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






2016 Team Previews 

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Gardendale Rockets

Head Coach: Matt Plunkett (fourth season)
Stadium: Driver Stadium
Career Record: 3 seasons, (23-13)
At Gardendale: 3 seasons, (23-13)
2016 Enrollment:  818
Rank:  58th in the AHSAA, 26th in Class 6A

 History 
Overall Record:   324-224-3   (59.0%)
Last 25 years:   124-147   (46.0%)  (Rank: 226th in the AHSAA, 36th in Class 6A)
Since 2010:   41-27  (60.0%)  (Rank: 125th in the AHSAA, 21st in Class 6A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2015
Last Region Championship:   2006
Last Winning Season:   2015
Last Losing Season:   2011

 2015 
Class:  6A              Region:   6
Record:  10-3
Region Record:   5-1, (second)
Playoff Record:   Quarter-finals loss to Austin by a score of 53-38.
Final ASWA Poll:   10th
Scoring:  514 (39.5)    (Team record for points scored in a season)
Defense:  312 (24.0)


 2016 
Class: 6A              Region:   6
Strength of Schedule: 76-41 (65%) (9th in the AHSAA, 2nd in Class 6A)
Region Strength:  44-27 (62%)
Non-Region Strength:  32-14 (70%)

D1 Prospects
      Kevin Howard,  6-3,  200,  WR
      Steven Crowder,  6-1,  210,  ILB


 2015 Results 
 8/21   OPEN 
 8/28  vs. Hewitt-Trussville  (7A)   34-39   L  
 9/4  vs. Huffman  (6A)  *  34-6   W  
 9/11  @ Pinson Valley  (6A)  *  42-13   W  
 9/18  vs. Center Point  (6A)  *  49-8   W  
 9/25  @ Minor  (6A)   27-19   W  
 10/2  @ Shades Valley  (6A)  *  36-34   W  
 10/9  vs. Woodlawn  (6A)  *  42-6   W  
 10/16  @ Fort Payne  (6A)   38-28   W  
 10/23  @ Clay-Chalkville  (6A)  *  27-52   L  
 10/30  vs. Pelham  (6A)   61-12   W  
 Playoffs 
 11/5  vs. Hartselle    38-14   W  
 11/13  @ Walker    48-28   W  
 11/20  vs. Austin    38-53   L  

 2016 Schedule 
 8/19  @ Muscle Shoals  (6A)       
 8/26  vs. James Clemens  (7A)       
 9/2  vs. Pell City  (6A)       
 9/9  vs. Carver Birmingham  (6A)  *      
 9/16  @ Minor  (6A)  *      
 9/23  @ Chelsea  (6A)       
 9/30  vs. Clay-Chalkville  (6A)  *      
 10/7  @ Walker   *      
 10/14  vs. Pinson Valley  (6A)  *      
 10/21  @ Center Point  (6A)  *      
 10/28   OPEN 
 11/4  vs. Hueytown        
 11/11  @ Muscle Shoals        


Class  6A Region  6
Team 2015 Record Scoring                            
Carver Birmingham (5A) 5-5194-185
Center Point (6A) 1-968-327
Clay-Chalkville (6A) 14-1730-294
Gardendale (6A) 10-3514-312
Minor (6A) 8-5390-314
Pinson Valley (6A) 7-4236-230
Walker (6A) 9-3282-185

 2016 Preview 


       Gardendale completed the 2015 season with a 10-3 record. With their 5-1 region record and a second place finish in Class 6A region six, the Rockets earned a spot in the playoffs in 2015. Gardendale lost in the quarter-finals of the playoffs last season to a good Austin team by a score of 53-38.

       The Rockets won as many games as in any season since 2002. The 514 points scored by the Rockets last year were a team record in a single season.

       Since 2010, Gardendale has gone a combined 41-27. Their 60.0% winning percentage ranks 21st in Class 6A over the past six seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Gardendale has managed to compile a record of 124-147. Their 46.0% winning percentage ranks 36th in Class 6A and 226th in the AHSAA.

       The Rockets are led by head coach Matt Plunkett who is entering his fourth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 23-13 over the past three seasons at Gardendale. Under his direction the Rockets have qualified for the playoffs a total of two times. They have not won a region crown with Coach Plunkett.

       Coach Plunkett's overall record as a head football coach in three season stands at 23-13 (63.9%).

       The Gardendale Rockets will play in Class 6A region six during the 2016 season. The Rockets have one of the toughest schedules in Class 6A. Their opponents had a combined record of 76-41 last season. That ranks 2nd in Class 6A and 9th in the AHSAA.

       Region six will be one of the most competitive regions in any classification this season. The Rockets should be in contention for a playoff spot in region six this season. They will be looking to gain an advantage by hosting a first round postseason game.

      The defense will be led by senior linebackers Steven Crowder and Andrew Freeman who registered 300 tackles and 19 sacks last season combined.

       The Rockets open the 2016 season on the road against non-region opponent Muscle Shoals on Friday, August 19 at J.F. Moore Stadium. Last year the Muscle Shoals Trojans finished with an overall record of 11-1 and in first place in Class 6A region eight. The Trojans lost in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs to Minor by a score of 23-16.

       Gardendale and Muscle Shoals have met a total of 6 times on the football field. The Rockets have a 1-5-0 record against the Trojans. They last met in with

       Gardendale returns 6A All-State Senior defensive lineman Andrew Freeman. He was named to the second team last season.

       College prospects include: Kevin Howard (6-3, 200) receiver, Steven Crowder (6-1, 210) inside linebacker,

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Bart Starr received coaching from Kentucky great Babe Parilli his senior season at Sidney Lanier in hopes of joining Bear Bryant at Kentucky. He had to settle for Alabama.