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






2017 Team Previews 

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Gardendale Rockets

Head Coach: Matt Plunkett (fifth season)
Stadium: Driver Stadium
Career Record: 4 seasons, (31-17)
At Gardendale: 4 seasons, (31-17)
2017 Enrollment:  818
Rank:  58th in the AHSAA, 26th in Class 6A

 History 
Overall Record:   332-228-3   (59.0%)
Last 25 years:   125-146   (46.0%)  (Rank: 226th in the AHSAA, 38th in Class 6A)
Since 2010:   49-31  (61.0%)  (Rank: 110th in the AHSAA, 21st in Class 6A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2016
Last Region Championship:   2006
Last Winning Season:   2016
Last Losing Season:   2011

 2016 
Class:  6A              Region:   6
Record:  8-4
Region Record:   4-2, (second)
Playoff Record:   Second round loss to Muscle Shoals by a score of 17-13.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  364 (30.3)
Defense:  282 (23.5)

College Signees lost to Graduation
      Dawson Cazola,   OL  [North Alabama]
      Steven Crowder,   LB  [Eastern Kentucky]
      Andrew Freeman,   LB  [North Alabama]
      Kevin Howard,   WR  [Eastern Kentucky]
      Demetrius King,   LB  [North Alabama]

 2017 
Class: 6A              Region:   6
Strength of Schedule: 63-50 (56%) (73rd in the AHSAA, 11th in Class 6A)
Region Strength:  34-32 (52%)
Non-Region Strength:  29-18 (62%)



 2016 Results 
 8/19  @ Muscle Shoals  (6A)   14-10   W  
 8/26  vs. James Clemens  (7A)   26-13   W  
 9/2  vs. Pell City  (6A)   36-0   W  
 9/9  vs. Carver Birmingham  (6A)  *  55-18   W  
 9/16  @ Minor  (6A)  *  28-52   L  
 9/23  @ Chelsea  (6A)   21-38   L  
 9/30  vs. Clay-Chalkville  (6A)  *  20-23   L  
 10/7  @ Walker   *  35-28   W  
 10/14  vs. Pinson Valley  (6A)  *  34-31   W  
 10/21  @ Center Point  (6A)  *  54-26   W  
 10/28   OPEN 
 Playoffs 
 11/4  vs. Hueytown    28-26   W  
 11/11  @ Muscle Shoals    13-17   L  

 2017 Schedule 
 8/25  vs. Muscle Shoals  (6A)       
 9/1  @ James Clemens  (7A)       
 9/8  @ Pell City  (6A)       
 9/16  @ Carver Birmingham  (6A)  *      
 9/22  vs. Minor  (6A)  *      
 9/29  vs. Chelsea  (6A)       
 10/6  @ Clay-Chalkville  (6A)  *      
 10/13  vs. Jasper  (6A)  *      
 10/20  @ Pinson Valley  (6A)  *      
 10/26  vs. Center Point  (6A)  *      
 11/3   OPEN 
 11/10  @ Muscle Shoals        


Class  6A Region  6
Team 2016 Record Scoring                            
Carver Birmingham (6A) 5-5228-269
Center Point (6A) 0-10182-392
Clay-Chalkville (6A) 6-5322-370
Gardendale (6A) 8-4364-282
Jasper (6A) 4-6257-248
Minor (6A) 11-2631-298
Pinson Valley (6A) 8-4319-269

 2017 Preview 


       Gardendale completed the 2016 season with a 8-4 record. With their 4-2 region record and a second place finish in Class 6A region six, the Rockets earned a spot in the playoffs in 2016. Gardendale reached the second round of the playoffs before falling to Muscle Shoals by a score of 17-13.

       Since 2010, Gardendale has gone a combined 49-31. Their 61.0% winning percentage ranks 21st in Class 6A over the past seven seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Gardendale has managed to compile a record of 125-146. Their 46.0% winning percentage ranks 38th in Class 6A and 226th in the AHSAA.

       The Rockets are led by head coach Matt Plunkett who is entering his fifth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 31-17 over the past four seasons at Gardendale. Under his direction the Rockets have qualified for the playoffs a total of three times. They have not won a region crown with Coach Plunkett.

       Coach Plunkett's overall record as a head football coach in four season stands at 31-17 (64.6%).

       The Gardendale Rockets will play in Class 6A region six during the 2017 season.

       The Rockets will be in the mix for one of the last two playoff spots in region six this season.

      Senior Conner Howell returns after catching 61 passes for 966 yards and 7 touchdowns.

      Michael Crowder returns for his Senior season after completing 146 of 269 passes for 2,041 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also rushed for 212 yards.

      The defense returns Senior outside linebacker Austin Gooch (82 tackles), along with Senior defensive end Carson Smith who registered 74 tackles and 8 sacks for 32 yards in losses last season.

       The Rockets open the 2017 season at home against non-region opponent Muscle Shoals on Friday, August 25 at Driver Stadium. Last year the Muscle Shoals Trojans finished with an overall record of 7-6 and in fourth place in Class 6A region eight. The Trojans lost in the quarter-finals round of the Class 6A playoffs to Austin by a score of 27-21.

       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 2016 with Muscle Shoals winning by a score of 17-13.

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Demopolis scored a record 761 points during the 2004 season. The Tigers finished the season 15-0.