Friday, September 30, 2022

Close for 3 quarters, Rockets fall to late Eagle TDs

Quarterback Micah Newcom and
Offensive Coordinator Austin Berry
BARDSTOWN, Ky. – Crittenden County fell behind early before making a third-quarter comeback that fell short as No. 5 Bethlehem won 63-35 in a Class A showdown.

The Rockets trailed early 14-0 then were behind 28-7 at the half before scoring twice in the third period on runs by quarterback Micah Newcom to make it a one-possession game with just over six minutes left in the period.

However, the Eagles, who posted 322 yards passing behind college prospect quarterback Cooper Stone, scored four unanswered touchdowns in the final 13 minutes to make it a rout. Stone averaged almost 30 per reception against the CCHS secondary. 

The Eagles scored on big plays and two fumble returns in the second half. 

Offensively, the Rockets moved ball well at times, picking ups 16 first downs in the game. Tyler Belt rushed for 77 yards and Gattin Travis 66.

Bethlehem improved to 5-1 on the season and is projected to be a final four team in Class A's playoffs. 

Meanwhile, the Rockets fell to 2-4 and will have another long-district game next Friday at Liberty Creek, Tennessee (2-4), near Nashville. 

Coach Gaige Courtney, who had billed this matchup as a measuring stick for his Rockets, said there's still a lot of work to do.

Elsewhere in the Class A First District, Russellville beat Fulton County 38-32 at Hickman. The Pilots are now 2-5.

SCORE BY QUARTERS
Crittenden Co.        0     7       21    7
Bethlehem      14    14    14    21

SCORING PLAYS 
BHS-Justin Popovich 38 pass from Cooper Stone (Adam Winkenhofer Kick), 9:42, 1st
BHS-Zane Wickliffe 45 run (Winkenhofer Kick), 1:31, 1st
BHS-Wickliffe 28 run (Winkenhofer Kick), 9:46, 2nd
CC-Sam Impastato 3 run (Preston Morgeson Kick), 1:47, 2nd
BHS-Will Ray 46 pass from Cooper Stone (Winkenhofer Kick), 0:46, 2nd
CC-Micah Newcom 1 run (Morgeson Kick), 10:23, 3rd
CC-Micah Newcom 7 run (Morgeson Kick), 6:49, 3rd
BHS-Wickliffe 74 pass from Stone (Winkenhofer Kick), 6:27, 3rd
CC-Gattin Travis 9 run (Morgeson Kick), 3:42, 3rd
BHS-Hayden Osborne 45 pass from Stone (Winkenhofer Kick), 0:27, 3rd
BHS-Wickliffe 18 run (Winkenhofer Kick), 8:10, 4th
BHS-Ray 50 fumble return (Winkenhofer Kick), 7:45, 4th
BHS-Ray 45 fumble return (Winkenhofer Kick), 5:45, 4th
CC-Kaleb Nesbitt 3 blocked punt return (Morgeson Kick), 1:39, 4th

TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: CCHS 16, BHS 8
Penalties: CCHS 4-40, BHS 4-30
Rushing: CCHS 46-182, BHS 23-135
Passing: CCHS 11-17-1, 100, BHS 12-20-1, 322
Total Yards: CCHS 282, BHS 457
Fumbles/Lost: CCHS 2-2, BHS 0-0

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
CCHS: Travis 11-57, Impastato 1-3, Tyler Belt 10-72, Newcom 20-35, Caden Howard 0-(-8), Morgeson 4-23. BHS: Wickliffe 13-152, Stone 4-(-28), Cal Yates 2-7, Jacob Thornsberry 4-4
Passing
CCHS: Newcom 11-17-1, 100. BHS: Stone 12-20-1, 322.
Receiving
CCHS: Rowen Perkins 1-6, Kaleb Nesbitt 3-27, Howard 1-23, Briley Berry 1-2, Case Gobin 1-21, Morgeson 4-21. BHS: Popovich 4-64, Ray 6-139, Osborne 1-45, Wickliffe 1-74.
Defense
Impastato 2 solos, 2 assists, TFL, sack; Case Gobin 2 solos, blocked punt; Perkins 2 solos; Nesbitt 5 solos, assist, TFL; Berry 2 solos, 4 assists; Morgeson solo, 2 assists; Seth Guess 4 solos; Zach Counts solo; Evan Belt solo, assist; Travis 3 solos, assist; Bennett McDaniel 4 solos, assist; T. Belt 2 solos, 3 assists, interception; Howard solo, TFL, blocked punt.
Players of the Game Offense Gattin Travis and Tyler Belt, Special Teams Kaleb Nesbitt, Linemen Phoenix Clayton and Kaden Travis.
Records: CCHS 2-4, BHS 5-1
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Thursday, September 29, 2022

