Murray out-mans Rockets 27-12
Injury-plagued Crittenden makes
it close
Murray, Ky. (Nov. 7, 2003) - At about half strength, Crittenden
County made a game of it and had Murray within its grasp in the
opening round of the Class A First Region playoffs.
However, the Rockets, short about five starters due to injuries, were outmanned and overpowered by a bigger, faster and stronger Tiger club that couldn't play up to its billing.
Murray, winner of eight of 10 regular-season games, wasn't as good as its record might indicate and Crittenden made the contest closer than it was supposed to be. The Rockets trailed just 21-12 at halftime after giving the Tigers some easy touchdowns early in the game off costly turnovers.
Starting the game without four starters, the Rockets lost starting quarterback Sean Thompson in the second period and turned to backup Austin Berry for the second straight week. Berry, a third-string QB at the start of the season, was forced into action because backup signal-caller T.K. Guess was sidelined with a season-ending knee injury three weeks ago.
Berry performed well off the bench once again, leading the Rockets to their only two touchdowns. Thompson, however, was responsible for getting Crittenden into scoring position the first time. His interception and 70-yard return put the Rockets at Murray's four-yard line trailing 14-0. The senior QB was knocked out of the game with an ankle injury on the next play and Berry came in to score the touchdown on a one-yard keeper.
Berry finished the game 6-for-13 through the air, but Crittenden's running game was stymied. The Rockets managed just 74 yards on the ground. Thompson was the leading gainer with 37 yards before exiting the game. Sophomores Josh Franklin and Blake Gardner added 37 and 11, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Tigers' one-two punch out the backfield, featuring Rashad Troup and Brandon Wells, was more than the injury-riddle Rocket defense could contain. The duo combined for 251 of Murray's 334 rushing yards. It was the Tigers' ball-control running attack that eventually did in the Rockets in the second half. Clinging to a nine-point lead, Murray kept the ball most of the last two periods, picking up 10 of its 15 first downs in the game. Crittenden had just three offensive possessions the last half and punted the ball away each time without making a serious threat.
The victory eliminates the two-time defending district champion Rockets from the playoffs as Murray avenged a regional semifinal loss from one year ago.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Crittenden ..0...12...0...0
Murray......14....7...0...6
SCORING PLAYS
M-Kyle Erwin 53 pass from Alex Boles (Tim Masthay kick)
10:31, 1st
M-Boles 1 run (Masthay kick) 8:37, 1st
C-Austin Berry 1 run (kick failed) 2:29, 2nd
M-Rashad Troup 54 run (Masthay kick), 1:18, 2nd
C-Brad Hart 21 pass from Berry (pass failed) :14, 2nd
M-Erwin 49 pass from Boles (conversion failed) 6:31, 4th