QB Eli Sawyer leading resurgent Rebels

Quarterback and Vestavia Hills High School junior Eli Sawyer is motivated.

The first-year starter has taken the reins of an underdog Rebels squad and led it to its best start in five years. Vestavia Hills, which won its first three games for the first time since 2013, defeated a tough Homewood team to open the season, slipped past Spain Park with a touchdown in the final seconds and methodically downed Tuscaloosa County. The Rebels also beat Class 5A No. 1 Briarwood in the preseason jamboree game.

Sawyer, in his first varsity start, completed 11-of-20 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown against Homewood. He threw the game-winner at Spain Park the next week, finishing 9-of-15 for 163 yards and two touchdowns. Against Tuscaloosa County, he threw for 187 yards, often standing in the pocket and delivering accurate passes while facing pressure. In his first three varsity starts, he completed 33-of-57 passes for 536 yards.

Sawyer, who also plays baseball and says his favorite of the two sports is whichever is in season, has played football since he was 5. 

“I just love it. I grew up playing it,” Sawyer said. “My parents love it. I couldn’t imagine my life without it.”

He is cerebral, humble and motivated. He also has a cannon for an arm.

“He’s very good,” said senior tight end Michael Vice. “He can be great. He will have many opportunities to play in college.” 

Playing Division I college football is a goal Sawyer maintains. He also wants to win a couple state championships while at Vestavia Hills.

“Hopefully I can get there if I keep working hard and keep praying,” Sawyer said.

A quarterback’s best friend is a successful running game, and that is where Cooper Bishop comes in. He has been a determined runner for the Rebels early this season. He bulls over defenders and can bounce it outside when need be. Bishop doesn’t have to do it all, though. 

“I think he could be the best quarterback in 7A football,” Bishop said. “He has great arm strength and when we pass more, it opens up the run game. He makes so many big passes, big plays. He’s doing great for us.”

Vestavia Hills head coach Buddy Anderson, in his 41st season as the Rebels’ leader, said Sawyer is showing improvement each week.

“He’s a competitor,” Anderson said. “He plays hard and competes. He’s getting better and we’re getting better.”

Sawyer said his favorite thing about Vestavia Hills is that the team he is a part of has “a lot of fighters.” Vestavia Hills, while a tremendously well-known program, often takes a back seat in people’s minds due to the crowd of talent in Class 7A, Region 3. There are Hewitt-Trussville, Hoover, Thompson and others.

“We’ve got a lot of heart,” Sawyer said. “We fight every game. We have a championship mentality. We just come out every day and focus on our next practice and our next game. We know we’ve got a tough region.”

The 3-0 start included wins all by margins of fewer than 10 points. The style of play Vestavia Hills employs — a balanced attack that at times keeps opposing offenses off the field for extended periods – will be key as the Rebels move through the remainder of the season. It’s a gauntlet.

The road was tough for the Rebels in the following weeks, as they fell to region foes Mountain Brook, Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson surrounding a non-region win over Shades Valley. But that hasn’t fazed Sawyer or the Rebels, as evidenced by their near-upset of Thompson on Oct. 12.

 “He has done a great job of being a leader even though he’s only a junior, and I’ve noticed he’s very calm and he is confident in his abilities,” Bishop said.

Sawyer is clearly motivated, so it begs the question: What motivates him? His response is quick.

“My mom gets me motivated,” he said.

Sawyer’s mother, Kristie, had breast cancer when he was in middle school. He called that time a “surreal moment.” 

“I always think about her,” he said.

Her diagnosis was discovered early in the process, which led to a positive prognosis. She was lucky.

Naturally, as Sawyer answered questions after the Rebels’ 28-19 win over Tuscaloosa County on Sept. 14, he talked about how his mother motivates him. He said she is fine now.

“She’s right there,” he said, pointing toward his mom, waiting to hug her son after the win.

Kristie Sawyer said it was nice that her son is motivated by her. She didn’t take her eyes off him as she spoke.

“He inspires me,” she said. “He works so hard and he’s done so well. He’s been patient and it seems like it’s paid off. I am very proud. He inspires me.”