Rocket Football Coach's Show: Week 6



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AT A GLANCE: Rockets Head East to Bardstown

BY: Andy Hunt

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Monday, September 26, 2022

PODCAST: Coach Courtney talks about Union game

 

Rockets lose to Union County

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Friday, September 23, 2022

Keep-away game slips away from Rockets


 MARION, Ky. – At the halfway mark of the season, Crittenden County played perhaps its best football game of the year, but it wasn’t enough to pull off an upset against Class 3A’s third-ranked Union County.

Junior Tyler Belt got his first start at running
back and rushed for 17 yards.
The undefeated Braves scored once in each period and played an old-world game of keep away down the stretch to stymie the Rockets 25-6.

Crittenden County’s typically high-yardage passing attack wasn’t there against Union County’s athletic secondary. Rocket quarterback Micah Newcom went into the game averaging 23 passing attempts and 227 yards an outing. He threw only 10, including a second-quarter, 37-yard touchdown pass to freshman Caden Howard. It was Howard’s first varsity TD reception. 

Otherwise, the Rockets stayed on the ground, running the ball twice as many plays as it threw. However, there wasn’t much there either. CCHS had 73 yards rushing.

In fact, Union County hardly allowed Crittenden to play offense the entire second half. The Braves held the Rockets to nine offensive snaps on three possessions and just 14 yards after the break. 

Senior Seth Guess makes a tackle in the first half.
Union County dominated the ball in the final 13 minutes, allowing Crittenden not a single play from scrimmage. Most of that time was used up by a 72-yard drive that started late in the third period and ended on Kris Hughes’ third touchdown with just 2:20 to play. The drive included three fourth-down conversions, one finished in the end zone with Hughes’ 18-yard reception from Braves’ QB Cannon Sheffer.

The Rockets had no first downs in the second half. They misfired inside the red zone once in the first half.

Defensively, CCHS tackled and played well against one of the top teams in the state. Junior linebacker Bennett McDaniel played in his first regular-season game, helping shore up a lineup that has been riddled by injuries.

“That’s a really good football team,” Rocket coach Gaige Courtney said. “They wore us down in the second half, kept the ball away from us, went power-I and kind of pounded their bigger bodies on ours. It just kind of wore on us the second half.”

Courtney was proud of his team’s effort, and its performance despite the loss.

“We’re getting better. We are going to be all right,” he said. 

Crittenden will play another top 10 team next week when it travels to Bardstown to face fifth-ranked Class A Bethlehem.

SCORE BY QUARTERS
Union County      7 6 6 6
Crittenden Co. 0 6 0 0

SCORING PLAYS 
UC-Kris Hughes 38 run (Collin Nalley kick) 5:08, 1st
CC-Caden Howard 37 pass from Micah Newcom (kick failed) 6:43, 2nd
UC-Cannon Sheffer 4 run (kick blocked) 1:09, 2nd
UC-Hughes 67 run (kick failed) 4:47, 3rd
UC-Hughes 18 pass from Sheffer (pass failed) 2:20, 4th

TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: CCHS 5, UCHS 12
Penalties: CCHS 3-35, UCHS 10-110
Rushing: CCHS 19-73, UCHS 38-300
Passing: CCHS 6-10-0, 60, UCHS 7-13-0, 73
Total Yards: CCHS 133, UCHS 373
Fumbles/Lost: CCHS 1-1, UCHS 1-0

