Gardendale 21, Fort Payne 14

Gardendale on Friday became the second Class 6A No. 4-seed in the last three seasons to knock off a region champion in the playoffs.

Behind a two-touchdown effort from quarterback Goose Crowder, the Rockets (6-5) came back from DeKalb County with a 21-14 victory that extends their season into the second round of the state playoffs.

Gardendale will host tenth-ranked Homewood next week.

Crowder finished 4 of 9 passing for 155 yards and a 66-yard touchdown pass to Owen Cupps on the first drive of the game. He also ran with it 14 times for 103 yards and a touchdown.

Junior kicker Landon Erbrick played a vital role for the Rockets, thumping a pair of 37-yard field goals through the uprights in the first half. His first make gave Gardendale a 10-0 lead with 3:22 remaining in the first frame. He extended that lead to 13-0 early in the second.

A 13-yard touchdown run pulled Fort Payne to within 21-14 midway through the fourth, but that score would later go final.

Gardendale outgained the home team 311-232, despite 123 yards in penalties.

Clay-Central 34, Corner 8

Corner closes out head coach Jon Clements’ first season with a record of 6-5.

With a first-round playoff win over the Yellow Jackets, Clay-Central advances to play Madison Academy in Round 2.