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| Rocket nose guard Brandon Mahnke chases down the Calloway quarterback. |
The Rockets were once again marred by penalties which kept them from perhaps delivering a knock-out punch in the first half. Still, Crittenden used a couple of early interceptions and three touchdowns to lead by 13 at halftime.
In the third quarter, CCHS began to find its footing. The penalties dried up, the defense didn’t allow Calloway a first down in the period and the Rockets posted a couple more touchdowns to take a commanding lead 34-7.
The Lakers, playing their last game because they didn’t qualify for the playoffs, didn’t exactly go quietly. Their offense was able to move the ball against the Rockets in the final minutes, and Calloway turned a 99-yard, fourth-quarter drive into six points as time expired.
Gabe Keller and Caden Howard each had interceptions and Camron Belcher blocked Calloway’s attempt at a second-half, 50-plus-yard field goal try. Keller’s pick led to Crittenden’s first TD of the game.
Rocket quarterback Micah Newcom was quite efficient once again. His quarterback rating is the best ever for a CCHS signal caller. At Calloway, he completed 28-of-36 passes for 287 yards. Seven Rocket receivers caught balls with Belcher, Tyler Belt and Casey Cates each having more than 50 yards receiving.
While Crittenden piled up 324 total yards, it continues to struggle running the ball. Jacob Carder led the ground game with 25 yards on seven carries.
Now 6-4, the Rockets turn their attention to Todd Central for the opening round of the Class 2A playoffs next week at Marion.
Calloway's season came to an end at 2-8.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Crittenden County 6 14 14 0
Calloway County 0 7 0 6
SCORING PLAYS
Critt-Micah Newcom 8 run (pass failed) 1:36,1st
Critt-Tyler Belt 31 pass from Newcom (Caden Howard pass from Newcom) 6:38, 2nd
Call-Wyatt Robbins 11 run (Oscar Ovila kick) 4:17, 2nd
Critt-Newcom 21 run (pass failed) 1;45, 2nd
Critt-Casey Cates 1 pass from Newcom (Gabe Keller pass from Newcom) 9:14, 3rd
Critt-Caden Howard 1 pass from Newcom (pass failed) :06, 3rd
Call-Shaun Phillips 8 pass from Robbins, 0:00
TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: Rockets 16, Lakers 16
Penalties: Rockets 10-83, Lakers 13-135
Rushing: Rockets 21-37, Lakers 27-76
Passing: Rockets 28-35-0, 287; Lakers 22-41-2, 228
Total Yards: Rockets 324, Lakers 304
Fumbles/Lost: Rockets 1-1, Lakers 1-1
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Crittenden: Jacob Carder 7-25, Tyree McLean 3-9, Newcom 10-11, Gaige Markham 1-(-8). Calloway: Logan Smith 8-40, Price Aycock 6-(-4), Jessie Esparza 1-17, Robbins 11-25, Phillips 1-(-2).
Passing
Crittenden: Newcom 28-35-0, 287. Calloway: Robbins 22-40-2, 228; Aycock 0-1-0.
Receiving
Crittenden: Camron Belcher 7-77, Howard 6-39, Belt 3-63, Gabe Keller 2-29, Casey Cates 5-53, McLean 4-23, Markham 1-3. Calloway: Aycock 6-60, Esparza 4-31, Peyton Weatherford 2-20, Austin Weatherford 3-31, Logan Smith 1-1, Joey Goucher 3-44, Carer Tudor 2-33, Phillips 1-8.
Defense
Gabe Keller interception; Levi Piper 5 solos, 2 assists; Gattin Travis 2 solos, assist, caused fumble; Bennett McDaniel 6 solos, 3 assists, TFL; Lane West 4 solos, 2 TFLs, sack; Casey Cates solo, 3 assists; Grayson James 2 solos, assist, 2 TFLs; Tyree McLean 2 solos, 2 TFLs; Kaiden Travis 2 solos, assist, 2 TFLs; Cameron Belcher 4 solos, assist, block kick; Braden Mahnke 5 solos, 2 assists; Caden Howard 9 solos, assist, interception; Brayden Poindexter 4 solos, assist, TFL, fumble recovery; Jacob Carder solo, 2 assists.
Players of the Game: Offense Micah Newcom, Defense Caden Howard, Lineman Lane West, Special Teams Keegan Pierson.
Records: Crittenden 6-4, Calloway 2-9
