Gardendale Falls to St. Clair County 34-7 Behind Douthard’s Three-Touchdown Performance

GARDENDALE, AL — Three-star receiver Joshua Douthard caught six passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns Thursday as St. Clair County opened its 2026 season with a 34-7 victory over Gardendale at Driver Stadium on Aug. 20, 2026.

Senior quarterback Landyn Smith completed 20 of 29 passes for 326 yards and four touchdowns for the Fighting Saints (1-0). Gardendale (0-1) finished with 192 total yards and was held scoreless until the fourth quarter.

Douthard Sets the Tone Early

Douthard’s first touchdown came on St. Clair County’s third offensive play — a 70-yard reception from Smith that gave the Saints a 6-0 lead with 10:09 remaining in the first quarter. He added scoring receptions of 12 and 53 yards later in the game, finishing as the night’s most dominant offensive weapon.

The 5-foot-9, 160-pound senior holds scholarship offers from Arkansas, Maryland, South Carolina and North Carolina and is rated a 3-star prospect entering the 2026 season.

“He does that every game,” Smith said. “He’s a playmaker. That’s why he has all those offers.”

Smith Efficient Through the Air

Smith directed two first-half drives of 91 and 99 yards to help St. Clair County build a 14-0 lead, distributing the ball to multiple receivers throughout the night. The Saints led 20-0 at halftime.

To open the second half, Smith capped an 80-yard, 16-play drive with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Colyn Degrado. His only interception came on his final throw in the fourth quarter with the outcome long decided.

Head coach Tyler Robinson said the passing-oriented approach fit the personnel available.

“We’ve got a lot of fast skill guys,” Robinson said. “That’s what we base things on.”

Gardendale Shows Flashes but Falls Short

Gardendale quarterback Ridge Wiggins completed 16 of 26 passes for 109 yards. The Rockets generated two big pass plays of 41 and 49 yards but could not sustain consistent drives against the St. Clair County defense, which forced three turnovers on the night, including interceptions by Dylan Philpot and Devin Peoples. Gardendale’s Cedric Wilson also recorded an interception.

Running back Markell Tyson scored on a 13-yard run in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, allowing Gardendale to avoid a shutout.

Historical Note

Thursday’s game was only the third all-time meeting between the two programs. St. Clair County and Gardendale previously played in 1978 and 1979, making this their first matchup in nearly five decades. The Fighting Saints have now won all three contests in the series.

What’s Next

Both teams play non-region games Friday, Aug. 28. Gardendale travels to Shelby County to face the Chelsea Hornets, St. Clair County visits the Leeds Green Wave.