Rocket defenders Barrett Sherer (20) and George Congenie (3) converge on Logan County receiver Justin Forgy during Crittenden's lopsided win Friday at Russellville.

Rockets roll past Logan
Interceptions cost Cougars

RUSSELLVILLE, Ky. (Sept. 2, 2005) - After a sluggish start in its second game of the season, Crittenden County got a boost from the defense, which intercepted three straight Logan County passes during the middle of part of the game and made the Cougars pay for each misfire.

T.K. Guess picked off the first Alex Graves' throw and returned it 82 yards for a touchdown to stop Logan's opportunity to tie the game at two touchdowns apiece. Crittenden led 13-6 midway through the second quarter when Guess set off an interception party that turned the momentum of the game. With Logan moving downfield and looking like it might tie the game ­ or take the lead ­ Guess hauled in his interception at the Rocket 18 yard line and outraced everyone on the field to the opposite end zone for a 19-6 advantage.

The Rockets intercepted passes to stifle the next two Cougar possessions as Crittenden senior defensive backs Corey Hamby and Barrett Sherer got in on the action. Their pickoffs set up the next two Rocket touchdowns and turned a close game into a 34-6 mismatch. Guess scored three of Crittenden's first five touchdowns and Blake Gardner had a pair.

Gardner rushed for a game-high 117 yards on 14 carries and Guess rushed for 88 and caught Crittenden's only completed pass for 16 yards. The Rockets rolled up 336 yards on the ground while holding Logan to 168. The Cougars did have moderate success passing against the Rockets, connecting on 13 of 38 passes for 142 yards. Some of that came late in the game, however, with the outcome already decided.

Turnovers were the big factor. Crittenden fumbled four times, but none were costly. Logan, a Class 3A team in the Second District, paid dearly for its three interceptions and two fumbles.

Crittenden tacked on another touchdown by Josh Franklin in the third quarter then turned the field over to the Rocket reserves who performed well in the fourth period despite giving up a late touchdown.

The one-sided victory was a welcomed ego boost for Crittenden which had taken a tough one on the chin the previous week, losing its opening game to arch-rival Caldwell. The matchup between Crittenden and Logan was the first ever between the teams.

Now, Crittenden will have to regroup for next week's matchup at Class 3A Union County. The Braves came within a conversion of beating Caldwell this week. The Tigers prevailed in that one by a point in a game that came down the last minute.