Minor Holds Off Gardendale 24-16 for Second Straight Win

October 3, 2026

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Minor needed three plays to score on the game’s first possession and held off a late Gardendale drive to beat the Rockets 24-16 on Friday, Sept. 25, at Tony Lunceford Field.

The Tigers won their second straight game and improved to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in Class 5A, Region 5. Gardendale has now lost three in a row and fell to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in region play.

Fast Start for Minor

Minor set the tone early. The Tigers took the opening kickoff and reached the end zone in three plays, giving Gardendale little time to settle in.

That quick strike started a strong first half for the Tigers. Minor built a 16-3 lead, while Gardendale’s only points in that stretch came on a field goal by Logan Stewart.

Gardendale Answers Before Halftime

Gardendale found a spark before the break. Quarterback Ridge Wiggins threw a touchdown pass to Ca’maree Gooden, cutting the deficit to 16-10 at halftime.

The late scoring drive gave the Rockets momentum heading into the locker room. It also turned a game that threatened to get away from them into a one-score contest.

Second-Half Push

Wiggins kept Gardendale in the fight after halftime. He threw his second touchdown pass of the night, giving him two scoring strikes for the game.

Minor had an answer each time. The Tigers scored eight points in the second half to stay in front and push the final margin to 24-16.

Tigers’ Defense Makes the Final Stand

The game came down to the last few minutes. Gardendale needed a touchdown and a two-point conversion to tie, and the Rockets drove to the Minor 30.

That was as far as they got. The Tigers’ defense held, stopping the drive and sealing the win.

What It Means

Minor’s two-game winning streak brings the Tigers back to .500 in region play. Their fast start and late defensive stop showed they can win in different ways.

Gardendale’s three-game slide puts pressure on the Rockets in the second half of the season. Still, they stayed close despite falling behind early. Wiggins’ two touchdown passes and Stewart’s field goal kept them in it until the final minutes, and their 2-2 region mark leaves room to recover.