MORGANFIELD, Ky. — For the second straight week, Crittenden County reached into its hat for some last-second magic. Once again, the Rockets nearly produced a rabbit, but couldn’t quite finish the trick.
Crittenden scored on the game’s final play but failed on a 2-point conversion, allowing Union County to escape with a 21-20 victory Friday in the Braves’ home opener.
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| QB Conner Poindexter |
CCHS lost 22-15 on the final play of its home opener a week earlier to Marshall County.
In this one, trailing 21-14, Crittenden took possession with less than a minute remaining. From Union’s 33-yard line, quarterback Conner Poindexter heaved a final pass into a crowd in the left corner of the end zone.
Union intercepted the pass and was flagged for interference, but senior Davis Perryman punched the ball loose. Sophomore Hayden Hughes recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown, pulling the Rockets within 21-20.
Crittenden declined the penalty and, without hesitation, went for the win. The Rockets called a time-tested rollout pass that has delivered plenty of magic through the years, giving the quarterback multiple options. This time, however, the pass fell incomplete.
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| RB Joel Bumpus |
The game had an old-fashioned flavor until the final minutes. Crittenden led 7-6 at halftime on Poindexter’s 27-yard touchdown pass to Eli Lovell. Union then turned to a straight-ahead, smash-mouth rushing attack and carried a 14-7 lead into the fourth quarter.
Poindexter and Lovell connected again for a 38-yard touchdown to tie the game with 5:24 remaining. Lovell caught four passes for 105 yards.
Union answered with a long drive, highlighted by Chris Grissom’s 37-yard run to the two. Landon French scored from there on QB sneak with 42 seconds left. Grissom finished with 198 yards on 28 carries as Union rushed for 264 yards.
The Braves fumbled four times and Crittenden didn't have a turnover in the contest. So, despite trailing significantly in total yards, CCHS managed to keep it close.
“We will hurt together and continue to grow,” Courtney said. “This team is going to win some football games. They are growing and getting better.”
Crittenden fell to 0-2, while Union improved to 1-1.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Crittenden Co. 7 0 0 13
Union County 0 6 8 7
SCORING PLAYS
CC-Eli Lovell 27 pass from Conner Poindexter (Mitchell Brown kick) 7:03, 1st
UC-Landon French 3 run (run failed) 4:56, 2nd
UC-Carsyn Arnett 7 run (pass good) 2:19, 3rd
CC-Lovell 38 pass from Poindexter (Brown kick) 5:24, 4th
UC-French 2 run (kick good) :42, 4th
CC-Hayden Hughes fumble recovery in end zone (pass failed) :00, 4th
TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: CCHS 6, UCHS 15
Penalties: 7-51, UCHS 8-60
Rushing: CCHS 24-65, UCHS 42-264
Passing: CCHS 7-17-0, 117, UCHS 7-13-0, 48
Total Yards: CCHS 182, UCHS 312
Fumbles/Lost: CCHS 0-0, UCHS 5-4
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
CCHS-Lovell 3-19, Joel Bumpus 5-17, Azariah Rich 13, Logan Nolan 1(-2), Poindexter 13-29. UCHS-Chris Grissom 28-198, Carsyn Arnett 6-49.
Passing
CCHS-Poindexter 7-17-0, 117. UCHS-French 7-13-0, 48.
Receiving
CCHS-Lovell 4-105, Davis Perryman 1-15, Noah Byford 2-(-3). UCHS-Gavyn Black 2-27, Cole Edwards 3-7.
Defense
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Records: CCHS 0-2, UCHS 1-1
