Dynamic Duo teams up for 5 TDs to win

 

MARION, Ky. – On a rare Thursday night homecoming game, under lights borrowed from Friday’s usual keepers of the game, two seniors found their rhythm again. 

For a couple of weeks early this season they had been ghosts of themselves, both sidelined in weeks one and two, and Crittenden County was struggled to define its identity without the dynamic duo. But now, with October air sharp as a blade, quarterback Quinn Summers and wideout Caden Howard played as if to make up for lost time, and the Rockets rolled 45-8 over Todd County Central.

Quinn Summers on his TD run.

Summers’ arm and legs painted the field with big plays, and Howard caught nearly everything thrown his way, scoring five touchdowns, one shy of the school record. Together, they wrote a first-half masterpiece that essentially ended the game before halftime. The mercy-rule running clock deployed before intermission.

Crittenden (4-3, 2-1 Class 2A District 1) has now won four of its last five, solidifying itself in the playoff picture with two straight district victories. Todd Central fell to 1-6, 0-3.

“Adversity can really show you who you are and how you can handle bad times and bounce back. Coming back out here and feeling 100 percent feels amazing,” Howard said, after setting fire to the Rebel secondary with 204 yards receiving. 

Summers opened the scoring by zipping a 26-yard strike to Howard, then breaking loose on fourth down off the left end for a 61-yard touchdown run. He would finish with 241 yards through the air on 12-of-19 passing, plus another 69 on the ground.

Howard did the rest. His 67-, 51-, 43- and 6-yard touchdown receptions all came in the first two quarters, torching Todd Central’s defense with a mix of speed, precision routes and Summers’ uncanny touch. By halftime, Crittenden led by what would be the final score, and never looked back.

Rockets celebrate recovery of onside kick
by Azeriah Rich.

After surrendering a 24-yard touchdown pass to Rigney Harrison on Todd’s opening drive, the Rocket defense tightened its grip. Hayden Hughes and Dokota Sosh picked off passes, while Jay Stevenson and Braydin Brandsassee combined for a sack. Todd Central managed only 129 total yards, including 55 through the air on 4-of-15 passing.

Coach Courtney said his offense was clicking and defense did its job after that early letdown when Todd scored its only TD. The Rockets scored on all six of their possessions in the first half. 

Howard, who last week became the school’s all-time leader in career receiving yards, nearly added another record with his five-touchdown haul. Summers, meanwhile, continues to flash dual-threat brilliance over the past two games, giving the Rocket offense yet another weapon, particularly with starting running back Trae Taylor sidelined with an injury.

With a bye week ahead, Crittenden will prepare for a road test at district foe Fort Campbell before closing district play at home Oct. 24 against rival Caldwell County in the final league game of the season. 

Thursday’s contest was one of a handful in the state moved off Friday due to a shortage of officials across Kentucky. 

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Todd Central 8 0 0 0

Crittenden Co. 23 22 0 0

SCORING PLAYS

C-Caden Howard 26 pass from Quinn Summers (Brayden Poindexter pass from Summers) 11:03, 1st

T-Rigney Harrrison 24 pass from Eli Morgan (Morgan run) 6:06, 1st

C-Summers 61 run (Mitchell Brown kick) 5;05, 1st

C-Howard 67 pass from Summers (Eli Lovell run) 2:56, 1st

C-Howard 51 pass from Summers (Noah Byford pass from Summers) 10:12, 2nd

C-Howard 43 pass from Summers (Brown kick) 8:45, 2nd

C-Howard 6 pass from Summers (Brown kick) 4:07 2nd

TEAM TOTALS

First Downs: CCHS 8, TCC 6

Penalties: CCHS 5-35, TCC 9-55

Rushing: CCHS 13-104, TCC 27-74

Passing: CCHS 15-21-0, 264; TCC 4-15-2, 55

Total Yards: CCHS 368, TCC 129

Fumbles/Lost: CCHS 0-0, TCC 0-0

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

CCHS: Summers 2-69, Logan Nolan 6-20, Kaden Harrington 1-2, Azariah Rich 1-8, Conner Poindexter 3-5. TCC: Lister 8-27, Miller 4-5, Morgan 4-13, Martin 5-14, Rigney 6-15. 

Passing

CCHS: Summers 12-19-0, 241, C.Poindexter 3-3-0, 23. TCC: Morgan 4-15-2, 55.

Receiving

CCHS: Howard 8-204, Noah Byford 3-40, Eli Lovell 1-(-3), Hayden Hughes 1-18, Chris Guess 1-(-6), Azariah Rich 1-11.

Defense

Brandsasse 3 solos, assist; Pierson solo, assist; B.Poindexter 7 solos, 2 assists; D.Sosh assists, interception; Stevenson solo, sack; Byford 2 solos, assist; Musser 2 solos; Nolan 4 solos, 2 assists; Perryman 2 solos; Blazina solo, assist, TFL; Lovell solo; Nash 4 solos, 2 assists, 2 TFLs; C.Poindexter 2 assists; Rich 6 solos, 2 assists, TFL, fumble recovery; Tramel assist; Herrington 2 solos, assist; Hughes 2 assists, interception; Sherer assist; M.Counts solo.

Players of the Game Offense Quinn Summers and Caden Howard, Defense Azariah Rich, Special Teams Logan Nolan, Lineman Michael Counts.

Records

Crittenden 4-3 (2-1), Todd Central 1-6 (0-3)