Rocket quarterback Austin Berry looks for an open receiver downfield. Inset photo, the Rocket defense tackles Mayfield's Josh Hatchell (7).

Mayfield dominates Rockets
Cardinals stop Crittenden for 6th time

MAYFIELD, Ky. (Nov. 11, 2005) - Yet another senior class of Crittenden County football players have played their career's final game on the brown Bermuda grass at Mayfield.

In six out of the last 11 years, the Rockets have had their season ended in the playoffs against Mayfield, western Kentucky's premier football program. Friday night was no different as Crittenden was dominated from start to finish in a 34-6 loss.

Five times in the past 11 years, Crittenden has met its demise in the unfriendly confines of War Memorial Stadium. The Rockets have never beaten the Cardinals, a team they've only met in the playoffs.

Mayfield, a storied program that has been to the state Final Four 22 times out of the last 30 seasons and won seven state championships, outmanned the Rockets, grinding out 303 yards with a smash-mouth running game that has become a Cardinal trademark.

"We knew we had to keep the ball out of their hands," said Mayfield coach Joe Morris. "That was our game plan and we did a very good job."

Morris said his team was motivated by the hype surrounding the game and some of the newspaper articles that suggested the Rockets might upset the Cardinals.

"Our kids read the paper," he said, "and we had some of that stuff posted on the wall in the locker room. I hope our kids took it personal and by the way we played, I think they did. We played very well."

Morris admitted that his defense was surprisingly successful against the previously high-powered Rocket attack. Crittenden's wings were clipped. The Rockets ­ held to their lowest offensive output of the season ­ couldn't move the ball via air or ground. It managed just four first downs the entire game and only 92 yards rushing on 14 carries. Quarterback Austin Berry was just 4-for-17 in the air and Mayfield's secondary picked off three interceptions. Mayfield controlled the tempo with its hefty running attack, led by running backs Blake Rust and Josh Hatchell and quarterback Adam Shelton. The Cardinals posted 59 carries for 303 yards and 17 first downs.

The Rocket offense never got off the ground. Berry was intercepted on the first series and his first six passes were incomplete, all aimed at T.K. Guess, the Second District's Player of the Year.

"We have to get the ball into the hands our playmakers and we weren't able to do that," Rocket coach Al Starnes said after the game. "Mayfield did such a good job controlling the ball and keeping our defense on the field so long. We were worn out."

As for the playmakers, Guess got four touches and Gardner six. Berry's three interceptions were nearly equal to the four he threw all during the regular season.

"We wanted to know where Guess, Gardner and Berry were at all times," the Mayfield coach said. "We did a pretty good job of keeping them contained."

Mayfield led 18-0 at the half, then delivered a fatal blow on the second play of the last half when Rust got loose for a 73-yard touchdown run and a 25-0 lead. Rust finished with 183 yards rushing. He had 80 the first half.

Crittenden's only touchdown came on a risky trick play facing fourth-and-six from its own 44. Guess took the snap on a fake punt and outran the Cardinals 66 yards for six points.

Crittenden's only other big play was a 21-yard carry by running back Blake Gardner. Otherwise, the Rocket ground game produced just five net yards.

"You have to give Mayfield credit. They're a good football team and they did what they had to do," Starnes said.

Metcalfe County, the Second District champion, beat Murray 52-6 to set up a regional championship game at Mayfield next week.

Rocket defender Barrett Sherer tackles Mayfield's Tristian Dumas.