Some stalwarts of the Gardendale defense: middle linebacker Matt Oliver, free safety Adam Powers, nose guard Guy Vansant, senior defensive end Zach Smith, and outside linebacker Julius Shelton. All are seniors.

It’s a longstanding tradition, for lack of a better term. In high school football, the offense usually gets the glory because they normally put the points on the scoreboard. The defense gets less ink or air time, except when they make a big interception or game-saving tackle.

This year’s Gardendale team is not any different, especially with record-breaking performances by wide receiver Ja’Micheal Willis grabbing headlines statewide.

But lost in the shadows is a Rocket defense that has also excelled, spotlight or not.

The defense had one of its best games ever when it held highly-recruited Minor running back Christion Jones to just 62 total yards in the Rockets victory. Overall, the “D” is having one of its best seasons in a long time.

And they don’t mind lurking in the shadows, as long as they get the job done. It’s a veteran group with plenty of returning starters from the 2009 squad. That makes for a tight-knit group, according to defensive end Zach Smith.

“We all feel like family. On the field we’re together, away from the field we’re together. We get together every Thursday night to just hang out,” Smith said.

“Sometimes we’ll just go up there on Thursday nights and talk about the [upcoming game],” said free safety Adam Powers, pointing to the upper reaches of Driver Stadium.

“This year, we trust each other to do their position,” outside linebacker Julius Shelton said. “We had a lot of new faces on defense last year. This year we’re much improved. We’re faster, stronger and smarter.”

The numbers bear that out. Middle linebacker Matt Oliver is averaging 11.2 tackles per game and has recovered two fumbles, plus five tackles for loss. Powers has 8.2 tackles per game and Powers an even 8.0. Shelton has 6.5 per game, plus a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery. All totaled, six different starters average 61/2 tackles a game or better.

 “Experience plays a major role with this team,” Gardendale defensive coordinator Rusty Rouse said. “The play relentlessly. There’s no quit. When they believe in what you’re trying to do, and believe in each other, you get something special.”

All this from a a defense that isn’t especially big, especially for Class 6A.

“You look at our D-line, and we’ve got guys that are 5-foot-8, 170 pounds. And it shows that you’ve got kids that have heart,” Rouse said. “Do they make mistakes? Absolutely. But we tell them when they make mistakes, make them going 100 percent. But they have confidence in the offense, and they have confidence in the special teams to do their job as well.”