Gritty Hornets fall at Gardendale
GARDENDALE -- This is not an 0-6 football team.
There are six losses against zero wins for the Chelsea High School football team this season, but the Hornets are far from a team void of talent that loses its composure and quits. Just ask Gardendale head coach Matt Plunkett, whose Rockets defeated Chelsea 41-28 on Friday night at Driver Stadium.
“That team was mentally ready to play tonight,” Plunkett said. “They played like they didn’t want to be 0-6. They were trying to get that first win, and that’s hats off to (Chelsea head coach) Chris Elmore and that coaching staff. That was probably the most heart of any team I’ve seen this year. That’s a bunch of heart, and I wish I could figure out how to get some of that over here. We’ve got talent, but we’ve got to have more heart, more fight and more mental toughness about us.”
Chelsea made Gardendale earn its homecoming win. After Gardendale went up 7-0 on a 1-yard run by Stephen Lancaster, Chelsea answered fewer than two minutes later when Kendrick Simpson broke loose for a 55-yard touchdown run to tie the game late in the first quarter.
Gardendale scored on the first play of the second quarter when quarterback Michael Crowder hit Connor Howell for a 29-yard score. Chelsea answered with a nine-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 2-yard scoring run from Simpson. Will Crowder gave the Rockets (4-2) a 21-14 lead when he went eight yards on an end-around with 5:12 until halftime. Michael Crowder found Omari Hood for a 29-yard touchdown with 3:44 left until the half to give Gardendale a 28-14 advantage. A three-and-out by Chelsea resulted in a 13-play drive for the Rockets, who went up 31-14 at halftime on a 24-yard field goal by Landon Erbrick.
Chelsea quarterback Turner Griffin was intercepted by Howell on the Hornets’ first drive of the third quarter, and Lancaster found pay dirt five plays later to put the Rockets up 38-14. Chelsea found momentum in freshman running back Collier Blair, who took a toss and threw a perfect pass to a streaking Colton Carter for a 34-yard score late in the third quarter.
Erbrick booted a 37-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to put Gardendale up 41-21, but Blair answered on the ensuing drive, punching in a touchdown from two yards out. Gardendale recovered Chelsea’s onside kick attempt with 4:20 to play and was able to run the clock out and win 41-28.
“That’s what we always talk about, not giving up,” Elmore said. “You don’t become a failure until you quit, and I was glad we didn’t quit and kept fighting. We just didn’t make enough plays to win the game.”
For Chelsea, Griffin finished 4-of-11 for 64 yards and two interceptions. Simpson rushed 12 times for 82 yards and two touchdowns, while Blair accounted for 74 yards on the ground on 14 carries. He also threw a touchdown pass.
For Gardendale, Michael Crowder completed 17-of-27 passes for 307 yards and two scores. Howell caught 11 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown. He also intercepted a pass on defense. Lancaster rushed 24 times for 170 yards and two touchdowns.
Like most in Driver Stadium on Friday night, Elmore doesn’t see an 0-6 team on his sideline.
“We don’t practice like an 0-6 team either,” he said. “The reality is we’ve played six really good football teams.”
Plunkett was happy about his Rockets’ fourth straight victory, but he kept coming back to Chelsea’s fight.
“I know the record says 0-6, but that isn’t an 0-6 football team,” he said. “Those suckers are flippin’ good.”
Chelsea takes next week off before hosting region foe Opelika on Oct. 13.
“All we can do is all we can do,” Elmore said. “That’s what we’re going to keep doing. They’re doing the right thing. Whether it rewards them this season or some time later in life, it’s going to reward them for continuing to show up and do the right thing, and I’m proud of them for that.”