Tommy Harris

The Cougars, inspired by a chance to win its first league crown since joining the Second District four years ago, came into the game with lots of emotion despite poor credentials. McLean (3-7) had lost five straight games at one point during the season, but was generally considered the Rockets' biggest hurdle en route to the district championship. An upsetting defeat a week earlier by Russellville had put the Cougars in a pinch, but they could still win the league by toppling Crittenden and getting some help from Hancock County on the last night of regular-season play.

Everything had lined up just perfectly for home-standing McLean Friday night. The public address announcer notified the crowd with just over three minutes to play that Hancock had beat Russellville, giving McLean an opportunity for a share of the district title by finishing off Crittenden. The Cougars had just taken a 28-22 lead on a Will Fuller touchdown with 5:56 to play and the Cougars were starting feel good about their chances of winning the game, finishing as co-champions and earning the district's No. 1 seed going into the playoffs.

When the announcement of Hancock's score echoed across the playing field, McLean's defensive players leaped with joy on the field as they knew one more stop might give them the league jewels. Ironically, it was on the very next play that senior running back Jared Asbridge slipped out of the backfield and into and the flat where he caught a pass, taking the Rockets to McLean's 19-yard line. Another pass from Sean Thompson to Dustin Harris moved Crittenden to the six and from there Thompson carried one more time for a six-yard touchdown run. Tommy Harris sealed the win with his kick.

For Thompson, those last six yards were brutal. He was carried off the field for the second time in the game, but took with him the spoils of victory. McLean punished the Rocket quarterback on many of his team-high 20 carries. Yet the junior signal-caller - who has become Crittenden's go-to guy in the clutch - racked up a career-high 107 yards and two touchdowns.

With senior halfback Ryan Bradham taken off the field to the hospital in the first period and McLean clogging up the middle and keeping Crittenden from using fullback Asbridge as much as normal, Thompson had to shoulder much of the load. Besides leading the team in rushing, the junior turned in his best passing performance of the season, throwing for 110 yards on 6-of-15 accuracy.

The game was riddle with big plays and momentum swings, but Tommy Harris' clutch kick in the waning minutes gave Crittenden the narrow edge it would need to wrap up a fourth district title in the last seven seasons. The Rocket kicking game has been tenuous at best all season long. Almost a half dozen players had worked out on extra-point kicks and three had tried it during game situations. Harris was the season-starter for conversion kicks, but recently had lost that role to transfer student Thiago Piers.

This time, though, Harris was perfect. His boom kick pierced the dead center of the uprights with distance to spare and Crittenden celebrated a championship for the second straight season.

SCORE BY QUARTERS
Crittenden County 8...14...0...7
McLean County ...8....6...8....6

SCORING PLAYS
M-Will Fuller 2 run (Fuller run) 8:46, 1st
C-Ryan Bradham 14 run (Cody Hunt pass from Sean Thompson) 4:31, 1st
C-Hunt 1 run (Shawn Lanham pass from Hunt) 6:12, 2nd
M-Colby Wilson 7 pass from Fuller (run failed) 1:36, 2nd
C-Thompson 2 run (pass failed) :52, 2nd
M-Heath Bailey 1 run (Bailey run) 5:19, 3rd
M-Fuller 7 run (kick failed) 5:56, 4th
C-Thompson 6 run (Tommy Harris kick) 2:44, 4th

NEXT WEEK: Playoffs