Friday, November 5, 2021

Crider carries Rockets to 60-16 victory

60 points for 60 Years of CCHS football at
Rocket Stadium on perhaps its final go.


MARION, Ky. – How apropos. 

After 60 years of Crittenden County football on hallowed ground the school calls Rocket Stadium, CCHS posted 60 points on the scoreboard Friday, beating Fulton County in the opening round of the Class A First District playoffs.

It was perhaps the final contest to be waged on the existing field because plans are to build a new school on that site. A new stadium is scheduled, too, to be built next summer. That’s if plans stay on schedule.

Senior quarterback Luke Crider was clearly the catalyst in the playoff win, setting a single-game record for being responsible for eight touchdowns as the Rockets scored on all but three of 11 their offensive possessions, and once on defense. 

Coleman Stone scores on a Pick-6 with a little
help from teammate Dylan Yates (79).
Fulton County brought its gadget bag to the postseason, deploying trick plays, onside kicks and unorthodox formations that helped it create an early illusion of misfortune for the Rockets. The Pilots managed an early 8-0 lead, but it was short-lived. CCHS bit back at the trickery, scoring five unanswered touchdowns to take a 33-8 lead, then went on to post a 60-16 victory.

Rocket senior defensive end Dylan Yates posted the 19th sack of his career on the third play of the game, setting a new career record, eclipsing a mark previously held by Sean O’Leary.

Crider rushed for a career-high 165 yards, all in the first half, and scored three times on the ground with runs of 78, 44 and 7 yards. He added five more TDs through the air, connecting twice with junior Kaleb Nesbitt and once each with seniors Tanner Beverly and Brysen Baker and sophomore Gattin Travis.

It was a remarkable offensive performance for a team that’s struggled at times to score. Most of the Rocket damage came on big plays as it finished with more touchdowns (9) than first downs (5).

Senior linebacker Coleman Stone put a punctuation mark on the final score with a 37-yard interception return in the fourth quarter, with a little blocking and a steadying hand from teammate Yates, who was on his flank, clearing the way to the end zone.

“The offense got rolling. I felt like Luke Crider put them on his back, with his legs, his arm everything,” said CCHS coach Gaige Courtney.

The defense was imposing, too. Ten of Fulton’s first 14 rushing plays from scrimmage were stopped behind the line of scrimmage. The Pilots managed just 20 yards on the ground, including the yardage it gained against CCHS reserves under a running clock in the second half. Fulton’s only success was through the air where it rang up 154 yards, but there was a cost to that, too. The Rockets intercepted the Pilot QB four times. Senior Trace Derrington, junior Preston Morgeson and Nesbitt also picked off passes.

Crittenden will advance to next Friday’s First District championship game Russellville.

SCORE BY QUARTERS
Fulton County         8 8 0 0
Crittenden Co. 6 33 21 0

SCORING PLAYS
F-Dakyran Dossett 11 pass from Max Gibbs (Damien Hill pass from Gibbs) 3:46, 1st
C-Luke Crider 78 run (run failed) 2:53, 1st
C-Kaleb Nesbitt 19 pass from Crider (kick failed) 10:13, 2nd
C-Crider 44 run (Preston Morgeson pass from Micah Newcom) 6:42, 2nd
C-Crider 7 run (Morgeson kick) 5:22, 2nd
C-Tanner Beverly 50 pass from Crider (pass failed) 3:06, 2nd
F-Gossett 26 pass from Gibbs (Gibbs run) 1:26, 2nd
C-Nesbitt 36 pass from Crider (kick failed) :55, 2nd
C-Brysen Baker 39 pass from Crider (Baker kick) 10:12, 3rd
C-Gattin Travis 71 pass from Crider (Baker kick) 6:16, 3rd
C-Coleman Stone 37 interception return (Baker kick) 1:23, 3rd

TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: CCHS 5, FCHS 8
Penalties: CCHS 9-96, FCHS 6-40
Rushing: CCHS 13-189, FCHS 24-20
Passing: CCHS 11-16-1, 279, FCHS 13-32-4, 154
Total Yards: CCHS 468, FCHS 174
Fumbles/Lost: CCHS 0-0, FCHS 1-0

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing

Crittenden: Crider 9-165, Travis 4-24. Fulton: Hill 1-(-8), Jones 3-1, Isbell 2-7, Beard 5-7, Gibbs 8-13. 
Passing
Crittenden: Crider 1-16-1, 279 yds. FCHS: Gibbs 13-32-4, 154 yds.
Receiving:
Crittenden: Baker 3-80, Travis 3-77, Morgeson 2-17, Nesbitt 2-55, Beverly 1-50. Fulton: Johnson 1-58, Jones 2-15, Dossett 5-65, Brown 1-8, Hill 2-7, Gibbs 1-(-7), #20 1-8.
Defense
Coleman Stone 3 solos, 2 assists, interception; Luke Mundy 2 solos, Trace Derrington 3 solos, assist, interception; Dylan Yates 5 solos, 2 assists, 3 TFLs, sack; Logan Bailey solo; Tanner Beverly assist; Zech McGahan 3 solos, 2 assists; Sam Impastato 5 solos, 3 assists, 4 TFLs, Case Gobin 8 solos, 3 assists, TFL; Rowen Perkins 2 solos, 2 assists; Kaleb Nesbitt solo, assist, interception; Briley Berry 6 solos, 2 assists, TFL, sack; Preston Morgeson solo, interception; Seth Guess solo; Levi Piper 2 assist; Gattin Travis 5 solos, assist; Bennett McDaniel solo; Travis Blazina assist; Austin Whitt solo; Grayson James assist.
Records: Crittenden 5-6, Fulton 1-10

Reaction from fans about Rocket Stadium