Rockets fall 42-29 at Marshall County

DRAFFENVILLE, Ky. – For much of Friday night, Crittenden County looked like a small-school team punching above its weight class. But a trio of first-half turnovers and the loss of their biggest weapon left the Rockets just short in a 42-29 season-opening setback at Class 6A Marshall County.

QB Quinn Summers threw for 4 TDs.

Senior quarterback Quinn Summers kept Crittenden’s offense humming, throwing for 327 yards and four touchdowns. He twice connected with record-setting wideout Caden Howard, including a highlight 78-yard strike in the second quarter. But when Howard aggravated a lingering hamstring injury in the third period, the Rockets lost both a spark on offense and a leader in the secondary.

“Obviously he’s a big weapon for us on offense and big for us on defense,” coach Gaige Courtney said. “We definitely miss him, but no excuses. Some young guys came in. Hayden Hughes did some great things, caught a touchdown. He and Joel Bumpus, both freshmen, played a lot of minutes and played really well.

“So there were some bright spots in it when Caden went out, but he’s not necessarily a player you can replace,” the coach added.

Despite being out-rushed 149 to 45, the Rockets actually gained more total yards, 375 to 303, and had a chance to make it a one-possession game. Their drive reached the Marshals’ 15 before stalling.

Turnovers proved too costly. Crittenden fumbled twice and threw an interception, all in the first half, giving Marshall short fields that led directly to scores. 

Dokota Sosh had 5 catches in the game.

“We had some first-game things, turnovers and misalignments,” Courtney said. “They’re a big school and they’re big and physical, so hats off to them. They had us on our heels a lot, especially defensively.”

Even in defeat, Summers’ poise and his connection with multiple receivers – Howard, Eli Lovell, Dokota Sosh and Hughes – showed promise.

“I thought offensively we looked pretty sharp at times,” Courtney said. “It’s the first game of the year. It’s a tough loss for all of us, but it’s just a starting step.”

Crittenden will host Union County next week, a team ranked No. 5 in Class 3A.

Crittenden County 15 8 6 0

Marshall County 14 21 7 0

SCORING PLAYS

M-Kolten Winsett 20 run (Brayden York kick) 8:40, 1st

C-Caden Howard 15 pass from Quinn Summers (Summers run) 7:21, 1st

C-Dokota Sosh 18 pass from Summers (Mitchell Brown kick) 2:15, 1st

M-Ethan Webber 55 pass from Neyland Jezik (Thatcher Newnum kick) 1:23, 1st

M-Kaysen Holland 2 run (York kick) 11:11, 2nd

M-Holland 7 run (Newnum kick) 10:12, 2nd

C-Howard 78 pass from Summers (Eli Lovell run) 5:53, 2nd

M-Jezik 3 run (York kick) 1:43, 2nd

C-Hayden Hughes 3 pass from Summers (pass failed) 5:53, 3rd

M-Webber 7 pass from Jezik (Newnum kick) :50, 3rd

TEAM TOTALS

First Downs: CCHS 12, MCHS 13

Penalties: CCHS 5-45, MCHS 4-40

Rushing: CCHS 21-45, MCHS 35-149

Passing: CCCHS 22-40-1,327; MCHS 13-18-1, 154

Total Yards: CCHS 375, MCHS 303

Fumbles/Lost: CCHS 2-2, MCHS 1-0

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

CCHS: Summers 9-39, Trae Taylor 11-17, Lovell 1-(-11). MCHS: Winsett 12-74, Holland 14-54, Jezik 7-11, Reece Reed 1-2, Webber 1-8.

Passing

CCHS: Summers 22-39-1, 327; Howard 0-1-0. MCHS: Jezik 13-18-1, 154.

Receiving

CCHS: Howard 5-120, Lovell 5-84, Sosh 5-69, Davis Perryman 3-25, Brayden Poindexter 1-15, Hughes 2-6, Taylor 1-8. MCHS: Kamren Brown 5-49, Sylas Winding 1-10, Webber 3-72, Aiden Roy 2-8, Kaiden Mohler 2-15.

Defense

Brandsasse 7 solos, 3 TFLs; M.Counts assist: Hall solo, 2 assists, TFL; Howard 4 solos; Pierson 3 assists; B.Poindexter 16 solos, 5 assists; D.Sosh 3 solos; Stevenson 6 solos, interception; Taylor 2 solos; Musser 5 assists; Perryman 2 solos, assist; Blazina solo Lovell 5 solos, 2 assists, sack; Bumpus 2 solos, 2 assists, TFL; Herrington solo; Hughes solo.

Players of the Game: Offense Quinn Summers, Defense Brayden Poindexter, Lineman Braydin Brandsasse, Special Teams Mitchell Brown.

Records: CCHS 0-1, MCHS 1-0