MARION, Ky. – Crittenden County has won five straight football games as the Rockets advance to the second round of the playoffs next week with one thing in mind - riding the wave all the way to Kroger Field for the Class A state championship.
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| Sammy Impastato grabs one of CCHS's four fumble recoveries in the game. MORE PHOTOS | GO HERE |
“We were really firing on all cylinders tonight,” said senior Zach Counts, an offensive lineman who got the only carry of his lifetime and scored a touchdown early in the third period. “Next week is Bethlehem and we have wanted them back since we lost to them in Bardstown. We’re going to fire on all cylinders (next week) and get the win.”
Crittenden celebrated on defense with four fumble recoveries, three of which led to touchdowns. Lane West and Bennett McDaniel each had sacks. In the second half, the Eagles rushed eight times for minus-9 yards.
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| Briley Berry rushed for a team-high 64 yards. MORE PHOTOS | GO HERE |
Offensively, CCHS rushed for 148 yards, eclipsed only by its performances against Bethlehem (182) and Webster (175). The Rockets scored five times on the ground with running back Gattin Travis getting into the end zone twice. Quarterback Micah Newcom had another efficient outing, completing 15 of 22 passes for 210 yards. The Rockets scored on seven of their first nine possessions, stopped only by two interceptions in the Eagle end zone.
Crittenden’s starting offense has now gone eight quarters without punting.
The win over Fort Knox was a noteworthy performance for a team that’s peaking at the right time. The cherry awaits four games down the road and every Rocket eye is on getting to Lexington and the state title game.
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| Case Gobin threw for a key first down on a trick play in the first half. MORE PHOTOS | GO HERE |
“I’m not really focused on that. I’m focused on winning along the road and making it to Kroger Field,” he said.
Bethlehem, who beat the Rockets 63-35 just over a month ago, lost its quarterback in the final game of the regular season to a broken collarbone. The first meeting was a one-possession game in the third quarter until Eagles returned two fumbles for touchdowns. Bethlehem QB Cooper Stone threw for 322 yards in that game.
Crittenden, the No. 1 seed in the First District, will host Bethlehem, the Second District’s No. 2 seed, in next week’s playoff game at Rocket Stadium.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Fort Knox 7 0 7 0
Crittenden 13 22 12 6
SCORING PLAYS
C-Gattin Travis 5 run (run failed) 8:12, 1st
C-Newcom 5 run (Preston Morgeson kick) 4:17, 1st
F-Isaiah Morrison 1 run (Morrison kick) :18, 1st
C-Travis 6 run (Morgeson kick) 11:37, 2nd
C-Kaleb Nesbitt 2 pass from Newcom (Caden Howard pass from Newcom) 10:48, 2nd
C-Briley Berry 53 run (Morgeson kick) 4:22, 2nd
C-Zach Counts 1 run (Morgeson kick failed) 7:29, 3rd
C-Morgeson 3 pass from Newcom (Morgeson kick failed) 3:07, 3rd
F-Christopher Hinds 88 kickoff return (Morrison kick) 2:06, 3rd
C-Hayden Hildebrand fumble recovery end zone
TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: CCHS 17, Ft Knox 5
Penalties: CCHS 5-45, Ft Knox 3-13
Rushing: CCHS 25-148, Ft Knox 32-78
Passing: CCHS 16-24-2, 258; Ft Knox 2-5-0, 18
Total Yards: CCHS 406, Ft Knox 96
Fumbles/Lost: CCHS 0-0, Ft Knox 4-4
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
CCHS: Travis 11-63, Counts 1-1, Tyler Belt 1-12, Sammy Impastato 1-2, Briley Berry 3-64, Quinn Summers 2-(-16), Newcom 3-16, Keelyn Gobin 1-0, Jacob Carder 1-5, Kekoa Kuamoo 1-1. Ft Knox: Josh Carlson 3-10, Dom Davis 7-23, Cam McDonald 5-17, RJ Wrenn 5-21, Alsadra Wilson 3-14, Vaugn Fielding-Chiles 2-(-3), Morrison 6-(-15), Hinds 1-5.
Passing
CCHS: Newcom 15-22-2, 210; Case Gobin 1-1-0, 48; Summers 0-1-0. Ft Knox: Morrison 2-5-0, 18.
Receiving
CCHS: Travis 1-6, Howard 2-38, Nesbitt 3-61, Morgeson 4-56, T.Belt 3-72, Casey Cates 1-5, Gabe Keller 1-3, Rowen Perkins 1-17. Ft Knox: McDonald 1-6, Davis 1-12.
Defense
Seth Guess 4 solos, 2 assists, fumble recovery; Nesbitt 5 solos, caused fumble; Kekoa Kuamoo assist; C. Gobin 4 solos, 2 assists, 2 TFL; Howard 3 solos, TFL; Impastato 3 solos, 5 assists, caused fumble, fumble recovery; Bennett McDaniel 6 solos, assist, caused fumble, TFL, sack; Evan Belt 2 solos, assist; Brayden Poindexter 2 solos, assist; Perkins assist; Morgeson 3 solos; Levi Piper 3 assists; T. Belt 3 solos, 2 assists; Keller solo, fumble recovery; Berry 2 solos, 4 assists; Travis solo, 2 assists; Hildebrand fumble recovery; K. Gobin caused fumble; Grayson James solo, assist; Lane West solo, sack.
Players of the Game: Offense Gattin Travis, Defense Bennett McDaniel, Special Teams Evan Belt; Lineman Zach Counts.
Records: CCHS 7-4, Ft Knox 4-7
