The Craig County football team will play host to Parry McCluer Friday night in what’s shaping up as their biggest game to date. The Rockets are 5-0 after pounding Eastern Montgomery in Elliston last week, 48-6, while the Fightin’ Blues are 6-1 and coming off a huge 42-20 win over Narrows in Buena Vista Friday.
This one’s big for many reasons. If the Rockets are to win the Pioneer District championship, this game is a must, as both teams are unbeaten in district play. It’s also huge for ranking in the post-season. As of this week the Rockets are ranked second in Region 1C behind only Grayson County while Parry McCluer is fourth. Either team can pick up a boatload of VHSL points with a win this week.
“Parry McCluer is our toughest test, by far, at this point of the season,” said Craig County coach Jimmy Fisher. “They have the best offensive and defensive lines we have played this season. Offensively, they have three running backs that run extremely hard and get downhill. The quarterback is very elusive and fast and he throws a good accurate ball. They have a big offensive line that likes to mix it up in the trenches.
“Defensively, the defensive line is disciplined and physical. The linebackers are all very good players. We have to get a hat on them and stay glued onto our blocks. They have a great secondary that makes plays on the ball. Overall, a very good, physical, disciplined, well-coached football team.”
The Blues have outscored their opponents 206 to 102 in seven games thus far. In five games the Rockets have scored 286 points and given up just 48.
“They are almost a mirror image of what we like to do,” said Fisher of the Blues. “Friday is going to be a very physical football game with two teams that want to assert their will. It’s going to come down to turnovers, special teams and which team blinks to the physicality of the game.”
A large crowd is expected at Mitchell Field for this game. Fisher is appealing to the Craig County faithful to come and make a lot of noise.
“If I was just a fan anywhere in driving distance this is the game I would want to be at this Friday,” he said. “Parry McCluer is going to travel well. They are coming off a huge blowout win over Narrows. If they beat us, they feel like they are going to be the district champions. This is absolutely a playoff game with what is at stake. We need Rocket fans, everywhere, to physically come to the game Friday if possible. The energy of a large, rowdy, home crowd might be the difference in this ball game.”
Last week in Elliston the Rockets had little trouble putting away the host Mustangs. Craig led 27-6 at halftime as Brayden Dunbar and Bentley Smith scored first quarter touchdowns and Noah Paxton found the end zone twice in the second period with the Craig single wing offense methodically moving the ball down the field.
Dunbar put the Mustangs in the rearview mirror with touchdown runs of 35, 69 and eight yards in the second half, finishing with 160 yards rushing on just six carries.
Paxton had 122 yards rushing, Bentley Smith had 94, Robbie Eakin had 81 and Dreydin Smith had 71 yards. For the game the Rockets had 532 yards rushing on 39 carries, an average of 13.6 yards per attempt.
Defensively, Craig was led by Dreydin Smith with nine tackles. Blake Kendall had six tackles, a tackle for loss and a sack. Carter Price had five tackles and a sack, Marcus Donithan had five tackles and a tackle for loss, Paxton had four tackles and Dunbar had two and a half tackles and an interception.
“We played pretty well overall,” said Fisher. “One unforced turnover and some penalties led to their only score. We limited them on offense, all they could generate were scramble plays. We need to work on tackling in space this coming week.”
