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   The best of the best in Alabama High   
  School Football over the past 100 seasons.






2023 Team Previews 

  


Gardendale Rockets

Head Coach: Chad Eads (sixth season)
Career Record: 5 seasons, (42-20)
At Gardendale: 5 seasons, (42-20)
Stadium: Driver Stadium
2022 Enrollment:  784
Rank:  63rd in the AHSAA, 31st in Class 6A

 History 
Overall Record:   380-253-3   (60.0%)
Last 25 years:   163-121   (57.0%)  (Rank: 116th in the AHSAA, 23rd in Class 6A)
Since 2010:   97-56  (63.4%)  (Rank: 85th in the AHSAA, 18th in Class 6A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2022
Last Region Championship:   2022
Last Winning Season:   2022
Last Losing Season:   2011

 2022 
Class:  6A              Region:   5
Record:  9-4
Region Record:   6-0, (first)
Playoff Record:   Quarter-finals loss to Muscle Shoals by a score of 38-7.
Final ASWA Poll:   10th
Scoring:  401 (30.8)
Defense:  279 (21.5)


 2023 
Class: 6A              Region:   5
Strength of Schedule: 64-50 (56%) (70th in the AHSAA, 12th in Class 6A)
Region Strength:  35-33 (52%)
Non-Region Strength:  29-17 (63%)



 2022 Results 
 8/19  @ James Clemens  (7A)   41-34   W  
 8/26  vs. Calhoun GA    30-31   L  
 9/2  vs. Mortimer Jordan  (6A)  *  63-21   W  
 9/9   OPEN 
 9/17  @ Parker  (6A)  *  27-14   W  
 9/23  @ Austin  (7A)   10-17   L  
 9/30  vs. Jackson-Olin  (6A)  *  40-6   W  
 10/7  @ Minor  (6A)  *  34-14   W  
 10/14  vs. Woodlawn  (6A)  *  37-20   W  
 10/21  @ Mountain Brook  (6A)  *  29-28   W  
 10/27  vs. Hueytown  (6A)   21-35   L  
 Playoffs 
 11/4  vs. Oxford    31-14   W  
 11/11  @ Decatur    31-7   W  
 11/18  vs. Muscle Shoals    7-38   L  

 2023 Schedule 
 8/25  vs. James Clemens  (7A)       
 9/1  @ North Gwinnett GA        
 9/8  @ Mortimer Jordan  (6A)  *      
 9/15   OPEN 
 9/22  vs. Parker  (6A)  *      
 9/29  vs. Austin  (7A)       
 10/5  @ Jackson-Olin  (6A)  *      
 10/13  vs. Minor  (6A)  *      
 10/20  @ Woodlawn  (6A)  *      
 10/27  vs. Mountain Brook  (6A)  *      
 11/2  @ Hueytown  (6A)       
 11/10  @ Gadsden City        


Class  6A Region  5
Team 2022 Record Region Scoring                            
Gardendale (6A) 9-4 6-0401-279
Mountain Brook (6A) 12-3 5-1566-225
Jackson-Olin (6A) 4-7 3-3124-266
Parker (6A) 7-5 3-3277-238
Minor (6A) 4-6 2-4248-251
Woodlawn (6A) 6-4 2-4172-212
Mortimer Jordan (6A) 2-8 0-6197-306

 2023 Preview 


       Gardendale completed the 2022 season with a 9-4 record. Last year Gardendale captured the region five title and a number one seed in the Class 6A playoffs. They finished region play with a 6-0 record. It was the first region championship for the Rockets since the 2006 season. Gardendale lost in the quarter-finals of the playoffs last season to a good Muscle Shoals team by a score of 38-7.

       Since 2010, Gardendale has gone a combined 97-56. Their 63.4% winning percentage ranks 18th in Class 6A over the past thirteen seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Gardendale has managed to compile a record of 163-121. Their 57.0% winning percentage ranks 23rd in Class 6A and 116th in the AHSAA.




       The Rockets are led by head coach Chad Eads who is entering his sixth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 42-20 over the past five seasons at Gardendale. Under his direction the Rockets have qualified for the playoffs a total of five times. They have won one region crown with Coach Eads.

       The Rockets enter the 2023 season having won 10 straight region games.

       The Rockets should be in contention for a playoff spot in region five this season. Hosting a first round playoff game on their home turf would be an advantage. They have reached the playoffs every year since 2013 and will once again be in the hunt for a spot in 2023.

       The Rockets open the 2023 season at home against non-region opponent James Clemens on Friday, August 25 at Driver Stadium. Last year the James Clemens Jets finished with an overall record of 4-6 and in fifth place in Class 7A region four.

       Gardendale and James Clemens have met a total of 5 times on the football field. The Rockets have a 2-3-0 record against the Jets. They last met in 2022 with Gardendale winning by a score of 41-34.

       Gardendale lost 6A All-State  defensive lineman Kelby Collins to graduation. He was named to the first team last season. Also graduating were teammates defensive back Dallas Young and athlete Tyler Nelson.

       The Rockets return 6A All-State Senior offensive lineman Lawson Hughes. He was named to the honorable mention team last season.

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

In 1925 Langdale tied a record by defeating Milltown 125-0. Hamilton had set the record by thrashing Fayette 125-0 in 1915.