MARION, Ky. – Football is a game of give and take, and for the most part Union County wasn’t in the mood to share much Friday night.
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| Brayden Mahnke takes a handoff from CCHS quarterback Quinn Summers. |
The Braves took away Crittenden’s deep passing game and gave the Rockets a full measure of rushing offense in a 42-14 Union County victory at Rocket Stadium.
Crittenden’s playbook is more like a scroll full of passing lines with just a touch of run. Union County dropped eight defenders into the secondary and gave CCHS some room to work up front. Yet, despite some periodic success running the ball, CCHS was unable to overcome the Braves’ arsenal of options.
The Rockets did gain 104 yards on the ground on 25 carries – perhaps more than many believe they might average on the season based on what the team has shown in two scrimmages and last week’s schooling of Webster County. When starting running back Jacob Carder left the game in the second period, the ball carrying was left to senior Brayden Mahnke, who didn’t disappoint. The senior rushed for a career-high 78 yards, but it was a far cry from what the Rockets needed to handle the Braves.
Union County’s Jarren Johnson and Willem McPeake piled up 313 yards on the ground and scored three times between them. That alone was enough offense to finish the deed.
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| Kicker Adri Berry gets a high-5 from Michael Counts. |
Crittenden had some success passing underneath coverage in the second half and was successful moving the ball at times, finishing with a dozen first downs just like the Braves. But three long scoring runs of 31, 35 and 64 yards by Union running backs provided big hits Union needed to tip the scales.
Union County scored the game’s first 21 points, but Crittenden’s Caden Howard recovered a fumble and the Rockets closed the gap on the next play with a scoring pass to CamRon Belcher. The game was never any closer.
“We saw some guys emerge and at certain positions that we really liked,” said Rocket skipper Gaige Courtney. “I think it’s a game to build off of. Obviously, we didn’t like the score. We want to win them all, but there are a lot of positives to take from it.”
Crittenden will need all it can get as it heads to Paducah next week to take on 6A McCracken County.
SCORING PLAYS
Union County 6 8 14 14
Crittenden Co. 0 0 7 7
SCORING PLAYS
U-Caton Wilson 31 run (kick blocked) 7:29, 1st
U-Jarren Johnson 35 run (Willem McPeake run), 7:43, 2nd
U-McPeake 64 run (Jerry Sabino kick) 10:44, 2nd
C-CamRon Belcher 27 pass from Quinn Summers (Adri Berry kick) 7;08, 3rd
U-Johnson 9 run (Sabino kick) 2:22, 3rd
U-Abreyan Fletcher 17 run (Sabino kick) 8:21, 4th
C-Caden Howard 3 pass from Summers (Berry kick) 7:12, 4th
U-Fletcher 7 run (Sabino kick) 1:56, 4th
TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: CCHS 12, UCHS 12
Penalties: CCHS 9-60, UCHS 11-130
Rushing: CCHS 25-104, UCHS 37-393
Passing: CCHS 16-29-1, 150; UCHS 1-5-1, 29
Total Yards: CCHS 254, UCHS 422
Fumbles/Lost: CCHS 3-0, UCHS 1-1
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
CCHS: Brayden Mahnke 10-78, Jacob Carder 5-28, Summers 10-(-2). UCHS: Johnson 18-179, McPeake 10-134, Fletcher 6-47, Wilson 2-27, Luke Thomas 1-6.
Passing
CCHS: Summers 16-29-1, 150. UCHS: Wilson 1-1-0, 29; Johnson 0-4-1.
Receiving
CCHS: Howard 8-55, Belcher 5-61, Tyree McLean 1-24, Mahnke 1-5, Carder 1-5.
Defense
Belcher 5 solos, interception; French solos, assist; Mahnke 5 solos, 3 assists, caused fumble; McLean 4 solos, assist, 2 TFLs; K.Travis 2 solos, 3 assists; Brandsasse 5 solos, assist, 2 TFLs; Counts solo; Howard 3 solos, assist, 2 fumble recoveries; Pierson solo, 2 assists; B.Poindexter 4 solos, 3 assists; D.Sosh solo, assist; Taylor solo; Byford 2 solos, 2 assists; Markham solo, TFL.
Players of the Game Offense Brayden Mahnke, Defense Braydin Brandsasse, Lineman Kaiden Travis, Special Teams Adri Berry & Caden Howard.
Records: CCHS 1-1, UCHS 1-1
