MUSCLE SHOALS—Gardendale looked destined for its third consecutive quarterfinal berth, until it didn’t.

The Rockets (8-4) celebrated in the end zone following Demetrius King’s 71-yard touchdown rush, which put the visitors ahead 13-0 with 9:47 remaining in the third quarter. From there, it was all Muscle Shoals as the Trojans marched on to a 17-13 second round playoff win in J.F. Moore Stadium on Friday night.

The comeback started on the ensuing drive. Muscle Shoals (7-5) constructed a nine-play drive, which was aided by a pass interfere call on a critical third-and-12. Quarterback Andrew Willingham ended it with a 13-yard touchdown rush off a read-option keeper.

Moments later Caleb McDougle pulled down a Michael Crowder interception, setting the stage for a major momentum swinger. Carlos Davis went 29 yards to the end zone on the next snap, giving Muscle Shoals its first lead of the night at 14-13 with 6:03 left in the third frame.

Davis was, in every way, the Trojans offensive centerpiece. The junior ran with it 35 times for 183 yards and the go-ahead touchdown.

Muscle Shoals later went on to add a 30-yard field goal on its first drive of the fourth quarter, and resorted to killing the clock from there. Gardendale’s two fourth quarter drives ended in three-and-out fashion.

King, a Gardendale senior running back, closed his prep career with 10 carries for 154 yards, including the 71-yard touchdown. Two-way standout Steven Crowder also finished his high school career on a high note, as he rumbled in for a six-yard touchdown rush late in the first frame.

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