 |
| 60 points for 60 Years of CCHS football at Rocket Stadium on perhaps its final go. |
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). |
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.
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.
Records: Crittenden 5-6, Fulton 1-10
Reaction from fans about Rocket Stadium
