Photo: Gadsden City’s Matthew Sparks (left) attempts a pass as Mountain Brook’s Vaughn Frost bears down during the Titans’ 37-6 loss in the second round of the Class 6A state football playoffs on November 11 at GCHS. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)
Gadsden City’s 2022 season came to an abrupt end against Mountain Brook on November 11.
The Spartans finished with a 474 to 154 advantage in total yards, including a 405 to 54 edge on the ground, en route to a 37-6 victory in the second round of the Class 6A state playoffs at GCHS.
It was the Titans’ first winning season since the 2016.
By the time Gadsden City (7-5) T.J. Worthy’s 4-yard touchdown run with 1:14 left in the third quarter got the on the scoreboard, Mountain Brook had built a 30-point lead.
Worthy finished with 48 yards on 12 carries. Luke Waldrop was 8 for 11 in passing for 71 yards, while Matthew Sparks completed 3 of 13 passes for 31 yards. Dre Kirkpartrick had 10 tackles, followed by Elijah Taylor with eight, K’Rysiak Tow with seven and Stephen Powell with six. Taylor also had a sack.
The Spartans took the lead for good when a GCHS punt attempt sailed into the end zone for safety in the closing seconds of the first quarter.
Cole Gamble ran for a pair of touchdowns on the second period, the first from two yards out and the second from 11 yards, to give the visitors a 16-0 lead at halftime.
Gamble’s 79-yard TD midway through the third frame made it 23-0, while John Colvin’s 22-yard scoring run at 4:19 put Mountain Brook ahead 30-0.
Gamble scored his fourth touchdown of the night with 7:18 remaining in the game.