The Gardendale Rockets (5-3, 3-2 Class 6A, Region 6) knew exactly what they had to do Friday night at Shades Valley (2-6, 1-4) and they got it done.

Gardendale needed a win to get into the playoffs. And with 0:05 left on the clock and Shades Valley throwing for the end zone to potentially tie the game, the Rockets’ defense stood strong and broke up the pass to end the game and give Gardendale a 28-21 win over Class 6A, Region 6 foe Shades Valley.

The first half started out well for the Rockets with the defense playing strong and forcing the Mounties to make a few mistakes early and set the stage for the first score of the game—a beautiful 51-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Goose Crowder to senior wide receiver Colt Belcher. The Mounties would answer with a score of their own with 2:30 left in the first quarter with a 40-yard pass to end the first quarter with Shades Valley leading 8-7.

The second half would prove to be a defensive battle with the Rockets missing a 32-yard field goal, but Crowder would answer with a 7-yard touchdown run to give the Rockets a 14-8 halftime lead.

Gardendale would receive the second half kick and march right down the field on the legs of senior running back Jacob Wright, who carried the ball six times for 55 yards and a touchdown to give the Rockets a 21-8 lead.  

With 3:38 left on the clock, the Mounties would finally reach the end zone to even things up at 21-all.

With playoff hopes on the line, Crowder and the Rockets put together a beautiful 73-yard, nine-play drive that was capped off by an 11-yard touchdown run by Jacob Wright with 1:21 left in the game. The Gardendale defense would hold on the final Shades Valley drive to escape Frank Nix Stadium with a huge victory and a spot in the state playoffs.

“All wins are great wins and it was good to find a way to win this one, we are a young team and this will help down the road in the playoffs,” said Gardendale head coach Chad Eads.

The Rockets will welcome the Oxford Yellow Jackets to Driver Stadium next week as they celebrate senior night.