Photo by Richard Force, posted on Vestavia Voice, a local newsletter.
On Friday, October 11, the Vestavia Hills Rebels took on the Oak Mountain Eagles at Heardmont Park, adding another victory to their record with a final score of 42-14. Following their latest game against Tuscaloosa County on the 18th, the Rebels only have two left in the season, and they’ve found their groove as a team—after a close first half against Oak Mountain, the Rebels took a tremendous lead in the second, bringing the score to 42.
Under the leadership of a relatively new coaching staff, the Rebels have continuously put on a show; last year, the varsity football team made it to the second round of playoffs, and they’re likely to play in Mobile for the first round this year.
And who could forget the Rebel Marching Band? With a roller skating show and an exciting performance of its theme, “Blame it On the Boogie,” the band matched the game’s energy on a massive stage! As if responding to the halftime performance, the Rebels ran away with the second half, scoring four touchdowns to end the game 42-14.
Shane McComb, Oak Mountain’s new football head coach, took over the Eagles’ leadership position in January of 2023 following seven years of coaching California’s Palm Desert High School. His motto, “One Unit All In,” reflects his vision of unity between players and parents, and given his 33-2 win-loss record and six-time championship victory in his previous position, he certainly has a proven track record; that the Rebels prevailed despite a skilled opponent is a testament to their determination.
In an interview with the Vestavia Voice, Vestavia head coach Robert Evans says the Rebels are “banged up,” but a win against Tuscaloosa County determines their chances at the playoffs. He’s “really proud” of the player’s performance against Oak Mountain, whom he calls “the most improved team in our region;” after the Eagles somewhat contained the Rebels in the first half, he describes, “we out-physicaled them in the second half and that’s the nature of the game.” Coach Evans did not respond to the Pillar’s request for additional comment.
The Vestavia Rebels moved from 4th in Region 3-7a and 18th in Alabama with its win against Tuscaloosa County according to AHSAA rankings. Before this, Vestavia stood at 9th in division rankings. MaxPreps, a high school football ranking website, recorded 426 rushing yards against Oak Mountain, a season high for the Rebels.
The Rebels’ next game will be against the Hoover Buccaneers, ranked first in the region. Tickets are $10, but the show is priceless—come watch the Rebels fight for the playoffs!
Finally, an interview with Iz Moore, a VHHS athletic intern:
1. Tell me about the Oak Mountain Game from your perspective.
“Every football game is [fast-paced], loud, and energetic. What stood out to me about this game was the cold environment and how we had to change our game plan to accommodate these conditions. It was new to me because we have always had a game in the heat, but it was a nice change to see how the athletic trainers handle [the] cold [compared to the] heat.”
2. Were there any major injuries that could affect the team?
“At this game, there were no major injuries that [affect] the team as a whole. From what [I’ve] seen, we have the most injuries when we play the harder teams, such as Auburn or Carver. At those games, I saw [many] injuries that could have put the season in jeopardy. The only injuries to our starting players [here] were mild ankle twists or cuts and bruises.”
3. How does being an athletic intern help prepare you for a future job?
“Observing athletic trainers has given me so much insight [into] how things actually work in the real world. Since I want to pursue a career in sports medicine, interning at the high school is allowing me to get the basic knowledge before I go into the actual training for it. One of the most valuable things that I have learned so far is efficiency. Things are so [fast-paced] and you have to have your eye on so many things at [one] time. Efficiency helps me finish one important task, so I can move [on to] the next one without bogging myself down.”
4. How could football games be improved with players' health in mind, and what new rules are in place to protect these students from the harsh reality of football?
“In my opinion, football games could be improved by giving the coaches more insight on how to deal with an injury and even illness. Even though coaches are required to have classes on how to deal with certain injuries, they don’t take it as [seriously] as they need to because it has never happened at our campus. If we can stress to them how important it is to watch for these things and educate them on it, then hopefully we won’t have a situation on our hands where a coach is put in a serious position and does not know what to do. We have seen this happen at many other schools in Alabama where players have suffered [heat-sickness] or even concussions, but they are caught too late and the player ends up dying. I’m hopeful that since these tragic circumstances have happened so near to us, [coaches] will open their eyes and they will finally see that these things need to be taken seriously.”
5. What is your favorite part of football games?
“My favorite part about football games is being able to see all of my friends and helping players. I volunteered for this because I wanted to help people and be involved in the medical field while still in high school. Even though the season is almost over, I still look forward to every game because I get to help people, be with my friends, and make connections with players on a different level than just in school.”
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