Crittenden County has a senior class that has many in Marion wondering if they will become the third Rocket football team in history to win a region championship.
The Rockets are a No. 1 seed in the Class A playoffs that begin Friday. Crittenden (9-1) will host Caverna (1-9) for the third time in four seasons. The Rockets won the previous two by a combined score of 111-16.
Caverna, whose only win came via a forfeit when Green County reported the use of an ineligible player, has not won a playoff game since 2002 when Kentucky still offered 8-man football. They have not won a postseason game since.
In the same side of the bracket, Bethlehem (3-7) hosts Fulton County (5-5). It’s the third straight time Fulton has traveled to Bardstown to play the Eagles. The previous two games were blowout losses by the Pilots. However, Fulton’s ability to run the football saw them win five games during the regular season – their best record since 2006.
Bethlehem advanced to the region title game in 2006 and 2015 but have never won three playoff games in a single season.
Russellville (4-6) and Fort Knox (4-6) meet in the first round for the third time in four seasons. The Panthers won the other two matchups by a combined score of 108-8.
Russellville will be looking to win their third region title in four seasons. Fort Knox hasn’t won a region championship since 1996 and last won a playoff game in 2010.
Campbellsville (9-1) won the school’s second-ever region title last year on their way to getting hammered by Beechwood in the Class 1A semifinals. They have a first round bye because Fulton City opted not to compete in the postseason after a winless season.
If the seeds hold true, Crittenden County would travel to Campbellsville for the region title, a rematch of last year’s 44-8 thrashing the Eagles handed the Rockets in Marion.
Crittenden County last won a region title in 2008 when they beat Mayfield before losing to Beechwood in the semifinals.
The winner of Region 1 will likely have to make a return trip to northern Kentucky to play the three-time defending state champion Beechwood Tigers in the semifinals.
