GARDENDALE, Alabama -- After Gardendale kicked a field goal in overtime to take a three point lead to start the overtime period, Strother Gibbs found the end zone on a 1-yard touchdown run to give 7A Mountain Brook a 13-10 hard fought victory over 6A Gardendale at Gardendale High School on Friday night. Mountain Brook had two attempts at field goals late in regulation, but failed on the two attempts mostly due to a new holder that had to be inserted due to injury on the regular holder. 

Mountain Brook (8-2) had a methodical drive late in the fourth quarter and had a short field goal for the win, but was not attempted on a bad exchange between the center and holder. Gardendale took over the ball at their own three yard line but two plays later they fumbled and gave the ball right back to Mountain Brook for another scoring opportunity. With :09 seconds left in the game, Mountain Brook had another field goal attempt but is was blocked by Kaniji Chandler and the Rockets escaped and took the game to overtime.

Gardendale (7-3) took the ball first in overtime and had three plays before they settled on a Landon Erbrick 24-yard field goal and Gardendale took the 10-7 lead. "We knew that they were going to run the ball right us," said Spartans linebacker Clark Griffin. "We just had to stop them and force the field goal. We just have to keep the defense rolling in the playoffs."

Mountain Brook took over after the Rockets score and took four plays to score on the Gibbs one-yard touchdown run. "It was a great win for our team," said the Spartans QB Gibbs. "It's all heart from the offensive line. Everyone had to give heart for that play to work. They knew what we were running, we knew what we were running so it came down to who ever wanted it more and we wanted it more."

There was not much scoring in the game due to the cold weather and two solid defenses. With 2:10 left in the first quarter, Gardendale struck first on offense. LT Sanders scored on a 6-yard touchdown run around the right side of the offfensive line for a score. The Rockets led 7-0 late in the first quarter. 

Mountain Brook looked like it was going to respond early in the second quarter but Derek Carter picked off a Spartans pass in the end zone to take away a scoring opportunity for Spartans. WIth 2:30 left in the half, Gibbs ran 41-yards for a touchdown breaking through the middle of the line then bouncing it outside for a long run and a score for the Spartans. With the touchdown, the Spartans tied the game at 7-7.

There was no scoring in the third and fourth quarters but Mountain Brook forced two turnovers in the second half. Will Yarbro had the fumble recovery that setup the second Mountain Brook field goal. Blake Pugh picked off a Rockets pass. 

"We have encourged our team to be great finishers," said Spartans head coach Chris Yeager. "It about playing hard every play. We knew that this was going to be a physical game. Proud of our kids with these eight wins. They have a heck of a year. We have the most important season coming up but I'm very proud of our players and coaches."

The playoffs are in the future for both teams but both have to go on the road. Up next, Gardendale travels to Minor while Mountain Brook takes on Florence.