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
CCHS: Gattin Travis 5-37, Sam Impastato 1-4, Tyler Belt 5-17, Newcom 8-15. UCHS: Izaiah Manuel 2-6, Hughes 19-159, Duncan Mills 2-2, Kanye Pollard 8-65, Amare Black 3-13, Willem McPeake 6-46, Sheffer 4-9.
Passing
CCHS: Newcom 6-10-0, 60, UCHS: Sheffer 7-13-0, 73.
Receiving
CCHS: Belt 2-5, Rowen Perkins 1-3, Kaleb Nesbitt 2-15, Howard 1-37.
Defense
Sammy Impastato 5 solos, 3 assits, 2 TFL; Case Gobin 4 solos, 5 assists; Rowen Perkins solo; Kaleb Nesbitt 4 solos, 4 assists, 1 TFL; Briley Berry 9 solos, 4 assists, sack; Seth Guess 7 solos, 3 assists; KeKoa Kuamoo 3 assists; Gabe Keller 3 solos; Gattin Travis 8 solos, 3 assists, TFL, sack; Tyler Belt solo, 2 assists.
Players of the Game: Offense Gattin Travis, Defense Briley Berry, Lineman Braydin Brandsasse, Special Teams Case Gobin. 
Records: CCHS 2-3, UCHS 6-0

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Thursday, September 22, 2022

Rocket Football Coach's Show: Week 5 Union County


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Wednesday, September 14, 2022

AT A GLANCE: Open Week

BY: ANDY HUNT

 
 
(L-R: Jamie Curtis, #10 (1989-1992), Sean Thompson (2000-2003),
Taylon Polk #2 (2003-2006), and Turner Martin #20 (1978-1981))

These four former Rocket QBs will soon be passed in the record book by Micah Newcom. 

Find out where in this week's post!  

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Monday, September 12, 2022

PODCAST: Rockets snap Tiger reign of success


Rockets win at Caldwell County

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Friday, September 9, 2022

Rockets end streak, beating Caldwell 21-13



PRINCETON, Ky. – Highlight this one in the history book, Crittenden County officially declared its independence from a long drought against Caldwell County, winning a gripping 21-13 football game at Princeton Friday – the Rockets’ first there since 2004.
Zach Counts (54) and Levi Piper (21) block for
QB Micah Newcom in the first half.

It didn’t come easy, and it required a stunning pivot to the offensive strategy for Crittenden to capture its first win over Caldwell in 13 tries.

“The steak is over. I love it,” declared lineman Travis Blazina, who’d never beaten Caldwell throughout his football career dating back to little league.  

After encountering first-half difficulties throwing the football, including two interceptions – one returned for a touchdown – the Rockets used an old-fashioned approach to seal the deal with stern defense and a strong strong running game down the stretch. After trailing by a touchdown at the half, Crittenden scored once in each of the last two periods while blanking the Tigers. Crittenden had allowed Tiger running back Jamus Carneyhan to roll up 108 yards by the half, but held him to minus-9 after the break. He got most of that first-half total on a 73-yard TD run.
Preston Morgeson uses a stiff arm to find the edge.

CCHS quarterback Micah Newcom, whose team played behind the sticks much of the first half due to 70 yards in penalties, was sacked, called for illegal grounding and flushed from the pocket over and over by Caldwell’s rush. Despite the challenges, he still threw for 184 yards, all but 45 came in the first half.

In the final two quarters, Crittenden went almost exclusively to the ground after its first series, which ended with an interception in the end zone. The Rockets had blown four trips inside the 25-yard line at that point, so out came the handoffs. 

From there, Newcom rushed for 49 yards the second half and running back Gattin Travis, Levi Piper and Preston Morgeson each had 25 of or more yards as the Rockets scored two unanswered TDs.

Special teams were key as well. Crittenden blocked an extra-point kick and two punts, one of them set up the Rockets’ first score.

Crittenden improved to 2-2 on the season while Caldwell falls to 0-4. The Rockets will have a bye week next Friday and coach Gaige Courtney hopes to use that time off to get some of his injured players healed before hosting a very good Union County the following week.


