It took a 2-point conversion stop in the final seconds of the game, but Gardendale is marching on to the second round of the Class 6A playoffs.

The Rockets improved to 8-3 on the year with a 28-26 win over Hueytown on Friday night in Driver Stadium. Following a Hueytown 5-yard touchdown rush with only 20 seconds remaining, Gardendale recovered a fumbled snap on the 2-point attempt to preserve the opening-round win.

That wasn’t the only fumble recovered by the good guys. Carson Smith recovered the second of three lost fumbles in the end zone, giving Gardendale a 28-13 advantage with 7:16 remaining in the game.

The Golden Gophers didn’t close out quite as strong as they would’ve liked, but they started fast. Jamal Reese started things off with a 10-yard touchdown run and followed up with a 20-yard field goal, which gave Hueytown a 10-0 lead entering the second quarter. However, that’s when Gardendale, Region 6’s second seed, came to life.

Quarterback Michael Crowder tossed it 18 yards to Demetrius King for the first score of the evening. Minutes later, King gave Gardendale its first lead of the night, powering three yards to paydirt for a 14-10 lead with 7:18 remaining in the second quarter.

Crowder found his way back to the end zone once more in the first half, going to Conner Howell for a 47-yard pitch and catch with less than a minute remaining in the second frame. Crowder ended the game with 62 yards rushing, while Howell went for 55 yards receiving on two catches.

Defensively, Steven Crowder recorded 19 tackles to go with Andrew Freeman’s 16. Smith went for eight stops and a pair of fumble recoveries, including the touchdown recovery, which ended up being the difference.

Gardendale faces Muscle Shoals in the second round next Friday. The Rockets beat the Trojans, 14-10, in August.

Erik Harris is the Sports Editor of The North Jefferson News. Email him at njnsports@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @jeharris2.