Junior running back Lane Wallace, in his first start at halfback, rushed for 151 yards and bracemate Dylan Hollis, a sophomore, rushed for 96.
The Rockets overcame some early miscues and led 7-0 at the half. After fumbling at the Fulton seven-yard line to open the third period, Crittenden rebounded and reeled off four straight rushing touchdowns over the next 14 minutes. Two Fulton fumbles helped turn the tide for Crittenden.
The Rockets were playing without head coach Al Starnes for the first time in 256 games and 22 years. The skipper underwent surgery Wednesday to remove cancer from his colon. He will probably miss next week's game, too, but doctors say his recovery is progressing very well.
Junior Noah Dickerson outjumped triple coverage to put the Rockets ahead late in the first period, catching a touchdown pass from senior QB Travis Gilbert. Micah Hollaman, the team's record-setting kicker, nailed all five point-after attempts during the game.
Hollaman lined up for a 26-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds of the first half, but a high snap got away from the holder, leaving the Rockets clinging to a tenuous one-touchdown lead at the break.
After the half, Crittenden drove down field on its first possession behind two long Hollis runs, but a fumbled snap at the seven stalled the drive. After the turnover, Fulton was able to generate nothing offensively and punted, giving the Rockets a short field where it began the onslaught. Hollis scored the first rushing TD on a 29-yard run, then after he recovered a Fulton fumble on the ensuring kickoff, Wallace put the Rockets up three touchdowns with scoring run.
Freshman Maeson Myers and Wallace tacked on a couple more fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns in the Rockets' new wishbone attack that generated 318 yards on the ground.
Noah Dickerson catches a first-half TD pass. |
Fulton managed to score late against the Rocket reserves on a long pass. Otherwise, the Bulldogs were no match for Crittende's swarming defense. The hosts gained just 52 yards on the ground and besides the long scoring pass managed only 42 receiving yards.
With Starnes out, defensive coordinator Jeremy Wheeler took over as acting head coach and assistant Jared Brown called the offense.
Crittenden 7 0 14 14
Fulton City 0 0 0 6
SCORING PLAYS
CC-Noah Dickerson 11 pass from Travis Gilbert (Micah Hollamon kick) :52, 1st
CC-Dylan Hollis 29 run (Hollamon kick) 5:02, 3rd
CC-Lane Wallace 2 run (Hollamon kick) 2:44, 3rd
CC-Maeson Myers 5 run (Hollamon kick) 8:15, 4th
CC-Wallace 30 run (Hollamon kick) 4:24, 4th
F-Keon Murphy 56 pass from Michael Thomas (run failed) 1:28, 4th
TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: Crittenden 18, Fulton 5
Penalties: Crittenden 6-50, Fulton 6-40
Rushing: Crittenden 45-318, Fulton 21-52
Passing: Crittenden 4-11-0, 31 yds., Fulton 6-12-0, 98 yds.
Total Yards: Crittenden 349, Fulton 150
Fumbles/Lost: Crittenden 4-2, Fulton 2-2
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Crittenden: Wallace 19-151, Hollis 9-96, Myers 5-39, Brenden Phillips 8-25, Nick Castiller 2-15. Fulton: Darian Fountain 7-31, Thomas 10-30, Murphy 3-(-5), Michael Downing 1-(-4).
Passing
Crittenden: Gilbert 4-10-0, 31 yds., Hollamon 0-1-0. Fulton: Thomas 6-12-0, 98 yds.
Receiving
Crittenden: Hollis 1-12, Dickerson 1-11, Castiller 1-6, Phillips 1-2. Fulton: Murphy 3-91, Artemius Joy 1-3, Darius Saxton 2-4.
Defense
Defense
Caraway 2 solos, assist; Gilbert 4 solos; Phillips 2 solos, 3 assists, fumble recovery; Tinsley 5 solos, assist, 3 TFL; Wagoner 3 solos, assist, 2 TFL; Dickerson 2 solos, caused fumble; Birdwell solo; Castiller 2 solos; Cosby solo; Fitzgerald 3 solos, 2 assists, 2 TFL; Hollis, 5 solos, assist, 2 TFL, caused fumble, fumble recovery; A.McKinney solo; T.McKinney 3 solos, assist, 2 TFL; Sitar solo; Myers 2 solos, TFL; Riley assist.
Records: Crittenden 1-0, Fulton 0-1