Rocket defenders try to put a stop to Metcalfe's David Hammer (45)
during Friday's district matchup.

Metcalfe 'Hammers' Rockets
Hornets take lead in district

Edmonton, Ky. (Oct. 3, 2003) - Metcalfe County may have lost its best player in preseason, but the Hornets still have plenty of punch. The hosts pounded Crittenden County 28-8 with a punishing defense and used big fullback David Hammer to chisel out a big district-opening win.

Hammer scored two touchdowns and rushed for 111 yards as the eighth-ranked Hornets (6-0, 1-0) dominated the two-time defending league champion Rockets (3-3, 0-1).

Metcalfe's methodical ground game rumbled over the Rockets in the first half as the Hornets led 14-0 at the break. Meanwhile, Crittenden managed just 11 yards on the ground and 16 in the air during the opening half before turning to its passing game in catch-up-mode down the stretch.

Metcalfe was clearly the best team, manhandling Crittenden at the line of scrimmage and using a virtually error-free offense to breeze to a 21-0 edge before the Rockets scored late in the fourth quarter.

Rocket QB Sean Thompson, who was 13-for-25 through the air for a career-high 182 yards, found Matt Collins for Crittenden's only touchdown. Metcalfe answered right back with short drive to the end zone following a failed onside kick. Most of Thompson's passing yards came late as Crittenden tried to get back into the game. Brad Hart caught five passes for a game-high 88 yards.

The game was billed as perhaps the biggest showdown in the Second District because Metcalfe was undefeated and virtually unknown to most district teams. This is the Hornets' first season in the league. Despite losing its best player, L.J. Harbinson - the coach's son - to a broken leg in preseason, their senior-dominated club now appears the odd's on favorite to capture a district title. Harbison had rushed for 1,305 yards last year as a sophomore.

The loss was Crittenden's first in the Second District in three years.

Hammer was not only the offensive catalyst, but his play at middle linebacker was crippling for the Rockets, whose running game never got the bat of its shoulder. The Rockets tried to run 21 times, but garnered just 33 yards. They had little success offensively until spreading the field and trying to score quickly through the air.

Metcalfe's quarterback Trevor Wilson was a big playmaker for the Hornets. He rushed for 97 yards and passed for 97. He guided the Hornets to touchdowns on four of the team's nine offensive possessions for the game.

(Inset photo: Rocket T.K. Guess (14) tries to find slim running room vs. Metcalfe's defense)

SCORING PLAYS
M-Trevor Wilson 8 run (David Hammer kick) 5:54, 1st
M-David Hammer 3 run (Hammer kick) 1:30, 2nd
M-Tony Tinsley 69 pass from Wilson (Hammer kick) 6:07, 4th
C-Matt Collins 16 pass from Sean Thompson (Brad Hart pass from Tyler D. Guess), 4:15, 4th
M-Hammer 15 run (Hammer kick) 1:52, 4th