Austin Hicks caught two touchdown passes and ran for another score, but it was the Gardendale defense that shone brightest in their 35-14 rout of Homewood in the second round of the AHSAA Class 6A playoffs.

Hicks scored on a 16-yard run in the first quarter, caught a 51-yard bomb from quarterback Zac Cupps, and the pulled down a leaping catch for a 10-yard scoring pass from Cupps in the fourth period.

But it was a stifling Rocket defense that bottled up Patriots quarterback Carson Griffis, sacking him no less than seven times. Sophomore linebacker Steven Crowder brought Griffis down on two straight plays in Homewood’s very first drive, with help from Andrew Freeman on the first.

Juan Jackson scored the Rockets’ first touchdown, capping off a 13-play, 71-yard opening drive.

Tye Dunklin also scored on a 28-yard run around right end in the third period.

Griffis connected with Lanton Dorough on a 74-yard touchdown pass for Homewood on the opening possession of the second half. Griffis also found William Gibbons on a 22-yard scoring toss late in the fourth quarter.

The win marks first time in more than a decade that Gardendale has reached the third playoff round, and just the sixth time in program history. They will host Florence, which defeated Shades Valley 43-21.

Meanwhile in Athens in the Class 5A second round, sixth-ranked Mortimer Jordan was defeated by No. 3 East Limestone by a 10-0 score.

We’ll have the full stories coming up a bit later tonight.