Spain Park Secures First Undefeated Regular Season With Victory Over Gardendale

GARDENDALE, AL – The Spain Park Jaguars, ranked No. 4 in Class 6A, concluded their regular season with a decisive 35-12 victory over the Gardendale Rockets Friday night at Driver Stadium. 

The win secured the Jaguars’ first-ever perfect 10-0 regular season. The milestone is the second for head coach Tim Vakakes, who led the Jackson-Olin Mustangs to a 10-0 regular season mark in 2018.  

Gardendale took an early lead when Ryan McPherson split the uprights from 38 yards out. However, Spain Park’s offense soon began to execute under quarterback Brock Bradley, who punched in a one-yard touchdown to finish a long Jaguar drive. Bradley later connected with Corey Barber for a 28-yard touchdown pass, putting the Jaguars ahead 14-3 at the half.

Click here to check out the complete Alabama high school football scoreboard.  

After the break, the Spain Park offense caught fire, finding the endzone on their first three possessions.. Dakarai Shanks paid off a 75-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run, followed by CJ Cowley scoring twice—once on a 1-yard run after a 60-yard drive and another on a 7-yard pass from Bradley.

Gardendale managed to add points with a 40-yard field goal from McPherson and a 22-yard touchdown run by Urijah Casey but the fourth quarter deficit was too much to erase.  

For the Jaguars, standout signal caller Brock Bradley completed 16-of-22 passes, totaling 138 yards with two touchdowns, and also rushed for 15 yards with an additional score. CJ Cowley led the Spain Park rushing attack with 90 yards on 10 carries and recorded a receiving touchdown. Corey Barber contributed six catches covering 51 yards and added a score.

For the Rockets, young quarterback Deacon Dyer completed seven passes for 56 yards and threw an interception, while adding 37 yards on the ground. Casey shined in the running game with 114 yards on 26 carries and a touchdown. McPherson added a pair of fieldgoals. 

Looking ahead, Spain Park will welcome Mobile’s McGill-Toolen Catholic to Bob Finley Field to kickoff the AHSAA Class 6A playoffs next Friday. Meanwhile, Gardendale’s season come to a close at 5-5, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2013.