Rocket sophomore running back Jeramie Sorina had another
huge game, rushing for 271 yards in the rain, and lifting the Rockets
over Russellville in a big district game with playoff consequences.
Rockets upset Panthers
Crittenden finishes 2nd in district;
Will host Russellville in playoffs
MARION, Ky. Oct. 27 -- Rocket football coach Al Starnes says his team has resurrected its season and reminded western Kentucky that Crittenden County is still a factor in Class A football.
After some tumultuous times, including a 1-5 start to the season, the 16-year Rocket skipper is much more upbeat this week following his team’s 35-21 win over previously ranked Russellville.
“This makes what had at times been a dismal season seem alive and exciting,” said Starnes, who has suffered through only two losing seasons prior to this campaign.
“I think the whole community was kind of down on us, the kids were down on themselves and as a coaching staff were looking for something to be positive about,” the coach added. “Most people look at a season in terms of wins and losses, but as coaches we look at it from the standpoint of where we were to where we are today.”
Today, the Rockets are sitting in the Class A Second District’s No. 2 spot with Russellville returning to Rocket Stadium for the opening round of the playoffs.
How they got to this point doesn’t matter any more, the coach said.
“We’re here and in a sense we’ve resurrected our season and our football program,” Starnes said.
It was last Friday’s win over Russellville that turned things around. In a game played in a drenching downpour, Crittenden County dominated play up front on a muddy field and Jeramie Sorina was the workhorse, rushing for 271 yards on 41 carries.
Playing conditions were horrendous and there were 10 turnovers in the game. Starnes made some big adjustments for the weather and they paid huge dividends as his team finished the regular season 4-6 overall and 3-2 in the district. Crittenden went to a two-tight-end, one-back set and smashed Russellville right in the face with a dominating running attack.
The win created a three-way tie for second place in the district with Crittenden, Russellville and McLean County each featuring a 3-2 mark in league action. McLean got there by upsetting district leader Metcalfe County last week. Based on the KHSAA tie-breaking system, Crittenden earns the No. 2 seed for the playoffs because it beat both Russellville and McLean (the two teams it is tied with) during the regular season.
In the first round of the playoffs, Metcalfe, still the league's No. 1 seed, will host McLean and Crittenden will get Russellville. Both games will be an exact repeat of the regular season's 10th week.
“It was an incredible win for us,” the Rocket skipper said.
Crittenden got a big scare late in the game when senior quarterback Taylon Polk went down with a knee injury while playing on defense. Polk doubles as a linebacker when he’s not behind center. The QB strained a ligament in his knee and he’s having trouble walking this week. Starnes said doctors have cleared Polk to play this week, but he’s not sure how mobile his quarterback will be. Polk had some big first-down runs against Russellville last week.
The Rocket defense was relentless against the Panthers. Russellville managed just one first down during the entire game and lost four fumbles. The Rockets also intercepted two Panther passes. Senior Jacob Courtney recovered two fumbles and sophomore Rodney Robertson had a fumble recovery and an interception in the game. Crittenden had 15 tackles for no gain or a loss against the Panthers.
Russellville was hobbled a bit after losing starting fullback Jamarcus Gordon to an ankle injury in the first half. Panther third-year coach John Myers said Monday that Gordon sprained his ankle and it’s unclear how much he will be able to contribute this week. Gordon broke an 81-yard TD in last week’s game.
Myers said the weather wasn’t solely to blame for his team’s losing last Friday, but his players want to have another shot without all of the rain and mud.
“The weather didn't play as big of a role in the outcome as a lot of people would like to think. Field position played a huge role, especially in the third quarter and Crittenden just played a better game,” Myers said. “They adapted to the conditions better, they blocked and tackled better.”
A dry field will allow Russellville’s speed to be more of a factor, the coach said.
“It will allow us to do more offensively than we were able to do this past Friday,” Myers added. “Our kids are excited to prove they are a better football team than what we showed last Friday, but even they knew that we were outplayed by Crittenden.”
Crittenden started two touchdown drives from inside the Russellville 35 during the third period last week. Those were big scoring opportunities on a very sloppy field and the Rockets capitalized.
However, the Panthers blocked a Crittenden punt in the fourth period to close the margin. It was Courtney's fumble recovery after a big hit by lineman Justin Asbridge late in the game that eventually sealed the win, taking the ball away from Russellville after the Panthers had pulled to within 14 points.
Sorina scored four touchdowns and the Rockets led 35-13 well into the fourth period.
