Gardendale locks up their 7th consecutive playoff berth

Gardendale, AL – The Gardendale Rockets locked up their seventh consecutive trip to the AHSAA postseason Friday night with their win 28-20 over the 10th ranked Jackson-Olin Mustangs.  

The Rockets, who have advanced to the playoffs in each of head coach Chad Eads’ four seasons in Gardendale, are projected to enter as the four seed from Region 6.  

Undefeated and No. 1 ranked Clay-Chalkville locked up the Region 6 crown Friday night with their 42-32 win over Pinson Valley.  The Rockets are locked in a three-way tie for second at 3-2 in region play along side the Pinson Valley Indians and Jackson-Olin Mustangs, all of which have earned a playoff berth.  

The three team logjam triggers a series of tiebreakers, which in this case rolls to the AHSAA’s tiebreaker L.  

If each of the three second ranked teams earn victories this Friday night, Jackson-Olin (6-2, 3-2) will likely claim the No. 2 seed with Pinson Valley (5-3, 3-2) taking the three seed and Gardendale drawing the four spot.  

If current projections hold, the Rockets will likely travel to north Alabama to take on the Region 8 champion and undefeated Hartselle Tigers on November 5th to kick-off the AHSAA 6A playoffs.  

The Rockets, who close out region play this Friday night at Driver Stadium against the Mortimer Jordan Blue Devils (2-6, 1-4), have an impressive record in postseason play having advanced past the first round in six of their last seven playoff appearances.