The #4 Gardendale Rockets will travel to play the #8 Minor Tigers in a key battle in Class 6A, Region 6 contest. Both teams come into the game undefeated while Minor is 2-0 in the region, while Gardendale is 1-0 in the region.
Gardendale comes into the game with an offense averaging 32.8 points per game. Quarterback Michael Crowder leads the Rockets offense. This season through four games, Crowder has completed 43-of-81 for 594 yards and four touchdowns without an interception.
Not only can the Rockets throw the football, they can run the ball as well. Running back Demetrius King leads the ground attack. Last week against Carver-Birmingham, King had 175 yards on 19 carries for a 9.2 yards per carry average and five touchdowns. For the season, King has 337 yards on 52 carries with a 6.5 yards per carry average and eight touchdowns. When King comes out of the game, Omari Burton gets some carries for the Rockets. For the season, Burton has 237 yards on 51 carries and two touchdowns.
The Rockets have weapons on offense. On the season, wide Receiver Kevin Howard has six catches for 88 yards and a touchdown, Connor Howell has 12 catches for 140 yards and Stephen Lancaster has nine catches for 106 yards.
Senior Dawson Cazola leads the offensive line for the Rockets. Lineman Tyler Franks & Adrian Gooch look to produce holes for the Gardendale running backs and to give time for Crowder to find his receivers.
If your going to talk about the Rockets defense, Steven Crowder is going to be in that conversation. The middle linebacker leads the team with 59 tackles and five tackles for loss this year. The Navy Academy verbal commit gives a lot of leadership on the Rockets defense. Steven Crowder has one catch for a touchdown earlier in the season against James Clemens.
Linebacker Andrew Freeman is next in line with 49 tackles but leads the team with tackles for loss with seven. Linebacker Austin Gooch has 33 tackles and one tackle for loss this season. One area tonight to watch in this game is the matchup with these three linebackers against the Minor offense. Sterling Stone leads the defensive lineman. Jacob Wright and Josh Hobbard will also be key players in the Rockets defense.
For Minor, the Tigers are averaging a whopping 52.3 pointer per game on offense. The Tigers offense is led by JaCure' Jackson. For the season, the senior QB is 39-of-67 passing for 865 yards with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions. The 6-foot 4, 225-pound quarterback can easily sit over the opposing teams line and find the open receiver. "Jacure' has done everything that we have asked him to do this season," said Tigers Head coach George Bates. "We just need him to be himself Friday night and keep doing the things he has done the previous four games." Jackson adds 124 yards on 27 carries & four touchdowns on the ground.
Jackson has plenty of weapons on offense. On special one though is Jaylond Adams. "He does everything for us on offense and special teams," added Bates. "He does everything for us. A track guy with 4.3 speed that has good hands." On the season, Adams has 247 yards on 12 receptions with a 20.6 yards per catch average and six touchdowns. Last week, Adams scored on a kickoff return, punt return, rushing and receiving for a four touchdown night against Center Point. On the ground, Adams has 199 yards on 12 carries with a 12.2 yards per carry average and two touchdowns this season. "Jaylond is such a competitor that wants the ball in his hands at all times," said Bates. "He is such a game changer and can take the distance on any play he touches the ball. He is a special kid."
Dominic Ellis has 184 yards on 28 yards and three touchdowns at running back. Delonte Evans has 309 yards on 13 receptions and four touchdowns for the Minor offense. Deandre Charleston has 204 yards on 10 catches and three touchdowns this season. This will be a good challenge for the Rockets defense Friday night keeping the Minor offense in check.
Some of the big boys that do the blocking for the Tigers. Tackle Obra Satterfield leads the way for the Minor. Included on the line is Lewis Maldonado, Omari Birl and Larry Broddy.
Coach Bates calls the Minor defense the no name defense because they are 11 guys that just fly to the ball. Cornerback Yul Gowdy has played an important part of the Tigers defense along with other cornerback Justin Brown. Defensive end Stacey Willis has been strong on the defensive line position. Linebacker Larry Ellis looks to stop the Rockets running back. "We have a lunch pail defense, we just bring the hard work every practice," added Bates. "They work hard everyday in practice, playing for the guy beside them." Gowdy has offers from Jacksonville State and Alabama A&M.
Both teams can run the ball and throw the ball on offense. Both defenses with have challenges stopping each other in this game. Look for some points to be scored this Friday night.
