Gardendale running back Demetrius King runs through tackles on Friday Night in Driver Stadium. 

Gardendale (4-3) came up a little short on Friday night in Class 6A, Region 6 action.

The Rockets fought back, but couldn’t quite catch Clay-Chalkville (5-2) in a 23-20 league loss at Driver Stadium.

It was a clean passing performance from Cougars’ sophomore Willie Miller that put the visitors on top, 23-7, with little over nine minuter remaining in the third frame. He finished 18-of-25 passing for 264 yards, three touchdowns and an interception by Parker Chambers.

Miller connected with Tony Gurley out of the backfield for his second score of the night. The completion went for seven yards and gave Clay-Chalkville a 16-7 edge with less than a minute remaining in the first half. Moments earlier, Miller went to Terrill Cole over the middle for a 59-yard touchdown on third-and-14.

His favorite target was 6-foot-5 senior Nico Collins, who finished with six receptions for 113 yards and a third-quarter score.

“Our guy [David Moorer] did everything he could to defend [Collins],” said Gardendale head coach Matt Plunkett. “We were in coverage and [Collins] just made plays.”

After that 20-yard touchdown strike from Miller to Collins, Gardendale stormed back from a 23-7 deficit. Quarterback Michael Crowder got the rally started by finishing a nine-play drive with a touchdown toss to Omari Burton from 19 yards out.

The Rockets’ defense then held Clay-Chalkville to a turnover on downs, followed by Chambers’ interception. That’s when Crowder struck for his second score of the evening—a beautiful 16-yard fade into the hands of a sliding Conner Howell.

Crowder to Howell pulled the home team closer at 20-23 with 2:45 remaining in the contest. The onside kick was recovered by the Cougars, who killed most of the clock before turning the ball over on downs with 14 seconds remaining.

Crowder’s Hail Mary attempt from his own 5-yard line was intercepted by Collins, ending the game at 23-20.

Plunkett’s one regret from the night came on a fourth-and-two early in the fourth frame. With Gardendale trailing 23-13, Crowder came up inches short on an option keeper, turning the ball over to the Cougars who began killing clock.

“I wish I would have had a better play call on fourth-and-two. I thought that was the difference in the game,” said Plunkett. “If we get that first down, I believe we win the game.”

“Tonight I feel like we became a family. We fought together. We did not give up, and that’s what I asked of these kids. I’m proud to be a Gardendale Rocket,” he continued.

For Gardendale, Steven Crowder ran in the first touchdown of the night, going four yards for a 7-3 lead early in the second frame. Michael finished 16-of-28 passing for 171 yards and two scores.

Demetrius King led the Rockets in rushing with 63 yards off 10 carries.

Gardendale visits Walker next week in region play. Clay-Chalkville hosts Carver-Birmingham.

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