Rockets are Unhappy Campers despite win at Webster

DIXON, Ky. – Two games into the season and coach Gaige Courtney still isn’t sure what’s under the hood of his football team.

His Rockets beat Webster County 14-7 at Dixon Friday, but there was a sideline full of long faces when the final whistle blew.

Kaleb Nesbitt tackles Trojan Jackson Edens.

“I didn’t feel like we were ready to play. No disrespect to Webster County whatsoever. They’ve gotten a lot better and played hard. Hats off to them,” coach Courtney said. “I guess we thought we’d just show up and that would be the game. Hopefully we will learn a lesson from it. 

“We can’t let this happen again. We can’t do what we did tonight or it will be a long year,” he added.

Crittenden’s offense looked remarkable at times in a season-opening loss at Murray a week earlier, and its defense showed promise in the final preseason scrimmage when it blanked Calloway County. Yet, despite getting its first victory on the road, Courtney was left kicking the tires, unsure of what to make of Friday’s performance. Senior lineman Zach Counts was equally displeased.

“We didn’t come out focused in the first quarter. That’s all it is,” he said after the game. “We should have been up by a lot, that (score) is not us. That’s not Rocket football.”

Historically, the Rockets have had little trouble with the Trojans, particularly over the past couple of decades as CCHS has rolled up Webster more than not en route to winning 15 of the last 17 games since 2022 – losing only in 2002 and 2006. Save the two losses, almost every Rocket win had been a blowout.

Preston Morgeson scored twice at Webster

The Trojans drew first blood after CCHS failed to convert on a fourth-down near midfield on the opening series and surrendered the ball at the visitor’s 44. The Rockets trailed by a touchdown after the first quarter.

Two touchdown passes from Crittenden quarterback Micah Newcom to Preston Morgeson in the second period capped the scoring as the second half was played to a stalemate despite Newcom throwing for 226 yards and CCHS piling up 401 yards of offense.

Crittenden started its final drive with just over eight minutes to play, leading by seven. Good clock management down the stretch was augmented by yellow flags. The Rockets were whistled for seven penalties on that final series, which inadvertently worked against Webster County when the Trojans desperately needed the ball back. The extra time that ran off the clock marching off yard after yard in Rocket penalties prevented the hosts from having anything to work with after recovering a Rocket fumble at the three-yard line with a scarce 15 seconds to go. 

Courtney said his team will have to get better before hosting Madisonville next week. 

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Crittenden Co. 0 14 0 0

Webster Co. 7 0 0 0

SCORING PLAYS

W-Aden Young 7 run (Timothy Catlin kick) 4:24, 1st

C-Preston Morgeson 8 pass from Micah Newcom (Morgeson kick) 1:54, 2nd

C-Morgeson 7 pass from Newcom (Morgeson kick) :06, 2nd

TEAM TOTALS

First Downs: CCHS 15, WCHS 10

Penalties: CCHS 11-107, WCHS 4-21

Rushing: CCHS 36-175, WCHS 38-74

Passing: CCHS 13-19-0, 226; WCHS 3-4-0, 22

Total Yards: CCHS 401, WCHS 96

Fumbles/Lost: 3-2, WCHS 0-0

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

CCHS: Gattin Travis 7-31, Kaleb Nesbitt 2-(-4), Sammy Impastato 7-52, Levi Piper 7-23, Morgeson 1-13, Newcom 12-60. WCHS: Trent Lieske 5-1, Derek Adams 4-3, Jackson Edens 18-59, Catlin 7-2, Aden Young 5-9.

Passing

CCHS: Newcom 13-19-0, 226 yds. WCHS: Young 2-3-0, 13 yds., Gavin Walker 1-1-0, 9 yds.

Receiving

CCHS: Morgeson 6-81, Briley Berry 1-11, Nesbitt 3-76, Tyler Belt 1-5, Impastato 1-47, Caden Howard 1-6.

Defense

Impastato 4 solos, 2 assists, 3 TFLs; Holliman 2 solos, TFL; C.Gobin 3 solos, assist, TFL; Perkins solo; Nesbitt 4 solos, 2 assists, TFL; Berry 5 solos, 3 assists, 2 TFLs; Morgeson solo; Guess 6 solos, 2 assists, 3 TFLs; Counts solo, assist, TFL; Keller 2 solos; Piper 4 solos, 2 assists; G.Travis solo, 3 assist; Cates solo; Blazina solo, TFL; T.Belt assist; James solo; K.Gobin 2 solos, sack; Lynn 3 solos, assist. 

Players of the Game: Offense none. Defense Kaleb Nesbitt, Lineman Travis Blazina, Special Teams Preston Morgeson.

Records: CCHS 1-1, WCHS 0-2