Gardendale Dominates Chelsea 37-15, Snapping 10 Game Skid

CHELSEA, AL – Freshman running back MJ Tyson scored three touchdowns Friday night to lead the Gardendale Rockets to a 37-15 road win over the Chelsea Hornets, snapping a losing streak that stretched back to their first game of 2025.

The victory marked Gardendale’s first win on the field since October 2024. The Rockets were credited with a win over James Clemens in 2025 after the Jets played an ineligible player, but this was their first result earned between the lines in almost two years. Gardendale improved to 1-1, while Chelsea dropped to 0-2 in its home opener at Hornet Stadium.

First Half Action

Gardendale wasted no time flashing its speed. Camaree Gooden opened the game with a 71-yard kickoff return, setting up the Rockets at the Chelsea 15-yard line. But the Hornets’ defense answered the challenge, and Austin Kirkland blocked a Gardendale field-goal attempt to keep the board clean.

The Rockets found the end zone midway through the first quarter when Tyson broke free for a 32-yard touchdown run, putting Gardendale ahead 7-0. Chelsea responded with poise. Quarterback Logan Strunk capped an eight-play drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Hudson Picklesimer, knotting the score 7-7 at the end of the opening quarter.

Then came the second quarter, and the game tilted for good.

Key Turning Points

Gardendale reeled off 20 unanswered points before halftime, leaning on a sharp screen game that Chelsea struggled to contain. The Rockets piled up 143 yards in the quarter alone and carried a commanding 27-7 lead into the break.

Chelsea coach Tad Niblett acknowledged the first quarter went well for his team, but pointed to the second quarter as the turning point. He noted the offense stalled, the defense spent too much time on the field, and the Hornets failed to respond as Gardendale stretched its lead.

Niblett credited the Gardendale coaching staff for identifying and exploiting one-on-one matchups in open space, calling it sound coaching on their part. He acknowledged his players failed to make the necessary plays but expressed confidence the team would learn from the experience.

Chelsea leaned on its ground game after halftime, rushing for 104 yards in the second half. Strunk added an 8-yard scoring run, and Wyatt Wright churned out tough yards behind the line. But the deficit proved too steep to erase.

Niblett emphasized the importance of establishing the run game, noting that a strong rushing attack opens up more options for the offense.

Standout Performances

Tyson was the headliner, finishing with a team-high 85 rushing yards and three touchdowns to power the Rockets’ attack.

Quarterback Ridge Wiggins was surgical, completing 23 of 28 passes for 213 yards and a touchdown. Gooden did much of his damage on screens, hauling in 11 catches for 95 yards and a receiving touchdown to go with his early kickoff return. Tae Evans added a rushing touchdown, and Logan Stewart connected on a field goal to round out the Gardendale scoring.

Chelsea had bright spots despite the loss. Wright led all rushers with 119 yards on 23 carries. Strunk completed 11 of 32 passes for 111 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, adding a rushing score of his own. Cole Carroll paced the Hornets’ receivers with seven catches for 83 yards.

Final Outlook

The win gives Gardendale much-needed momentum as the Rockets shift into region play. Gardendale (1-1) hosts Jackson-Olin at Drive Stadium next week in a Class 5A, Region 5 matchup.

Chelsea (0-2), still searching for its first win under Niblett, opens Class 5A, Region 4 play on the road at Calera on Sept. 4. The Hornets showed grit in the second half, and their second-half rushing surge offers a foundation to build on as the schedule turns to games that count in the standings.