October 5, 2007

at Ballard Memorial High School, LaCenter, Ky.

Rockets blast Ballard 49-23
LaCENTER – Crittenden County dashed Ballard Memorial's playoffs hopes Friday and improved its own stock in the Class A First District by earning a postseason berth with a commanding 49-23 victory at LaCenter.

It was the Rockets second straight victory after an 0-5 start.

Quarterback J.D. Gray turned in a record-setting performance with 198 yards rushing and five touchdowns. His scoring tied a school record for the most TDs in a single game.

While Gray was picking through the Ballard defense with long runs of 35, 44, 24 and 20 yards, Crittenden running back Rodney Robertson bulldozed his way to big game himself. The junior ran for 154 yards and scored twice. The Rockets' powerful running attack was more than Ballard could stand. Crittenden whipped the Bombers up front and outgained its hosts 393 to 62 on the ground.

Defensively, Crittenden put the cleats on Ballard's quick backfield, holding speedy sophomore Nathan Bledsoe to just 23 yards rushing. Bledsoe did catch one long pass and scored a couple of touchdowns. However, he was injured midway through the game and never returned.

Crittenden scored on its first five possession and Ballard was never close after the two teams swapped touchdowns in the first period. The Rockets tacked on a couple more scores in the last half and Ballard got its last touchdown against the Crittenden reserves late in the game.

The victory sets up a big showdown between the Rockets and Fulton County in two weeks at Marion with the winner taking third place in the district and avoiding a first-round matchup with Mayfield in the postseason. The winner earns a playoff ticket to Fulton City, a team that is ranked eighth in Class A, but narrowly escaped with a four-point win over Crittenden three weeks ago.


SCORE BY QUARTERS
Crittenden County ...14...21....7....7
Ballard Memorial ......7.....8....0....8

SCORING PLAYS
C-J.D. Gray 8 run (Jordan Martin kick) 7:46, 1st
B-Nathan Bledsoe 11 run (Steven Mix kick) 4:33, 1st
C-Rodney Robertson 1 run (Martin kick) 2:17, 1st
C-Robertson 60 run (Martin kick) 9:26, 2nd
C-Gray 44 run (Gaige Courtney run) 5:40, 2nd
B-Bledsoe 5 run (Josh Bourff run) 3:57, 2nd
C-Gray 1 run (run failed) 3:11, 2nd
C-Gray 20 run (Martin kick) 8:15, 3rd
C-Gray 5 run (Martin kick) 11:00, 4th
B-Bourff 15 run (Quinton Norment pass from Bourff) :31, 4th


TEAM TOTALS
First Downs: Crittenden 11, Ballard 4
Penalties: Crittenden 6-40, Ballard 4-30
Rushing: Crittenden 44-393, Ballard 24-62
Passing: Crittenden 2-5-0, 50 yds., Ballard 5-10-1, 122 yds.
Total Yards: Crittenden 443, Ballard 184
Fumbles/Lost Crittenden 1-1, Ballard 1-1

INDIVIDUAL STATS
Rushing
Crittenden-Gray 17-198, Robertson 16-154, Jackie Fletcher 2-22, Courtney 3-12, Andrew Freeeman 4-16, Brian Berry 2-(-9). Ballard-Bourff 10-27, Nathan Bledsoe 4-23, Ricky Beard 7-7, Brian Tucker 3-5.
Passing
Crittenden-Gray 2-5-0, 50 yds. Ballard-Bourff 5-10-1, 122 yds.
Receiving
Crittenden-Adam Hardin 1-45, Courtney 1-5. Ballard-Nathan Bledsoe 1-59, John Bledsoe 1-45, Beard 1-4, Stephen Pullen 1-(-2).
Defense Werne assist, TFL; Kirk 2 assists; B.Berry 2 assists; Wood 4 solos, 5 assists, TFL; A.Berry 2 solos, 7 assists, 3 sacks; Clark 2 solos, 8 assists; Courtney 6 solos, TFL, blocked punt; McConnell 2 solos, 3 assists, sack, interception; Robertson solo, 7 assists; Pluskota solo, assist; Tinsley 4 assists; Martin assist; Fritz 4 assists; Freeman 4 assists, fumble recovery; Ipock 3 assists; Copeland solo, assist; Urbanowski solo.
Records
Crittenden 2-5 (1-2), Ballard 1-6 (0-4)