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






2022 Team Previews 

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Gardendale Rockets

Head Coach: Chad Eads (fifth season)
Career Record: 4 seasons, (33-16)
At Gardendale: 4 seasons, (33-16)
Stadium: Driver Stadium
2022 Enrollment:  784
Rank:  63rd in the AHSAA, 31st in Class 6A

 History 
Overall Record:   371-249-3   (60.0%)
Last 25 years:   157-124   (56.0%)  (Rank: 129th in the AHSAA, 31st in Class 6A)
Since 2010:   88-52  (62.9%)  (Rank: 95th in the AHSAA, 19th in Class 6A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2021
Last Region Championship:   2006
Last Winning Season:   2021
Last Losing Season:   2011

 2021 
Class:  6A              Region:   6
Record:  10-3
Region Record:   4-2, (fourth)
Playoff Record:   Quarter-finals loss to Clay-Chalkville by a score of 50-44.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  368 (28.3)
Defense:  270 (20.8)


 2022 
Class: 6A              Region:   5
Strength of Schedule: 76-43 (64%) (10th in the AHSAA, 2nd in Class 6A)
Region Strength:  37-31 (54%)
Non-Region Strength:  39-12 (76%)

Players to Watch
      Kelby Collins,  DL
      Dallas Young,  DB


 2021 Results 
 8/20  @ Sparkman  (7A)   34-20   W  
 8/27  @ Bessemer City  (6A)   39-0   W  
 9/3  vs. Pinson Valley  (6A)  *  21-38   L  
 9/10  vs. Clay-Chalkville  (6A)  *  0-46   L  
 9/17  @ Jasper  (6A)  *  1-0   #Won  
 9/24  @ Shades Valley  (6A)   33-0   W  
 10/1   OPEN 
 10/8  @ Minor  (6A)  *  31-14   W  
 10/15  vs. Jackson-Olin  (6A)  *  28-20   W  
 10/22  vs. Mortimer Jordan  (6A)  *  40-13   W  
 10/28  vs. Florence  (7A)   27-14   W  
 Playoffs 
 11/5  @ Hartselle    35-28   W  
 11/12  @ Homewood    35-27   W  
 11/19  @ Clay-Chalkville    44-50   L (OT) 

 2022 Schedule 
 8/19  @ James Clemens  (7A)       
 8/26  vs. Calhoun GA        
 9/2  vs. Mortimer Jordan  (6A)  *      
 9/9   OPEN 
 9/17  @ Parker  (6A)  *      
 9/23  @ Austin  (7A)       
 9/30  vs. Jackson-Olin  (6A)  *      
 10/7  @ Minor  (6A)  *      
 10/14  vs. Woodlawn  (6A)  *      
 10/21  @ Mountain Brook  (6A)  *      
 10/27  vs. Hueytown  (6A)       
 11/4  vs. Oxford        
 11/11  @ Decatur        
 11/18  vs. Muscle Shoals        


Class  6A Region  5
Team 2021 Record Scoring                            
Gardendale (6A) 10-3368-270
Jackson-Olin (6A) 9-3408-277
Minor (6A) 2-7204-321
Mortimer Jordan (6A) 2-8214-394
Mountain Brook (6A) 12-2477-120
Parker (5A) 11-2514-306
Woodlawn (6A) 1-9144-405

 2022 Preview 


       Gardendale completed the 2021 season with a 10-3 record. With their 4-2 region record and a fourth place finish in Class 6A region six, the Rockets earned a spot in the playoffs in 2021. Gardendale lost in the quarter-finals of the playoffs last season to a good Clay-Chalkville team by a score of 50-44.

       The Rockets won as many games as in any season since 2015.

       Since 2010, Gardendale has gone a combined 88-52. Their 62.9% winning percentage ranks 19th in Class 6A over the past twelve seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Gardendale has managed to compile a record of 157-124. Their 56.0% winning percentage ranks 31st in Class 6A and 129th in the AHSAA.




       The Rockets are led by head coach Chad Eads who is entering his fifth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 33-16 over the past four seasons at Gardendale. Under his direction the Rockets have qualified for the playoffs a total of four times. They have not won a region crown with Coach Eads.

       Coach Eads' overall record as a head football coach in four season stands at 33-16 (67.3%).

       Coach Eads has improved each season his has been in Gardendale. Is this the year of the Rockets? They lost to eventual state champion Clay-Chalkville in overtime last year.

       The Gardendale Rockets will play in Class 6A region five during the 2022 season. Following realignment, the Rockets remain in 6A but move from region six over to region five. The Rockets have one of the toughest schedules in Class 6A. Their opponents had a combined record of 76-43 last season. That ranks 2nd in Class 6A and 10th in the AHSAA.

       The Rockets enter the 2022 season riding a 6 game regular season winning streak.

       The Rockets should be in contention for a playoff spot in region five this season. They will be looking to gain an advantage by hosting a first round postseason game. They have reached the playoffs every year since 2013 and will once again be in the hunt for a spot in 2022.

      

       The Rockets open the 2022 season on the road against non-region opponent James Clemens on Friday, August 19 at Madison City Schools Stadium. Last year the James Clemens Jets finished with an overall record of 10-1 and in first place in Class 7A region four. The Jets lost in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs to Oak Mountain by a score of 38-35.

       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 2017 with James Clemens winning by a score of 26-14.

       Gardendale returns 6A All-State Senior defensive back Dallas Young. He was named to the second team last season. The Rockets also return Senior defensive lineman Kelby Collins. He was named to the first team.

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Foley outscored their opponents 433-6 in 1961. The Lions were named state champions by the Alabama Sports Writers Association that season.