Gardendale fumbled the ball away on the game’s first offensive snap, and Oxford scored three plays later to take a 7-0 lead.

Rockets quarterback Tyler Nelson took over from there.

Nelson ran 21 times for 186 yards and scored on runs of 55 and 4 yards in the first half and added the 10-yard game-clincher in the fourth quarter to lead the Rockets to a 31-14 a Class 6A playoff victory over Oxford (5-6) on Friday night at Driver Stadium.

Gardendale (8-3) improved to 5-0 in first-round playoff games under coach Chad Eads.

The Rockets defense harassed Oxford quarterback Mason Mims all night, while stifling the Yellow Jackets’ running game. Caiden Combs had 1½ sacks for the Rockets and also blocked a second-half field goal, as Florida commit Kelby Collins and senior linebacker Bryan Gilmore provided consistent pressure. Gardendale’s Donovan Marshall also intercepted a pass.

Oxford’s Damious Wilson scored on a 12-yard run with 10:28 to go in the first quarter, and Mims threw a 9-yard TD pass to Judd Syer with 2:34 to go in the first quarter.

Gardendale’s Kyle Norris kicked a 39-yard field goal with 50 seconds to go before halftime to give the Rockets a 17-14 lead. Gilmore scored on a 2-yard run in the third quarter for a 24-14 lead, and Oxford’s next drive put the Jackets in field goal range. Combs blocked the 35-yard attempt, and after Marshall’s interception, Gardendale drove 65 yards in 12 plays for Nelson’s game-clinching TD run with 6:42 to go.

Play of the game: Marshall’s interception was perfect defense, as he re-directed the receiver’s route, ran with him and turned to locate the ball in the last 10 yards of the deep route. She then cradled the ball and snatched it from the receiver as they fell to the tuf.

What’s next?: Gardendale advances to play Decatur, which beat Fort Payne 31-8, next week. Oxford’s season is finished.