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 Gardendale at Clay-Chalkville | Friday - October 23, 2015 | Class 6A, Region 6 Game 
#13 WR T.J. Simmons (Clay-Chalkville) Photo by Stephen Schumacher

The #8 Gardendale Rockets travel to #1 Clay-Chalkville for a Class 6A, Region 6 title game at Cougar Stadium on Friday night. Both teams enter the game 5-0 in the region and the winner will get the trophy and the #1 Region 6 seed in the 2015 playoffs.

This looks to be a high scoring game with these two offenses coming into the game. "I have seen a lot of tape on Gardendale and have a good mix of kids and scheme," said Cougars Head coach Jerry Hood. "This is going to be one heck of a game."

For Gardendale, the Rockets come into the game with a 7-1 overall record with their only blemish was a 39-34 loss that came to Hewitt-Trussville to start the season. Since then, the Rockets have realed off seven straight wins.

Zach Cupps runs the Gardendale offense that is averaging 38.0 points per game. Cupps has completed 77-of-125 passing for 1,159 yards with 12 touchdowns and only five interceptions. Along with that, the senior QB has 266 yards on 54 carries and seven touchdowns. "They have a great quarterback that we are very a where of him," added Hood. "As far as being a big threat with his arm, he can run the ball very well."

A position of strength is the offensive line this season. All five lineman return from last year. Tackles Dawson Cazola and Jarrett Childress, guards Jacob Johnson and Del Estis with Trent Mayfield at center. These five started the last six games along with the three playoff games.

The running backs have been good running behind that experienced offensive line. Dequa Houston has 505 yards on 96 carries for a 5.3 yard per carry average and seven touchdowns. Behind him is Tye Dunklin with 481 yards on 86 carries with a 5.6 yard per carry average and four touchdowns.

The receiving unit has a lot of weapons to go to. Pinson Valley transfer Kevin Howard played in his first game against Fort Payne and had seven catches for 138 yards last week. He could be a really difference maker for the Rockets passing game. Reagan Padgett has 32 receptions for 436 yards and three touchdowns in eight games. Blake Zumbado has 12 receptions for 288 yards and three touchdowns this season.

The Gardendale defense will be tested giving up around 20 points per game. Linebacker Steven Crowder leads the Rockets in tackles. The sophomore has 99 tackles with five tackles for loss on the season. Junior middle linebacker/defensive end Andrew Freeman has 91 tackles with six tackles for loss this season. Crowder and Freeman both have six sacks. Padgett leads the team with three interceptions and could be very busy in the Rockets secondary for this game.

For Clay-Chalkville, the Cougars come into this game undefeated at 8-0. The Cougars have played an up and down schedule this season due to some of the teams that they have played in the region are down this season. The good thing about a weaker schedule is you can get players healthy not having to play starters for four quarters. "We have a tough one this week with a good Gardendale team coming into our place to play," said Hood. "We haven't played four quarters this season since the Hillcrest game, but the good thing about it is the we have practiced hard during the weeks so we believe we can go four quarters when we need to."

The Clay-Chalkville offense has been off the charts the last two season. When healthy, they are the best in the state. The Cougars are averaging 51.8 points per game. The Cougars have outscored their opponents 130 to 23 in the first quarter and 153 to 13 in the second quarter. So with the Cougars leading games 283 to 36 at halftime, the starters can rest a lot of games in the second half.

Quarterback Tyrelle Pigrome can make a big play at anytime on the field. He has the arm and the legs to make a difference in a game. "Ty is a lot more mature, he knows what to do when the team needs it," said Hood. "He can still be physical running the football but now he understands it is to our team benefit if he is still around at the end of the game so he might need to slide on the ground and not take the hit. His reads, throws and his ability to run the football is good or even better than it was last year. Pigrome has completed 91-of-131 passing (69.5%) for 1,743 with 21 touchdowns. Also, the senior QB has 505 yards on only 49 carries for a 10.3 yard per carry average with seven touchdowns. That is 2,248 total yards in eight games.

At receiver for the Cougars, they present a lot of problems for the opposing teams. WR T.J. Simmons (Alabama commitment) stands at 6-3, 185 pounds that can either take a short pass or go long with the best of them. "At any other school, T.J. could play wide receiver, quarterback, running back, linebacker or safety," said Hood. "He is a tough kid that can block very well. He has great hands with a lot of speed. We put him in different positions and he can be a challenge with opposing defenses." Simmons has 18 receptions for 595 for a whopping 33.0 yard per catch average with eight touchdowns.

The other big weapon on the outside is wide receiver Nico Collins. The junior WR has 34 receptions for 660 yards with 10 touchdowns. Desmond Williams has 17 receptions for 312 yards and two touchdowns.

In the running game with Pigrome, Brandon Berry has 493 yards on 63 carries (7.8 avg) with five touchdowns. A.J. Walker has 255 yards on 63 carries (5.9 avg) with six touchdowns.

The defense is averaging giving up only 4.0 points per game in the first half and 8.3 points per game in the second half. Linebacker Terrence Muse has 27 tackles, safety Nick Battle has 25 tackles with one tackle for loss and an interception and defensive end Cole Baker has 21 tackles with two tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks this season. "The defense has done a great job of working together as a group," added Hood.

The good thing that will happen after the game, we will have a region champion for the winner. The good thing for the loser, there season will not be over, they will have a number two seed in the 2015 playoffs that will be coming soon.

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