Murray's Nathan Williams fumbles the ball as he's hit at the Rocket line.

On a soggy, infirm playing surface following a day of rains, Crittenden's mudders were stone solid against the bigger, more physical Tigers. By game's end, Rocket field look like a swampy quagmire with gouges and ruts and most of the grass piled into uniforms.

"Our defense played as tough as it ever has," Rocket coach Al Starnes said after leading his team to a second First Region title berth in five years. "Murray came in and tried to power us, but our defense stepped up."

It was Crittenden's defense that forced three turnovers and took advantage of some poor punt snaps to pin Murray back in bad field position. The Rocket offense slopped through the mud to score three touchdowns. Two of those TDs followed a Murray fumble and a mishandled punt snap.

The other TD came late in the game after senior linebacker Keith Wilcox intercepted a pass in Rocket territory and returned it 25 yards to the Tiger 45. From there, Crittenden pounded the ball into the end zone, using quarterback Sean Thompson on keepers off the end and fullback Jared Asbridge up the middle. That score, which followed a Murray safety, gave the Rockets a comfortable 10-point lead with just under four minutes to play.

"Sean (Thompson) has become our go-to guy," Starnes said of his QB, who rushed for a career-high 121 yards.

It was Thompson's 49-yard run in the opening quarter that set up Crittenden first score. Ryan Bradham, who had missed last week's game with an elbow injury, made a spectacular run on the touchdown, carrying a Murray defender four yards into the end zone.

While the Rocket offense outgained Murray 170-101, it was Crittenden's run defense that hobbled the Tigers and their feature back Nathan Williams, who had rushed for more than 1,000 yards this season. Williams was met behind the line of scrimmage for losses on six of his 16 carries and he finished with just 15 yards. Murray managed to net just 11 yards rushing. That figure was augmented by minus-39 yards on two bad punt snaps in the first half.

"I believe we had more heart, more desire to win the game," said Crittenden defensive end Zack Beverly, who had a big fourth-down sack in the first quarter to stop the Tigers at their own 35.

Woodward, who recovered the fumble that set up Thompson's 10-yard TD run with 4:30 in the second period, made two other key defensive stops during the game.

The victory, somewhat of a mild upset and one of coach Starnes' biggest victory in 12 seasons as the Rocket skipper, lifts Crittenden into a regional championship showdown with No. 1 Mayfield (12-0) next week.

Rocket running back Ryan Bradham fights for yardage.

SCORE BY QUARTERS
Murray.......6...0...0...2
Crittenden...6...6...0...6

SCORING PLAYS
M-Nathan Williams 47 pass from Alex Boles (pass failed) 5:37, 1st
C-Ryan Bradham 14 run (kick failed), :00, 1st
C-Sean Thompson 10 run (pass fail) 4:30, 2nd
M-Safety (Thompson downed in end zone) 11:56, 4th
C-Jared Asbridge 7 run (kick failed), 3:58, 4th