Crittenden RB Rodney Robertson picks up some of his 179 rushing yards.
Rockets homecoming
MARION – In a season where wins have been terribly elusive, the taste of victory was terrifically sweet for the 1-5 Rockets Friday in their homecoming matchup with Webster County.
Rodney Robertson was the catalyst with 275 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns in Crittenden County's 33-21 triumph over the Class 3A Trojans. His fourth-quarter, 41-yard touchdown with 1:50 play was the most precious piece to puzzle.
The Rockets – playing with a patchwork of performers due to injuries, defections and ineligible players this season – turned in a strong defensive showing and used its offense to control the game in the final mintues after Webster closed to within six.
Crittenden led 14-0 out of the chute behind first-quarter touchdowns from Robertson and Gray. A Webster fumble recovered by Josh Ipock gave Crittenden its second TD and the Rockets' biggest first-half lead of the season.
After jumping ahead, Crittenden showed bullish tenacity in responding to every Webster comeback attempt. The Trojans cut the lead to a touchdown in the first half then Robertson went 82 yards for a score on the ensuring kickoff.
In the final period, fullback Gaige Courtney finished off a dominating drive with a 10-yard scoring run before Webster inched back into the game with a long pass from QB Steven Turner to Kyle Meadows. Leading by six, Crittenden needed just a few first downs in its final possession to seal the deal in the last five and a half minutes. However, the Rockets got more than they bargained for when Robertson broke loose and scooted 41 yards to the end zone, putting an exclamation point on his team's first victory. His scoring run followed a daring fourth-down-and-two pass at midfield that kept the drive alive.
Robertson, a junior who also plays linebacker and does the punting, finished with 179 yards rushing, 82 return yards and 14 receiving.
The Rockets return to Class A First District action next week at Ballard Memorial. The Bombers lost 54-6 to Class 2A Murray Friday.
