Ninth-ranked Muscle Shoals churned up 465 rushing yards on Gardendale in Friday night’s season opener. The Trojans left Driver Stadium with a 39-28 win thanks in large part to Terrell McDonald and Carlos Davis.

McDonald, a junior who spends most of his time at quarterback, ran in two second-half touchdowns: The first from 70 yards out to give the Trojans a 24-6 edge early in the third frame, and the second from eight yards out to end the scoring at 39-28 with only 5:28 remaining.

“We knew it was going to be hard to tackle me and Carlos [Davis] at the same time. They had to choose and they chose Carlos, so I took it to the house,” said McDonald of his 70-yard touchdown scamper.

He finished with 154 yards and two scores on 13 carries. 

Davis, a senior who holds six scholarship offer including Troy and Jacksonville State, also ran in two touchdowns. He stared with a 77-yard burst up the middle, converting a third-and-7 opportunity and increasing Muscle Shoals’ lead to 9-0 in the second quarter. The senior later rolled seven yards to paydirt, closing the first half at 17-6 in favor of the Trojans.

The senior ran for 301 yards on 22 attempts (13.6 yards per carry). 

After the visitors opened the second half with a four-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, Gardendale (0-1) trailed by 18, but that’s when senior Omari Hood provided a spark.

He took back the ensuing kickoff, which started a small comeback.

A young Gardendale defense rallied for consecutive stops, and Rocket quarterback Michael Crowder flipped a slant to senior wideout Conner Howell, who went 35 yards, untouched for six quick points. The following drive—an eight-play beauty—ended with Crowder’s third and final touchdown pass of the night. He rolled right and fired to the back line where Bailey Parsons pulled it in for a five-yard score. The two-point conversion went to Owen Cupps, and just like that Gardendale was down a field goal with over seven minutes remaining.

But that’s when Davis and McDonald responded. As they did all night, the pair took turns running through would-be tacklers, stopping only for the end zone. McDonald’s eight-yard score virtually ended the comeback.

Crowder’s first touchdown of the season went to Cupps, who took a short slip screen 42 yards to the house. He spun off one tackle and slipped through the secondary on a crucial third-and-13 late in the first half. Cupps went for 66 yards receiving on four grabs. 

Parsons led the Rockets with 70 receiving yards, followed by Howell (67 yards) and Stephen Lancaster (62 yards). Crowder went 19-of-30 through the air for 302 yards. 

Gardendale looks to rebound next Thursday at Class 7A No. 5 James Clemens.

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