Crittenden Co. 7 0 7 7
Caldwell Co.        7 6 0 0

SCORING PLAYS
Critt-Micah Newcom 5 run (Preston Morgeson kick) 4:47, 1st
Cald-Jamus Carneyhan 73 run (Timothy Nichols kick) 4:43, 2nd
Cald-Logan Chambliss 93 interception return (kick blocked) 10:25, 2nd
Critt-Newcom 11 run (Morgeson kick) 6:09, 3rd
Critt-Newcom 2 run (Morgeson kick) 8:54, 4th

TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: Rockets 17, Tigers 13
Penalties: Rockets 10-90, Tigers 7-69
Rushing: Rockets 38-122, Tigers 24-108
Passing: Rockets 16-24-3, 184; Tigers 5-13-0, 69
Total Yards: Rockets 306, Tigers 177
Fumbles/Lost: Rockets 0-0, Tigers 1-1

INDIVDIUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Rockets: Gattin Travis 8-34, Morgeson 2-25, Levi Piper 3-11, Tyler Belt 2-6, Seth Guess 3-8, Sammy Impastato 1-4, Newcom 18-37, Kaleb Nesbitt 1-(-3). Tigers: Carneyhan 12-99, Luke Parker 11-12, Cooper Mobley 1-(-3).
Passing
Rockets: Newcom 16-23-2,184; Seth Guess 0-1-1. Tigers: Parker 5-13-0, 69.
Receiving 
Rockets: Gabe Keller 4-50, Nesbitt 5-56, Morgeson 2-12, Travis 1-14, Casey Cates 2-28, T.Belt 1-20, Case Gobin 1-4. Tigers: Xavier Bumphus 3-65, Carneyhan 1-(-6), Camden Woford 1-4.
Defense
Sammy Impastato 2 solos, TFL, fumble recovery, blocked kick; Case Gobin 4 solos, 2 assists, 2 sacks; Kaleb Nesbitt 4 solos, 2 assists, TFL; Briley Berry 4 solos, 3 assists, TFL, sack, blocked kick; Preston Morgeson 3 solos, TFL, blocked kick; Seth Guess 4 solos, 2 assists; Evan Belt assist; Gabe Keller assist; Levi Piper solo, 2 assists; Gattin Travis 4 solos, 3 assists, TFL; Tyler Belt 2 solos, assist; Keelyn Gobin solo, assist.
Players of the Game: Defense Case Gobin, Offense Kaleb Nesbitt, Lineman Zach Counts, Special Teams Briley Berry.
Records: Rockets 2-2, Tigers 0-4

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Thursday, September 8, 2022

Coach Gaige Courtney Rocket Football Show

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Tuesday, September 6, 2022

AT A GLANCE: Week 4 and Caldwell County

BY: ANDY HUNT 

   
(L-R: Aaron Berry, Tyler Boone, and Lucas Mick)

Scroll through this week's post to find out what these Rockets have in common and how current Rocket, Preston Morgeson could join their elite company.  

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Monday, September 5, 2022

PODCAST: PostGame Recap with Coach Courtney

Rockets v Madisonville Recap

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Friday, September 2, 2022

Rockets run out of gas in 48-21 loss


MARION, Ky. – Crittenden County’s football team already thin due to afflictions in key positions, was by the second half Friday against Madisonville reeling from fatigue, hobbled by additional injuries and force-fed a steady dose of the Maroons’ potent rushing attack in a 48-21 loss.

Micah Newcom gained most of his yards in
the first half against the Maroons' defense.
It was the Rockets’ home opener and CCHS played with considerable energy in the first half. Yet after trailing by a touchdown late in the third quarter, Crittenden was vanquished when Madisonville scored three unanswered TDs in the final 15 minutes. By game’s end, the Rockets were down to their third-team center, two backups at linebacker and a patchwork of reserve linemen on either side of the ball. 

I thought we came out ready play. I thought we fought early and played well at times, but there are things we obviously need to fix,” coach Gaige Courtney said. (Madisonville) is a fast, physical team and injuries kind of piled up on us toward the end. We’re just running out of guys.

“Hopefully we can get healthy,” he continued. “There were a lot of things tonight that we can build on. There was a lot of adversity out there tonight.”

