Gardendale blanks Bessemer City 39-0

Bessemer, AL – The Gardendale Rockets improved to 2-0 with a 39-0 drubbing of the Bessemer City Purple Tigers (0-2) Friday night in west Jefferson County. 

A huge first quarter, which included a pair of touchdown passes from Tyler Nelson, rushing scores courtesy of LT Sanders and Jonathan Harris and a blocked punt – returned 30 yards for a score by Dallas Young, put the Rockets up 34-0 at the end of the first period.  

The visitors added five more points to the scoreboard after the break. The Rocket defense converted a bad Bessemer snap into a safety in the third followed by a 21 yard Kyle Norris field goal in the final frame to secure the Rockets’ third consecutive victory over the Purple Tigers.  

Sanders finished the night with 87 yards on three attempts, including a 76 yard first quarter touchdown run.  Harris carried the ball 12 times for 73 yards and a score.  Norris, who was making his second career start under center, completed 5-of-10 passes for 55 yards and two scores.  

Head coach Chad Eads’ Rockets will christen their new synthetic turf field next Friday night as they welcome the defensing state champion and No. 3 ranked Pinson Valley Indians (1-1) to Driver Stadium.  Bessemer City opens 6A Region 4 play on the road at rival Hueytown (1-1).