Controlling their own playoff destiny, the Pelham Panthers took a step backward Friday night as the Gardendale Rockets delivered the visiting team a loss, 20-10.

The Panthers jumped on the Rockets in the first quarter on a 42-yard field goal by Cameron Haynes to put Pelham up 3-0, but that would be as close as the Panthers would get.

The Rockets put two touchdowns on the board in the second quarter to take a 14-3 lead into the locker room before increasing the lead to 20-3 in the third quarter.

Reed Bright scored on a 13-yard pass from quarterback Tripp Martin with just one minute remaining in the game to close out the scoring for the night.

Offensively for the Panthers (3-4, 3-4), Martin was 17-of-33 for 146 yards and a touchdown. The Panthers finished with 129 yards on the ground, including 73 yards by Ryan Williams on 14 carries and 60 yards by Dominique Harris on nine carries.

Williams also had 25 yards receiving on three catches, while Harris had 22 yards on three receptions.

Bright led the Pelham receivers with 32 yards and a touchdown on four catches.

Defensively for the Panthers, Nigel Terrell blocked his second extra-point of the season, his third blocked kick of the year.

The Panthers hit the road to Wetumpka on Friday for the first out-of-region game of the season. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Scott Blair contributed to this report.