LBs Briley Berry and Gattin Travis try to
corral the MHS quarterback in the 1st half.
Absolutely, Crittenden was in the game in the second half until its makeshift offensive line, worn bit my Madisonville’s size advantage, was unable to protect quarterback Micah Newcom. He was sacked three times the second half, flushed from the pocket often and forced to throw a handful of balls intentionally out of bounds instead of taking further losses.

Newcom rushed or 39 yards and threw for 103 in the first half. He ran for one touchdown and threw for two more in the game, but struggled to find time and rhythm in the pocket late. He finished with 182 passing and seven net-rushing yards.

Meantime, Madisonville went to an I-formation in the second half and pounded the ball right at the Rockets. Its running back, Markezz Hightower rushed for 147 yards, and 114 came after the break on 13 carries.

CCHS center Hurst Miniard was injured in the first half and a freshman filled in. Linebacker Briley Berry suffered a shoulder injury and running back/defensive back Levi Piper left the game, too, both in the second half. CCHS was already down two linemen – a place the team was lacking depth at to start with – because of previous injuries. 

The Rockets will play at Caldwell County next week.

SCORE BY QUARTERS
Madisonville 6 15 20 7
Crittenden 7 7 7 0

SCORING PLAYS
C-Micah Newcom 32 run (Preston Morgeson kick) 10:28, 1st
M-Javion Martin 15 pass from Anias Mitchell (kick blocked) 5:35, 1st
M-Tremaine Lovan 72 pass from Mitchell (pass completed) 11:06, 2nd
M-Evan Robinson 62 interception return (Ivan Juarez kick) 11:06, 2nd
C-Casey Cates 14 pass from Newcom (Morgeson kick) :38, 2nd
M-Mitchell 2 run (Juarez kick) 6:07, 3rd
C-Morgeson 13 pass from Newcom (Morgeson kick) 3:40, 3rd
M-Lovan 88 kickoff return (Chris Hughes kick) 3:25, 3rd
M-Markezz Hightower 44 pass from Mitchell (kick blocked) :37, 3rd
M-Hightower 33 run (Juarez kick) 1:23, 4th

TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: CCHS 9, MHS 13
Penalties: CCHS 3-20, MHS 8-80
Rushing: CCHS 22-39, MHS 38-212
Passing: CCHS 14-25-1, 182; MHS 9-14-1, 208
Total Yards: CCHS 221, MHS 420
Fumbles/Lost: CCHS 1-1, MHS 2-2

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
CCHS: Gattin Travis 2-4, Tyler Belt 2-4, Morgeson 1-21, Levi Piper 2-4, Sammy Impastato 1-(-1), Newcom 14-7. MHS: Hightower 19-147, Ricky Bowles 3-15, Logan 1-0, Kirk LaGrange 1-4, Ty Wheeler 3-20.
Passing
CCHS: Newcom 14-25-1,182. MHS: Mitchell 9-14-1, 208.
Receiving
CCHS: Morgeson 6-77, Rowen Perkins 3-21, Kaleb Nesbitt 2-51, T.Belt 1-23, Cates 1-14, Caden Howard 1-(-4). MHS: Trey Segwick 2-22, Martin 2-25, Wheeler 1-18, Logan 3-99, Hightower 1-44.
Defense
Sammy Impastato 8 solos, 4 assist; Case Gobin 6 solos, 4 assists, sack, blocked kick; Kaleb Nesbitt 4 solos; Briley Berry 12 solos, 3 assists; Preston Morgeson 3 solos, 2 assists; Seth Guess 3 solos, 3 assists, blocked kick; Zach Counts 2 solos, sack; Evan Belt solo, assist; Levi Piper 3 solos; Gattin Travis 6 solos, 3 assists, sack, caused fumble; Tyler Belt solo, interception; Grayson James 2 assists; Keelyn Gobin solo, fumble recovery; Caden Howard 2 solos, caused fumble, fumble recovery.
Players of the Game Offense Preston Morgeson, Defense Briley Berry, Lineman Lane West, Special Teams Seth Guess.
Records: CCHS 1-2, MHS 2-1

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Thursday, September 1, 2022

Rocket Football Coach's Show: Week 3


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