Photo courtesy of AL.com
On October 25, 2024, the Vestavia Rebels faced off against the Hoover Buccaneers in a highly anticipated matchup. Every year, the Rebels take on the Bucs as a part of the Great American Rivalry Series which is an organization that showcases America’s top high school football rivalries. Hoover holds a historical lead in the series with a record of 38-21, but Vestavia Hills broke an eight-year losing streak with a convincing 26-7 victory in 2023, creating significant excitement for this year’s rematch.
Despite the 38-20 loss, the Rebels showcased great effort and grit, competing until the last whistle. On defense, Vestavia Hills made a strong showing in the first quarter, forcing two turnovers that set the tone for the game. Leyton Downey intercepted a pass on Hoover's opening possession, demonstrating the Rebels' aggressive strategy. Later in the quarter, the Rebels capitalized on the momentum by recovering a fumble, further asserting their dominance on the field. On offense, the Rebels were also excelling, taking an early lead when Carson Mann sprinted 39 yards for a touchdown on the opening drive. Only down one score, the Rebels were feeling confident heading into the locker room with the hope of creating a win streak against this powerful Hoover team. The student section was ecstatic, the band was blasting stand tunes, and, overall, the first half of this football game was great for Vestavia.
In the third quarter, Hoover increased their advantage when J.R. Mosley powered into the end zone from just inside the 5-yard line. Building on that success, the Buccaneers executed a successful onside kick, regaining possession and striking quickly. Quarterback Mac Beason then connected with Ar’Mari Towns for a 6-yard touchdown pass, pushing the score to 38-14 and solidifying Hoover’s commanding position in the game. Vestavia fans, however, stayed until the end, proud of their team for playing a great game. Bruce Littleton made the final score of the game: a 21-yard touchdown run that finalized the score at 38-20.
With this loss, the Rebels now have a 4-5 record, and they fall to number 13 in the 7A Region 3, right behind Daphne. Vestavia looks forward to hosting the defending 6-A State Champions Clay-Chalkville in what is looking to be a very competitive matchup. We hope to see you at Thompson-Reynolds Stadium on November 1st cheering on your Rebels. Go Rebels!
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