Berry busts passing record
Crittenden deals McLean 46-0 shutout

Calhoun, Ky. (Oct. 8, 2004) - Austin Berry needed about as much time to break the single-season passing record as the Rocket did for dispatching winless McLean County 46-0 Friday.

Berry, Crittenden County's junior quarterback, shattered the one-year passing mark previously held by Sean Thompson early in the game, finding receiver Shawnte Moss on a 71 yard screen pass for a touchdown.

Needing just over 100 yards coming into the contest to rewrite the record book, Berry connected on three of his first five passes, two of which went for touchdowns. His first completion of the game came after a high snap out of the shotgun formation sailed over his head. The QB calmly retrieved the ball, eluded about three-quarters of the McLean defense then found T.K. Guess all alone out in the left flat. Guess caught the pass and scooted 52 yards to the McLean 10, setting up the Rockets' first touchdown.

Berry's remarkable season has been a pivotal prong in the Rockets' runaway offense that has surprised many observers. Berry himself has been the boy wonder of Crittenden's unlikely race toward a district title. At 6-foot and 140 pounds, he'd often been told his size would keep him from being a marketable commodity on the varsity football field. Ironically, the poised, lanky distance runner from the track team has rendered a new image of success. In just seven games, Berry blown past the old single-season record of 1,009 yards and now stands at 1,099 with three regular season games and the playoffs left. Berry has completed 57 of 99 passes this season and has thrown 14 touchdowns ­ another single-season record ­ against just three interceptions.

McLean County was certainly no match for Berry and his merry band of receivers. Three of his five passes were for touchdowns. The Rocket running game pounded out 190 yards on the ground while Berry tagged 202 through the air. Some new faces got in on the running game, too. Brad Hart, a senior linebacker and tight end, rushed for a 21-yard touchdown, his first carry since eighth grade. Jerrod Jennings, a lineman, swapped jerseys at halftime, donned No. 31 and ran for 36 yards on seven carries. Justin McFarland led the team in rushing for the first time ever, gaining 52 yards on six carries. He had only 16 yards on six carries this year coming into the game.

The patchwork in the backfield was as much a decoy perhaps for upcoming opponents as it was for resting a slightly hobbled starting lineup. Regulars Josh Franklin (illness) and Blake Gardner (ankle) played in the game, but were not 100 percent. Cody Robinson, the team's second-leading rusher, didn't even make the trip because of an illness during the week.

As for McLean, the Cougars have been outscored by about 45 points every game this season. Only three players touched the ball offensively for McLean and none of them had much to offer against Crittenden's swarming defense which sacked Cougar quarterback Nick Tanner three times.

An easy week was just what the coach order, however, with the Rockets facing a long road trip to district surprise Caverna next week. Crittenden is getting ready to run the gamut through the district leaders, facing Caverna, undisputed favorite Hancock County and Russellville over the next few weeks.

** The football team wanted to send a special thank you to former Rocket Jeremy Wheeler, now in Iraq, for providing custom transportation to the game at McLean**