington 2 solo, 2 assists; Luke Mundy 3 solos, fumble recovery, TFL; Dalton Wood solo; Trace Derrington 2 solos; Dylan Yates 2 solos, assist, blocked kick; Logan Bailey solo; Maddox Carlson 2 assists, fumble recovery; Preston Morgeson solo, assist; Seth Guess solo, assist; Gattin Travis solo.
Records: Crittenden 6-1 (3-0), Russellville 3-3 (1-1)
