Crockett Rushes for 398 Yards in 30-28 Battle With New Waverly
By Greg Ritchie
Messenger Reporter
CROCKETT — The final score may have gone New Waverly’s way, but Crockett gave its home crowd plenty to cheer about Friday, Sept. 11, piling up 445 yards of offense and rushing for nearly 400 yards in a 30-28 battle at Monte Jack Driskell Stadium.
The Bulldogs fell to 1-2 on the season with the two-point loss, but their ground game turned in its biggest statistical performance of the young season, led by Jacorrion Griffin’s 220-yard night.
Griffin carried the ball 23 times, averaging 9.6 yards per attempt, and scored two touchdowns. His longest run went for 57 yards.
Jaylen White added another 89 yards on just eight carries and found the end zone twice. White averaged 11.1 yards every time he carried the football and broke a long run of 37 yards.
Christopher Bell gave Crockett a third major threat out of the backfield, finishing with 82 yards on 10 carries. His longest run covered 31 yards.
Together, the Bulldogs carried the football 45 times for 398 yards, an average of 8.8 yards per rushing attempt. All four of Crockett’s touchdowns came on the ground.
The Bulldogs did not need to go to the air often, but they were perfect when they did.
White completed both of his passing attempts for 24 yards, while Kanthony Epps completed his only attempt for 23 yards. Crockett finished 3-for-3 through the air for 47 yards, bringing the Bulldogs’ total offensive output to 445 yards.
The performance came against a New Waverly team Crockett athletic director and head coach Jody Jordan knew would present a difficult challenge.
Before the game, Jordan pointed to New Waverly’s experience but also expressed confidence in what his own team could do.
“They’re a little better this year, and I think we are, too,” Jordan said before Friday’s matchup. “They have a big senior team, so those guys played last year and are coming back for their senior year.”
Crockett’s performance backed up that confidence.
After opening the season with a 52-19 loss to Mexia, the Bulldogs bounced back with a convincing 41-20 road victory over Coldspring-Oakhurst. Against New Waverly, Crockett showed it could move the football consistently against an experienced opponent and came within two points of making it consecutive victories.
Griffin was at the center of that effort.
His 220 yards accounted for more than half of Crockett’s rushing total, but the Bulldogs were far from a one-man rushing attack. Griffin, White and Bell combined for 391 yards, with each producing at least one run of 31 yards or longer.
That ability to create explosive plays helped Crockett stay within striking distance throughout a game in which the Bulldogs produced four touchdowns and finished just short on the scoreboard.
New Waverly ultimately held on for the 30-28 victory, handing Crockett its second loss of the season, but the Bulldogs will have another opportunity to build on the offensive performance this week.
Crockett travels to Tatum on Friday, Sept. 18, for its fourth and final game before an open week. Kickoff against the Eagles is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Tatum High School.
The Bulldogs will then travel to Hardin on Friday, Sept. 25, before opening District 9-3A Division I play at home against Diboll on Friday, Oct. 9 for Crockett’s homecoming game.
