Rockets hold off Caverna
Crittenden wins 21-19; now 7-1 overall

Cave City, Ky. (Oct. 15, 2004) - Crittenden was a bit groggy from the three-hour bus ride to Caverna Friday night and napped through the first half before waking up with a strong rushing game down the stretch to win the district matchup 21-19.

The victory is the Rockets' seventh in eight games and they are now 3-0 in district play with a big home matchup next week against league favorite Hancock County.

Caverna, one of the most athletic teams the Rockets have faced this year, took advantage of a sluggish Crittenden offense early and staked itself to a 13-0 lead early in the second period. The Colonels got off to a good start by intercepting Rocket quarterback Austin Berry on his first snap and throw of the game. Caverna returned the pickoff 60 yards for a touchdown and Berry was a bit gun shy throw the air the rest of the first half.

Caverna (5-3, overall, 1-2 district) scored its second touchdown two series later on a 91-yard drive capped by a 48-yard touchdown pass from Barclay Weaver to Dakota Stewart. Meanwhile, Crittenden's usual top-gun aerial attack was virtually grounded as Caverna kept pressure on Berry and the secondary was well prepared for the task of covering the Rocket receivers. One of Berry's first-half completions came just before the half as the Rockets cut the margin to 13-7 with a seven-yard TD reception by Blake Gardner.

Crittenden's punishing ground game picked up the slack in the second half as tailback Gardner and fullback Josh Franklin carried the load. Franklin rushed for two touchdowns and Gardner had several big carries as Crittenden went ahead 21-13 with just over six minutes left.

The host Colonels made one last stab and came close, scoring a touchdown with less than three minutes left. However, the potentially game-tying conversion run was stopped cold by Gardner and Brad Hart.



SCORE BY QUARTERS

Crittenden County ....0...7...0...14
Caverna......................6...7...0....6

SCORING PLAYS
Ca-60 yd. interception return (kick failed) 10:00, 1st
Ca-Dakota Stewart 48 pass from Barclay Weaver (kick good) 8:43, 2nd
Cr-Blake Gardner 12 pass from Austin Berry (George Congenie kick) :13, 2nd
Cr-Josh Franklin 6 run (Congenie kick) 9:21, 4th
Cr-Franklin 10 run (Congenie kick) 6:05, 4th
Ca-Adams 22 run (run failed) 2:54, 4th



TEAM TOTALS
First Downs:
Crittenden 13, Caverna 9
Penalties: Crittenden 8-80, Caverna 5-45
Rushing: Crittenden 38-210, Caverna 22-84
Passing: Crittenden 7-16-1, 74 yds. Caverna 3-11-1, 69 yds.
Total Yards: Crittenden 262, Caverna 153



INDIVIDUAL STATS
Rushing
Crittenden-Blake Gardner 14-118, T.K. Guess 7-36, Josh Franklin 8-39, Shawnte Moss 2-2, Justin McFarland 1-4, Austin Berry 6-11. Caverna-Adams 12-72, Weaver 3-4.
Passing
Crittenden-Berry 7-16-1, 62 yds. Caverna-Weaver 3-11-1, 69 yds.
Receiving
Crittenden-Brad Hart 2-27, Gardner 2-17, Moss 2-13, Guess 1-5.
Defense Gardner 4 solos, 2 assists, TFL; Hart 8 solos, 4 assists, 2 TFL; Courtney 2 assists, Robertson solo; Lanham 5 solos, 3 assists, sack, 2 TFL; Congenie 2 solos, 3 assists; Easley 3 solos, assist; Hamby 6 solos, interception, TFL; Guess 2 solos, assist; Moss assist; S.Farmer 3 solos, assist, TFL; McFarland 2 solos; Je.Jennings solos, assist, TFL; Berry fumble recovery.
Records
Crittenden 7-1 (3-0), Caverna 5-3 (1-2)