October 26, 2007

at Rocket Stadium, Marion, Ky.


Crittenden's Jeramie Sorina (4) and J.D. Gray (14) run down Caldwell
QB Will Barnes in the first half.

Rockets fall to Caldwell 21-7
MARION – While Caldwell County's defense held Crittenden in its clutches, Tiger quarterback Will Barnes found a way to beat the Rockets with his legs when his receiving corps failed.

Crittenden County's one-dimensional running offense was choked by Caldwell's firm frontal attack and the Tigers made off with a tougher-than-expected 21-7 victory Friday in a non-district showdown between two longtime rivals.

For Barnes, the Tigers' accurate throwing QB, the wet weather was his nemesis. A light mist fell for a large part of the game after nearly four straight days of persisent rainfall. The conditions were largely to blame for more than a half dozen drops by Caldwell receivers, who have operated very successfully this year out the no-huddle, spread offense.

Unable to get much momentum in the air, Barnes ran out of the pocket to set up two of Caldwell's three touchdowns. His 27-yard scramble in the third quarter led to the Tigers' final touchdown and put the game virtually out of reach for Crittenden's plodding offense.

The Rockets have little confidence in their down-field passing game and once behind by two touchdowns, Crittenden put up hardly a fight.

A large crowd assembled for the last regular-season game at Rocket Stadium was on its feet early as Crittenden scored the first touchdown. Quarterback J.D. Gray snuck in from one, but it was heralded by a 52-yard pass to Jeramie Sorina. That long passing play accouned for half of Crittenden's yards through the air.

Caldwell (7-2) had been averaging 50 points per game over the past five wins and Crittenden (4-6) made it work for the win. The Rockets put some early Halloween fright into the Tiger sideline in the first period. After taking a 7-0 lead, Crittenden intercepted a Barnes' pass near midfield, but couldn't turn it into points and the momentum started to swing.

Caldwell put up two touchdowns in the second period and delivered the knockout punch in the third when senior running back Michael Lipson scored his second TD of the game.

Rodney Robertson, Crittenden's junior running back, eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the season. He rushed for 42 in the game and Sorina ran for 52. Robertson now stands at 1,009 for the season.

The Rockets will be off next week, then open the Class A First District playoffs at Mayfield on Nov. 9.


SCORE BY QUARTERS
Caldwell Co. .....0....14....7....0
Crittenden Co......7.....0....0....0

SCORING PLAYS
Critt-J.D. Gray 1 run (Jordan Martin kick) 4:25, 1st
Cald-Michael Lipson 69 run (Jake Pepper kick) 8:15, 2nd
Cald-Will Barnes 6 run (Pepper kick) 5:05, 2nd
Cald-Lipson 10 run (Pepper kick) 2:12, 3rd


TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: Crittenden 10, Caldwell 12
Penalties: Crittenden 5-50, Caldwell 3-15
Rushing: Crittenden 43-93, Caldwell 28-205
Passing: Crittenden 7-14-1, 91 yds., Caldwell 10-24-1, 105 yds.
Total Yards: Crittenden 184, Caldwell 310
Fumbles/Lost Crittenden 2-1, Caldwell 1-0

INDIVIDUAL STATS
Rushing
Crittenden-Jeramie Sorina 12-52, Rodney Robertson 14-42, Gaige Courtney 4-5, J.D. Gray 13-(-6). Caldwell-Michael Lipson 14-126, Will Barnes 7-57, Brandon Sigler 5-25, Jaquon Glover 2-(-3).
Passing
Crittenden-Gray 7-14-1, 91 yds., Caldwell-Barnes 10-24-1 105 yds.
Receiving
Crittenden-Sorina 3-63, Courtney 1-17, Adam Hardin 2-10, Robertson 1-1. Caldwell-Jake Pepper 3-66, Sigler 2-24, Lipson 1-8, Bryce Boone 1-5, Eric Faughn 1-2, Matt Tittle 2-0.
Defense Hardin 2 solos, 3 assists; Sorina solo, assist, blocked kick; Clark solo, 10 assists, caused fumble, TFL; Ipock 8 assists, TFL; Gray 2 solos, 3 assists; A.Berry 2 solos, 6 assists; Courtney 2 solos, 8 assists, TFL, fumble recovery; Robertson 4 solos, assist, interception, 3 TFL; Pluskota 3 solos, assist; Fritz 7 assists; Wood 3 assists; Freeman solo; McConnell solo.
Players of the Game Offense Jeramie Sorina, Defense Dylan Clark. Lineman Dylan Clark.
Records
Crittenden 4-6 (2-2), Caldwell County 7-2