The opening kickoff was at 9:22 p.m., and it finished 30 minutes before midnight. The first game of the doubleheader was delayed more than an hour due to heat. Greenwood beat Hopkinsville 63-13 in the opener.
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| Rocket defense gang tackles Trigg's Jayven Jones near the goal line late in the game. |
Trigg's Tyler was named the game's MVP after he caught two passes for 144 yards and rushed for 51 in the come-from-behind victory. Trigg County's speed and stamina was the difference.
Wildcat quarterback Luke McKenzie threw three touchdown passes, including a rollout nine-yard strike to Quinten Bird with just over two minutes to play, putting the game out of reach for the Rockets (1-1).
Trigg (3-0), ranked 10th in Class 3A by the Associated Press, scored on its first possession thanks to a 54-yard reception and run by Tyler. However, the host Wildcats trailed 10-7 at the half.
Crittenden's Grant Gardner scored on a three-yard run midway through the second period. The Rockets got good field possession on its next series after forcing a punt. Then, Micah Hollamon put Crittenden ahead with a 24-yard field goal.
Critttenden operates out of multiple sets, but generally lines up in the spread offense. Against Trigg, though, the Rockets went largely to the I-formation late in the first half and began to find success running the ball behind its front line. The strategy unraveled in the second half as Trigg, with a deeper roster, wore down the two-way Rocket starters.
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| Rocket QB throws a screen pass to Grant Gardner, who finished with two receptions and an interception. |
Trigg took the lead for good on a McKenzie sprint-out pass to Tyler in the left flat. After catching the ball, the senior running back broke free and cut across the field 90 yards for six points late in the third. The Wildcats threatened again on their ensuing series, but Crittenden's Gardner intercepted a pass in the end zone for a touchback with just over six minutes to play.
Three incomplete passes later, trailing by four, the Rockets went for fourth-and-10 from their own 20 and failed on another pass that was almost picked off.
"I thought it was our only shot at that point," Starnes said about foregoing a punt in that situation with 6:17 to go.
The Rockets had just one timeout at that juncture.
Trigg scored shortly thereafter on Bird's only catch of the game, but not before a valiant effort by the Rocket defense almost stopped the Wildcats on downs at the 10.
Crittenden and Trigg – district opponents in most other sports – hadn't met on the gridiron since 2000. The teams have now split their last 12 meetings dating back into the 1990s.
Crittenden and Trigg – district opponents in most other sports – hadn't met on the gridiron since 2000. The teams have now split their last 12 meetings dating back into the 1990s.
"We never quit, we just made a lot of mistakes," Starnes said. "It's not going to get any easier, so we have to get better."
The Rockets play on the road at Union County and at second-ranked Class 3A Tilghman over the next two weeks.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Crittenden Co. 0 10 0 0
Trigg County 7 0 7 8
SCORING PLAYS
TC-Hakeem Tyler 54 pass from Luke McKenzie (David Weese kick) 9:49, 1st
CC-Grant Gardner 3 run (Micah Hollamon kick) 7:34, 2nd
CC-Hollamon 24 field goal, 2:31, 2nd
TC-Tyler 90 pass from McKenzie (Weese kick) 3:27, 3rd
TC-Quinten Byrd 9 pass from McKenzie (Mikey White pass from Weese) 2:16, 4th
TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: Crittenden 9, Trigg 7
Penalties: Crittenden 4-35, Trigg 5-36
Rushing: Crittenden 36-119, Trigg 24-76
Passing: Crittenden 6-13-2, 54 yds., Trigg 9-14-1, 210 yds.
Total Yards: Crittenden 173, Trigg 286
Fumbles/Lost: Crittenden 1-0, Trigg 1-0
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Crittenden-Dustin Hernandez 15-67, Bryce Willis 8-24, Brenden Phillips 6-5, Grant Gardner 7-23. Trigg-Tyler 10-51, Deondre Wilson 5-32, Maurice Powell 1-(-5), Hunter Allen 3-2, McKenzie 2-(-6), Jayven Jones 3-2.
Passing
Crittenden-Willis 5-9-1, 53 yds., Travis Gilbert 1-4-1, 1 yd., Trigg-McKenzie 9-14-1, 210 yds..
Receiving
Crittenden-Knox 2-37, Gardner 2-6, Phillips 1-1, Hernandez 1-10. Trigg-Tyler 2-144, Weaks 2-10, Devonte Nance 2-33. Powell 1-14, Byrd 1-9, Chris Acree 1-0.
Defense
Asbridge 2 solos, 2 assists; Bebout 2 solos, 4 assists; Clark solo, 4 assists; Cozart 2 solos, 3 assists, 2 TFL; Evers 3 assists; Gardner 3 solos, 6 assists, 2 TFL, interception, fumble recovery; Gilbert 2 assists; Hernandez 5 solos, TFL; Knox 4 solos, 4 assists, TFL; Overfield solo, assist; Phillips 4 solos, 4 assists; Price solo, assist; Roberts solo; D.Wallace 3 solos, 6 assists, 2 TFL; Willis 3 solos, 3 assists, fumble recovery.
Pizza Hut Players of the Game: Offense Bryce Willis, Defense Grant Gardner, Lineman Stephon Cozart, Special Teams Micah Hollamon.
Records: Crittenden 1-1, Trigg 3-0.
OTHER FRIDAY SCORES OF INTEREST
Defense
Asbridge 2 solos, 2 assists; Bebout 2 solos, 4 assists; Clark solo, 4 assists; Cozart 2 solos, 3 assists, 2 TFL; Evers 3 assists; Gardner 3 solos, 6 assists, 2 TFL, interception, fumble recovery; Gilbert 2 assists; Hernandez 5 solos, TFL; Knox 4 solos, 4 assists, TFL; Overfield solo, assist; Phillips 4 solos, 4 assists; Price solo, assist; Roberts solo; D.Wallace 3 solos, 6 assists, 2 TFL; Willis 3 solos, 3 assists, fumble recovery.
Pizza Hut Players of the Game: Offense Bryce Willis, Defense Grant Gardner, Lineman Stephon Cozart, Special Teams Micah Hollamon.
Records: Crittenden 1-1, Trigg 3-0.
OTHER FRIDAY SCORES OF INTEREST
Ballard Memorial 28, Heath 13
Calloway County 38, Massac Co. 0
Christian County 41, Henderson County 7
Fulton County 38, Reidland 21
Hancock County 18, Muhlenberg County 13
Logan County 20, Todd County Central 7
Lone Oak 26, Marshall County 0
Madisonville 34, North Hardin 21
Mayfield 24, Tilghman 6
Murray 19, Graves County 17
Ohio County 28, Caldwell County 25
Owensboro Catholic 27, Owensboro 23
Russellville 41, Hopkins Central 12
Union County 35, Webster County 14
Warren Central 49, Ft. Campbell 0
