Gardendale head football coach Matt Plunkett talks to his team prior to a Class 6A, Region 6 home game against Minor. 

The Gardendale football team knew this game was a big one. When it comes to future playoff seeding, Gardendale-Minor carries significant weight and, based on their play Friday night in Driver Stadium, the players in the silver helmets want a fourth straight postseason berth.

A second half defensive shutout and a physical offensive effort earned the Rockets a 42-14 win over Class 6A, Region 6 foe Minor.

“I’m extremely proud of our guys. We understood what was at stake and I thought our guys took a sense of urgency to get it going,” said Gardendale head coach Matt Plunkett. “I thought our offensive line answered the call tonight, just established the line of scrimmage and I think [Stephen] Lancaster had almost 200 yards rushing on 25 carries. That’s a big night right there.”

Lancaster, a senior, ran 186 yards on 24 calls to go with two first half touchdowns. He carried it four straight times on the opening drive of the game, ending it with a 14-yard burst up the middle for a 7-0 lead. He came back for another score on Gardendale’s third possession, this time bouncing off right tackle from a yard out. That goal line push gave the home team a 21-7 advantage midway through the second quarter.

Plunked praised his defense after the game, pointing to their back-to-back second half shutouts as the team has strung together three straight September wins.

After allowing a pair of early touchdowns (both short passes from Justin McConnico to Dominic Ellis), the Gardendale defense stood strong for a forced punt, an interception by Connor Howell, a fumble recovery by Xavier Skinner and a turnover on downs.

Offensively, the Rockets (3-2, 2-0) took advantage of those stops. Quarterback Michael Crowder blew the game open on a tricky fourth-and-long opportunity in the third frame. Buckeye was the name of the play, and it worked beautifully as Crowder rolled right and ripped a 24-yard touchdown strike down the left side to Bailey Parsons. Gardendale went ahead 28-14 with 6:42 remaining in the third.

Minor lost what little hope it had left moments later when Jayson Brooks ran 31 yards to the red zone and finished the drive with a short touchdown dart. Brooks finished the night with 55 yards on nine carries.

Gardendale ended the scoring with a four-yard touchdown run by starting linebacker Jacob Wright, who’s rarely seen in the offensive huddle.

Perhaps the play that best exemplifies Gardendale’s attitude coming into this crucial region test came with less than a minute remaining in the first quarter. It looked like a short reception from Crowder to Junior Owen Cupps, but the youngster fought through two defenders on his way to a 19-yard touchdown that put his team ahead 14-0 early.

“I broke down and sat in the void and had confidence in my quarterback to make the throw and I broke outside and saw the end zone,” said Cupps, who caught five passes for 113 yards on the night.

Crowder completed seven of his 12 attempts for 184 yards and two scores.

Gardendale steps out of region play next week when Chelsea comes to town.

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