Rocket receiver Shawnte Moss looks for running room
after a screen pass on the corner.

Rockets overcome early fumbles to beat Webster
Crittenden goes to 3-2 with 29-14 victory

Marion, Ky. (Sept. 26, 2003) - Crittenden dodged three first-quarter fumbles to beat Webster County 29-14 in the Rockets' homecoming game.

In perhaps its best defensive showing of the season, Crittenden bent against Webster County's much-lauded running attack, but never broke despite the Trojans piling up 313 yards on the ground. The Rockets held Trojan stalwart Chris Coy, a 6-2, 240-pound running back who is attracting Division I attention, to just 22 yards.

A steady blend of passing and rushing gave Crittenden the edge. Rocket quarterback Sean Thompson completed some big passes as crucial times, including a TD pass to T.K. Guess on Crittenden's first possession of the second half. That score gave the Rockets some breathing room after they led 15-7 at the half.

Thompson threw for 149 yards and rushed for 109. Guess and Dustin Harris each had two receptions for 52 yards.

Guess played his best game to date, racking up 57 yards on the ground, the two big pass catches and a couple of good kick returns. He ran for a 23-yard, first-half touchdown and Thompson scored on a 65-yard run in the opening period.

Webster put the Rockets in an early hole, scoring on its second offensive play of the game then the Rockets fumbled one play after the exchange. However, the Trojans gave it right back and Crittenden moved down field for Thompson's scoring sprint to tie the game at 7-7.

Crittenden displayed difficulty holding onto the football. It fumbled three times in the first half and Thompson threw three interceptions, more than he'd lost in the first four games this year. Webster also had two first-half fumbles and two interceptions for the game.

Crittenden was able to rebound from its mistakes with firm composure and battled tough at the line of scrimmage where the Rockets out-leveraged the Trojans despite a size disadvantage. Webster came into the game boasting a strong rushing attack with two backs averaging about 100 yards per game. And the Trojans' 4-4 stack defense had given up less than 12 points per game en route to a 3-1 start to the season.

Webster's inability to throw the ball late crippled any comeback hopes the Trojans might have had. The Rocket secondary picked off two of QB Shea Anglin's four passes in the game. Tyler D. Guess had one and T.K. Guess had the other late in the fourth period.

The victory gave Crittenden a much-needed confidence boost after a 2-2 start. The win helped Crittenden avoid its worst start since 1994.

At 3-2, Crittenden now turns its attention to the start of its Class A Second District schedule, which begins next week with a three-plus-hour road trip to league newcomer Metcalfe County. The Hornets are ranked as high as seventh in some statewide polls although they lost their best player to a knee injury in preseason.

SOME OTHER HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEBSTER GAME:
Jordan Roberts recovered a fumble and recorded a sack; Chad Copeland had a fumble recovery; Justin Baker shared the sack with Roberts; Roberts also had some booming punts during the game, keeping Webster pinned deep in its own territory - one was for 51 yards; Blake Gardner had a couple of impressive runs en route to 63 yards on the ground, including a 31-yard carry to set up the Rockets' final TD; the Rocket offensive play played its best game this year, opening some gaping holes and clearing out downfield.


The Rocket defense swarms in on Webster's Thad Knight.

SCORING PLAYS
W-Shea Anglin 86 run (Luis Braco kick) 8:10, 1st
C-Sean Thompson 65 run (George Congenie kick) 6:36, 1st
C-T.K. Guess 23 run (Dustin Harris pass from Thompson) 7:15, 2nd
C-Guess 34 pass from Thompson (Congenie kick) 5:47, 3rd
C-Demetric Moss 3 run (Congenie kick) 10:57, 4th
W-Anglin 23 run (Braco kick) 4:25, 4th