Rocket QB Sean Thompson & coach Al Starnes decide on a play call late in the game.
Rocket QB Sean Thompson & coach Al Starnes
decide on a play call late in the game.
The two accounted for 90 percent of Crittenden offensive output Friday night and the defense did the rest at the Rockets guaranteed itself home-field advantage for the playoffs which start in two weeks.
A lethargic start by Crittenden's offensive line and some porous pass defense allowed Hancock (1-8, 0-2) to capture the early momentum. The Hornets struck in the opening minutes on a 55-yard scoring pass to Michael Schwindel and the game was tied 7-7 at the half as the defending Second District champion Rockets (7-2, 2-0) appeared to be on their heels.
However, the generally-grueling Crittenden defense finally surfaced late in the contest to smother Hancock's feeble running game. Although the Rocket secondary was stretched to the tune of 165 yards through the air, it stiffened up in the final period. Three big sacks by Judd Woodward and Zack Beverly helped Crittenden put some much-needed pressure on the Hornet throwing game down the stretch. Hancock rushed for just 36 yards. Its feature back, sophomore Jordan Doyle, had 28 yards in the first half, including several key runs. However, the Rockets pinned him down in the last two periods and he finished with 34.
Asbridge and Thompson were a two-man offensive wrecking crew against the Hornets. Asbridge rushed for a season-high 112 yards on 16 carries while the Hornet defense keyed on Demetric Moss - the Crittenden halfback who had gained 274 yards in the last two games. Moss finished with 30 against Hancock on 16 attempts.
Asbridge was just as good catching the ball. Out of the backfield, he hauled in all five of Thompson's completions in the game for 57 yards.
Asbridge caught some big third-down passes and Thompson rushed for huge plays on the Rockets' final two drives both led to touchdowns. None was bigger than his 22-yard run on third-and-long that carried the Rockets to the Hancock 33 early in the fourth quarter after the guests had taken a 14-13 lead to start the final period.
Thompson's third-down carry set up a Rocket touchdown and he did it again on the next series with a crucial fourth-and-two run that put Crittenden at the Hornet 16 with 2:33 to play. Crittenden scored on that drive, too.
The victory was Crittenden's second in
a row over Hancock, a team that joined the Second District four
years ago and beat the Rockets in their first two meetings. Despite
Hancock's poor record this season, it brought plenty of spunk
to Rocket Stadium Friday night and had the district favorite on
the ropes for three quarters.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Hancock County.......7...0...7...0
Crittenden County.....7...0...6...14
SCORING PLAYS
H-Michael Schwindel 55 pass from Jonathan Eckles (Joel Bivens
kick) 8:39, 1st
C-Demetric Moss 1 run (Thiago Piers kick) 2:59, 1st
C-Moss 3 run (conversion failed) 5:06, 3rd
H-Schwindel 2 run (Bivens kick) 2:13, 3rd
C-Sean Thompson 11 run (Zack Beverly pass from Thompson) 8:53,
4th
C-Thompson 2 run (kick failed) :38, 4th