Rebels conclude season at Shades Valley

The Vestavia Hills High School football team took care of its business last week, as the Rebels shut out Tuscaloosa County, 41-0.

However, in order to qualify for the state playoffs, the Rebels needed some outside circumstances to fall their way. Unfortunately, those did not come to fruition, as Vestavia Hills (5-4, 3-4 Class 7A, Region 3) failed to advance to the postseason despite dominating the Wildcats.

“We play in a tough region,” head coach Buddy Anderson said following the game. “It’s a tough region all the way around and on any given night, anybody can beat anybody. We had our chances but I’m proud of how we came back. When we lost to Thompson we could have thrown in the towel but we came back and beat Mountain Brook and then took this one tonight.”

With the win, Vestavia finished out its home slate on a high note, and the Rebels will conclude the regular season at Shades Valley this Friday at 7 p.m.

The Mounties are a constant on the schedule each year for the Rebels, as the two teams have opposed each other each year since 1975.

Vestavia has won 15 of the last 16 games between the two squads, including a 33-14 win last season. A win over the Mounties would wrap up a winning season for the Rebels.

Shades Valley (4-5, 2-4 Class 6A, Region 5) struggled to get on a roll all season, and has yet to win consecutive games. Back-to-back losses to Jackson-Olin and Homewood late in the season effectively eliminated the Mounties' playoff aspirations.

- Michael Guzman contributed to this story.