Nesbitt overcomes Storm for 37-8 victory

Conditions were slopping Friday night.

MORTON'S GAP – Rocket junior running back Devon Nesbitt overcame Mother Nature and Hopkins Central's defense to score four touchdowns and rush for 222 yards as Crittenden County closed out its regular season Friday with a rain-drenched 37-8 victory against – appropriately – The Storm.


Although Hopkins Central struck first, the Rockets scored 37 unanswered points to claim its sixth win in 10 regular-season games behind a stellar defensive effort and an offense that capitalized on four Hopkins Central turnovers. Wet conditions were a major factor for both teams as a steady hampered both squad's pass-oriented offensive schemes. 

The Rockets got two interceptions from freshman linebacker Tyler Boone and fumble recoveries from juniors Sean O'Leary and Mitchell Joyce to fuel its win. The victory was Crittenden's eighth in nine games all-time against The Storm. Central beat Crittenden last year for the first time ever. HCHS finishes 2-8 on the season. 

Although the Rockets did most of their damage on the ground with Nesbitt carrying almost all of the load, junior quarterback Hunter Boone struck in timely fashion with five completions on just 13 passes – his fewest in any game this season. Boone threw one TD pass to Cody Belt and connected with his favorite target this year, classmate Ethan Dossett, for a 60-yard strike to set up another score.

Crittenden, the Class A First District champion, has earned home-field advantage for the first four rounds of the playoffs. The Rockets host winless Caverna to open post-season play next week.

Center Brock Langston keeps his hands dry
so he can get QB Hunter Boone (7) the ball.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Crittenden County 8 21 0 8

Hopkins Central 8 0 0 0

SCORING PLAYS

H-Jason Rogers 23 pass from Jackson Bergant (Michael Powell pass from Bergant) 3:25, 1st

C-Devon Nesbitt 6 run (Caden McCalsiter pass from Hunter Boone) 1:21, 1st

C-Nesbitt 35 run (Cody Belt kick) 11:04, 2nd

C-Nesbitt 25 run (conversion failed) 10:13, 2nd

C-Nesbitt 28 run (Nesbitt run) 6:49, 2nd

C-Cody Belt 14 pass from Boone (Nesbitt run) 9:09, 4th

TEAM TOTALS

First Downs: Crittenden 9, Hopkins Central 9

Penalties: Crittenden 3-27, Hopkins Central 2-15

Rushing: Crittenden 34-235, Hopkins Central 46-65

Passing: Crittenden 5-13-0, 135 yds., Hopkins Central 14-28-2, 97 yds.

Total Yards: Crittenden 370, Hopkins Central 162

Fumbles/Lost: Crittenden 4-2, Hopkins Central 6-2

INDIVIDUAL STASTICS

Rushing

Crittenden: Nesbitt 24-222, Xander Tabor 5-6, McCalister 1-5, Braxton Winders 2-(-2), H.Boone 2-4. Hopkins: Silas Kington 1-17, Powell 18-50, Dreyton Grimes 8-1, Marques Jackson 15-26, Bergant 4-(-29).

Passing

Crittenden: H.Boone 5-13-0, 135 yds.. Hopkins Central: Bergant 14-26-1, 97 yds., Grimes 0-2-1.

Receiving

Crittenden: Ethan Dossett 2-76, Nesbitt 1-6, Belt 1-14, Branen Lamey 1-39. Hopkins: Colin Rogers 2-10, Lamb 1-23, Powell 3-8, Blasin Moore 8-56.

Defense

A. Beavers: 7 solo, 5 asst, 2 TFL, CF
C. Belt: 3 solo, 1 asst, TST
B. Birk: 7 solo, 2 asst, 3 TFL, 2 Sacks
K. Castiller: 2 solo, asst
M. Hunt: 3 solo, 2 asst
J. Estes: 3 solo, 3 asst
E. Dossett: CF
M. Joyce: FR
B. Lamey: 5 solo, 6 asst, TST
S. O'Leary: 3 solo, 9 asst, TFL
P. Riley: asst
R. Gobin: 2 solo, asst, TFL
T. Guess: solo, asst
J. Hayes: asst
H. Jones: solo, asst
J. Phillips: solo, asst
T. Boone: 9 solo, 7 asst, 2 TFL, 2 INT
C. McCalister: 7 solo, 7 asst
N. Perkins: asst
B. Winders: 8 solo, 8 asst

Records: Crittenden 6-4, Hopkins Central 2-6

You can't see the rain falling, but don't be
fooled. It was pouring.