It was Senior Night and the 12th-graders charged onto the field following a pre-game ceremony. Inset photo below is T.K. Guess catching a touchdown pass.

Rackets maul Caverna 48-14
Gardner rushes for 220 yards,
Defense swarms Colonels' QB

MARION, Ky. (Oct. 13, 2005) - No first downs in the first half and negative yards rushing for the game.

The Rocket defense meant business against visiting Caverna Friday night in a Class A Second District matchup. Crittenden expressed itself with a forceful attack that pinned the Colonels for a loss or no gain on 14 of its 22 rushing plays. Caverna had virtually no offensive gains until late in the contest when the Crittenden reserves allowed the Colonels to post a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns.

While Rocket defenders Josh Franklin, Shawn Farmer, Jacob Courtney, Dustin Lanham, Blake Gardner and a host of others were throwing the Colonels for loss after loss, Crittenden's mighty offense was rumbling right along with a full head of steam.

Gardner was a beast running the ball, picking up 220 yards on the ground and catching one pass from QB Austin Berry for a 50-yard touchdown. Gardner scored twice in the game and Berry threw for three touchdowns on 4-of-6 accuracy and 79 yards in the air.

It was a lopsided affair from the end of the first period on. Crittenden started slow on offense, punting on its first possession then fumbling at the Caverna three-yard line before putting on the skates and cruising to a 48-0 lead by the start of the fourth period.

The Rockets gained 377 yards on the ground while holding Caverna to minus-38. Most of the Colonels' problems were in dealing with Crittenden's pass rush. Caverna QB Bartley Weaver was harassed the entire game. Twice he was whistled for illegal grounding after falling into the clutches of Crittenden's oncoming rush. Weaver was throw for minus-78 yards on eight sacks.

The Colonels didn't get a first down until the 7:37 mark in the third period and had moved the chains only twice by the time the fourth period started. T.K. Guess, playing a limited role on offense, was in the lineup defensively for nearly three full quarters. He is still recovering from a shoulder injury that occurred two games ago. Guess caught a touchdown pass and intercepted one. Cory Hamby also intercepted Weaver once.

The Rockets scored on four of their seven first-half possessions and tacked on three more scoring drives to start the second half. Gardner's third-quarter touchdown reception was one for the highlight reel. He caught the pass at the 30 then dragged a defender the last 10 yards into the end zone.

For Crittenden, the win was its second straight in district play after losing the league opener at Metcalfe County Sept. 30. Crittenden has scored 48 points in each of its last two games, easy wins over McLean and Caverna. Both teams are in the lower half of the district.

Now, the Rockets turn their attention to the final two weeks of the season against capable district foes Hancock County and Russellville. Hancock beat McLean 51-6 this week and Metcalfe County beat Russellville 33-7. The Metcalfe win virtually assures the Hornets of first place in the district. Crittenden can still finish second and host a first-round playoff game by running the table the last two weeks.


The defense was stellar. It worked over Caverna QB Bartley Weaver (11) the whole night. Above left is Jacob Courtney making a sack and at right Josh Franklin takes his turn.