 |
| Kaleb Nesbitt (2) picks up yards after a catch. |
The Rockets’ 78-0 drubbing at Caverna was marked by a number of firsts, and plenty of team records, but the most important result – other than the win over course – was that Crittenden County came away without anyone hurt.
CCHS did precisely what nearly every football pundit predicted. The Rockets scored early and often. In fact, more often than ever before. The team’s 64 first-half points were the most in school history, and so was the final total. The Rockets had previously scored 70 points in a single game twice before – 2016 in a win over Fulton County and 2017 in a four-point loss to Ballard.
For the sixth time in the annals of Rocket defense, the squad held a team to negative-net yards in the air. Caverna completed two passes for minus-14 yards. The previous best for a Rocket defensive unit was minus-11, in 2017 against Caverna.
There was more. Junior receiver Brysen Baker caught his first touchdown pass ever. He got two. Junior defensive back Maddox Carlson scored his first ever pick-6. Freshman running back Gattin Travis scored his introductory varsity rushing touchdown. Sophomore lineman Trey Swaggirt recovered his first varsity fumble. And, freshman backup quarterback Micah Newcom threw the inaugral touchdown pass in what’s sure to be career with many more.
Crittenden scored eight offensive touchdowns before the break. Half of those came on the first snap of
 |
| Brysen Baker had 2 catches, both for touchdowns, and they were his first ever varsity TD receptions. |
a series. That’s probably a record, too.
The Colonels had six turnovers. At one point in the game, the hosts turned the ball over on their first play from scrimmage on four of five straight possession.
Sure, it was a bit ugly if you were looking for a highly-contested showdown. But, no one expected that. The Rockets hadn’t played at Caverna in 14 years. The Colonels were a district opponent in the early 2000s. They have never lost to the Colonels in 11 meetings and Caverna has not scored on the Rockets in five straight encounters over the past four years. The margin in those games, 310 to zip.
Rocket junior quarterback Luke Crider was nearly perfect, completing 9-of-11 passes, including four touchdowns. Senior running back Xander Tabor carried the ball four times. He was tackled twice. The other two were stopped only by the end zone.
Worthy of a prime-time reel it was not. But, there were plenty of highlights for a team that merely took care of the business at hand, and that was capturing its first Class A district win of the season.
The Rockets will host Fulton County in another district matchup next week. The game has been moved to Saturday because of a timetable for the Pilots to emerge from pandemic isolation. They have missed playing the last two Fridays because COVID-19 guidelines. Kickoff at Rocket Stadium will be earlier than normal, 5:30 p.m.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Crittenden 36 28 7 7
Caverna 0 0 0 0
Crittenden 36 28 7 7
Caverna 0 0 0 0
SCORING PLAYS
CC-Preston Morgeson 35 pass from Luke Crider (Caden McCalister run) 10:20, 1st
CC-Brysen Baker 21 pass from Crider (pass failed) 7:06, 1st
CC-Baker 48 pass from Crider (Tyler Boone run) 4:36, 1st
CC-Morgeson 62 pass from Crider (Noah Perkins kick) 3:10, 1st
CC-Xander Tabor 40 run (Perkins kick) 2:43,1st
CC-Lathen Easley 7 run (Perkins kick) 11:51, 2nd
CC-Maddox Carlson 35 interception return (Perkins kick) 10:42, 2nd
CC-Tabor 77 run (Perkins kick) 6:48, 2nd
CC-Preston Turley 30 pass from Micah Newcom (Perkins kick) 4:30 2nd
CC-Keifer Marshall 10 run (Perkins kick) 7:00, 3rd
CC-Gattin Travis 3 run (Perkins kick) 7:22, 4th
TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: CC 9, Caverna 3
Penalties: CC 9-65, Caverna 1-5
Rushing: CC 18-261, Caverna 19-64
Passing: CC 12-15-0, 259, Caverna 1-11-2, (-14)
Team Totals: CC 520, Caverna 50
Fumbles/Lost: CC 1-0, Caverna 7-3
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Crittenden: Tabor 4-146, Travis 5-51, Easley 1-7, Levi Piper 1-8, Marshall 2-30, Rowen Perkins 2-21, Crider 3-(-2). Caverna: Cameron Buchanan 9-48, Harley Hoskins 6-7, Scott Wilson 2-5, Isaiah Stone 2-4.
Passing
Crittenden: Crider 9-11-0, 213 yds., Newcom 3-4-0, 46 yds. Caverna: Buchanan 2-22-2, (-14) yds.
Receiving
Crittenden: Morgeson 2-97, Baker 2-69, Turley 2-43, Tabor 2-12, Kaleb Nesbitt 2-22, Tyler Belt 1-10, Piper 1-6. Caverna: Wilson 1-(-9), Gil Harper 1-(-5).
Defense
Noah McGowan 2 assists; Ben Dobyns 2 solos, interception; Braxton Winders solo, assist; Tyler Boone assist; Caden McCalister 2 solos, 2 assists, fumble recovery, TFL; Lathen Easley 3 solos, fumble recovery, 2 TFL; Ian Ellington solo, assist; Coleman Stone 3 solos, 2 assists; Trace Derrington solo, assist; Dylan Yates assist; Maddox Carlson interception; Zech McGahan 2 solos, 3 assists; Trey Swaggirt fumble recovery; Sam Impastato solo; Rowen Perkins 2 solos, 2 assists; Kaleb Nesbitt assist; Briley Berry 4 solos, 1 assist; Preston Morgeson 2 solos, TFL; Seth Guess solo, assist; Austin Hankins solo, assist, TFL; Gatten Travis solo; Bennett McDaniel 2 solos, caused fumble, TFL; Ty Willingham solo.
Noah McGowan 2 assists; Ben Dobyns 2 solos, interception; Braxton Winders solo, assist; Tyler Boone assist; Caden McCalister 2 solos, 2 assists, fumble recovery, TFL; Lathen Easley 3 solos, fumble recovery, 2 TFL; Ian Ellington solo, assist; Coleman Stone 3 solos, 2 assists; Trace Derrington solo, assist; Dylan Yates assist; Maddox Carlson interception; Zech McGahan 2 solos, 3 assists; Trey Swaggirt fumble recovery; Sam Impastato solo; Rowen Perkins 2 solos, 2 assists; Kaleb Nesbitt assist; Briley Berry 4 solos, 1 assist; Preston Morgeson 2 solos, TFL; Seth Guess solo, assist; Austin Hankins solo, assist, TFL; Gatten Travis solo; Bennett McDaniel 2 solos, caused fumble, TFL; Ty Willingham solo.
Players of the Game: Offense Brysen Baker, Defense Lathen Easley, Lineman Ben Evans, Special Teams Noah Perkins.
Records: Crittenden 4-1 (1-0), Caverna 0-4 (0-1)
Records: Crittenden 4-1 (1-0), Caverna 0-4 (0-1)
Touchdown pass from Luke Crider to Preston Morgeson.
