Just over six minutes away from snapping a playoff drought that dates back over a quarter century, the Todd County Central Rebels saw a momentous victory slip away on Friday with a go-ahead touchdown by Crittenden County quarterback Micah Newcom in a 24-20 Rocket victory.
The Rebels saw a two-game winning streak come to an end to finish the season at 5-6. Todd Central has lost the last seven matchups in the series with the Rockets, dating back to the program’s last playoff victory in 1996.
Penalties crippled the Rebel offense early on, but the defense kept Crittenden off the scoreboard until the final seconds of the first quarter. On 4th and 10 from the 11, Newcom hit Caden Howard over the middle for the opening touchdown, and the two-point conversion gave the Rockets an 8-0 advantage to start the second frame.
However, with Crittenden electing to send the ensuing kickoff short, Todd Central’s Grady Reding took it on the bounce and hit the sideline for a touchdown. Reding then added the extra point to cut the Rocket lead to a point.
The teams traded scores over the final 3:50 of the first half, with Jacob Carder scoring on a run from four yards out for the Rockets and Rebel quarterback Miles Reding answering with a scoring run around the right side with :31 left in the second quarter. Reding again added the extra point for a 16-14 Crittenden lead at the break.
In the third, the Rebels forced a turnover on downs with the Rockets threatening inside the Todd County 20. Then, facing 3rd and 10 at their own 37, Reding found Brian Farlow over the middle for a 63-yard scoring strike to give the Rebels their first lead at 20-16 with 2:14 left in the quarter.
A Crittenden punt pinned the Rebels inside their own five, and after a short Todd Central punt, the Rockets took over deep in Rebel territory. With 7:36 left in the game, a pass interference call in the endzone set the Rockets up at 1st and 10 at the 15, leading to Newcom’s 13-yard TD run on 4th and 3 with 6:20 to go. Newcom then hit Bennett McDaniel for the two-point conversion to make it 24-20.
The Rockets left the door open after a penalty on the kickoff allowed Todd Central to take over at the Crittenden 38. After the Rebels took a delay penalty to put them at 4th and 19 from the 30, Reding scrambled and looked like he might extend the drive. But McDaniel came up with a diving tackle from behind to force a turnover on downs with just over three minutes left.
Crittenden turned to Travis to salt away the win, repeatedly handing off to the senior rushing leader to drive to the Todd 22. After the Rebels took their final timeout, the Rockets ended it with a pair of kneeldowns to advance past the first week of the playoffs for the ninth straight season.
Crittenden will travel to Owensboro Catholic next week. The undefeated Aces crushed Caldwell County 61-14 on Friday, and have won all four previous meetings with the Rockets, including a 64-12 victory earlier this season.
