By Mark Monosky

The North Jefferson News



Gardendale won their final game of the season Thursday night by defeating rival Mortimer Jordan 57-14.

The Rockets offense had 492 yards total offense in the blowout victory.

“The kids played well. Great job goes out to our assistant coaches,” said Gardendale coach Chris Fancher. “They had a great plan. They had our kids ready to play. The kids executed that plan and play fast. Mortimer Jordan got a good football team the breaks just went against them tonight like they have gone against us in some games this year. Coach Watts does a great job up there. He runs a class program. Hats off to our kids, the breaks went our way tonight. We didn’t turn the ball over. That is a big thing. We didn’t have any mistakes in the kicking game. And when you do those two things good things happen to you.”

“Gardendale has a great team,” said Mortimer Jordan coach Greg Watts. “Gardendale took a big risk moving up to 6A. Coach Fancher has done a great job with them. They have a great team. We have a young team and we’ll improve. I am really proud of our guys this season.”

The scoring started early for the Rockets. On the second offensive play of the game, Gardendale running back Trey Hilliard ran it in from 47 yards for the touchdown. The score completed a two-play, 67-yard drive. After an Adam Anderson point-after kick, the Rockets led 7-0.

It didn’t take long for the Rockets to strike again. After stopping the Mortimer Jordan offense, it only took Gardendale three plays to score again. Quarterback Conner McCain threw a 38 yard touchdown bomb to Hilliard for the score, and the Rockets led 14-0.

Later in the first quarter, Gardendale struck again on their next drive. After a 53-yard pass from receiver Bobby Williams to Jacob Anderson, McCain threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Tyrone Bowie to give the Rockets a commanding 21-0 lead.

Jordan finally got on the scoreboard on their next possession, when running back Desmond Brown ran it in from 44 yards for the touchdown. The touchdown completed a six play, 60-yard drive, and after a Caleb Harper point-after kick, Gardendale’s lead was cut to 21-7.

Gardendale answered back on next offensive series when McCain threw his third touchdown pass of the quarter, this one finding Alan Jackson for a 28-yard score, putting the Rockets ahead 28-7.

The Gardendale offense continued their scoring in the second quarter. On the opening drive of the quarter Hilliard ran it in for a touchdown from seven yards out, his third touchdown of the half. The score completed a 6 play 54 yard drive and after an Adam Anderson kicked the point after Gardendale lead 35-7.

The Mortimer Jordan offense was able to put together a long drive late in the first half, but the Blue Devils were unable to put any points on the board. Gardendale took advantage of this to score again on their next possession. McCain threw a touchdown pass to Hilliard that covered 82 yards. This was McCain’s fourth touchdown pass and Hilliard’s fourth touchdown total of half. Adam Anderson kicked another point after and the score was now 42-7.

The Rockets scored one more time before the half. After a Chase Handley interception, McCain scored his fifth touchdown of the half when he ran it in from the Jordan 12. The touchdown completed a three-play, 61-yard drive, and it gave the Rockets took a commanding 49-7 lead into halftime.

In the third quarter, Gardendale scored once more when Hilliard scored again from 25 yards, his fifth of the game. Hilliard ran the ball on all four plays of the 76-yard drive. Gardendale faked the point-after kick and holder Bobby Williams threw a two-point conversion pass to Cameron Groce to give the Rockets a 57-7 lead.

Late in the game, Mortimer Jordan scored their other touchdown of the game when Brown rushed from 11 yards out, His second touchdown of the game completed an eight-play. Harper’s point-after made the final score 57-14.

McCain, playing his final game at Gardendale, was a perfect 10 for 10 in passing for 236 yards and four touchdowns; he also rushed for another score. Hilliard, also playing in his final game, rushed for 175 yards and three touchdowns, and added two more touchdowns receiving.

Both teams end the season with 4-6 records.