Aug. 25, 2007

ALLIANCE BOWL at Graves County

Worst loss in 37 years
MAYFIELD – After Friday night's 63-0 loss to Massac County, Ill., the Rocket football team will need a great deal of time for soul-searching.

While they're looking, the staff and troops can slosh around in the numbers posted during their first game of the season at the third annual Alliance Bowl at Graves County's new football stadium.

•It was the second worst loss in school history, eclipsed onl by a 76-0 defeat by Fort Campbell in the winless 1970 season.
•It was the worst loss in coach Al Starnes' 17-year career.
•It tied for fifth on the all-time list of most points allowed in a single game.

The humiliation began early and Massac was relentless, playing its starting group the entire way. The Patriots showed plenty of firepower through various weapons, but its brand new spread offense was not terribly fascinating. Crittenden simply couldn't perform the most fundamental tasks on defense such as providing basic secondary coverage and making tackles.

Massac scored on each of its eight possessions and scored on two of Crittenden's. The Patriots picked off four Rocket passes and returned two for touchdowns. Crittenden also fumbled twice.