Rebels drop pivotal game to Hoover
VESTAVIA HILLS -- Hoover High School head football coach Josh Niblett is always preaching to his players that they need to fight back from adversity.
The Bucs did that on Friday in a 31-14 win at Vestavia Hills, clinching a Class 7A playoff berth while ending the Rebels’ chances of reaching the postseason.
Up 24-7 late in the third, Bucs running back Larry McCammon was on his way to a 35-yard touchdown run, but fumbled around the 1-yard line. The ball went out of the end zone for a touchback.
Vestavia Hills ran down the field and capped an 80-yard drive with a 22-yard touchdown run from Cooper Bishop, who rushed 26 times for 145 yards.
On Hoover’s next drive, quarterback Robby Ashford was sacked for a loss of 15. But on the next play, the junior who just turned 16 turned on the accelerator and raced down the left sideline on a zone read for an 80-yard touchdown run, essentially icing the game.
The Bucs improved to 6-2, 5-1 in 7A, Region 3. The Rebels dropped to 4-4, 2-4.
“It happens sometimes in football, and you’re going to make mistakes,” Ashford said. “I credit my O-Line and receivers for blocking for me. I remember the (defensive) end was in the middle, so I was like, 'I’m keeping this.' I got some blocks, made a cut and got up the field and just ran for my life.”
Ashford finished with 10 carries for 130 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. He completed 12-of-22 passes for 163 yards and a 9-yard touchdown pass to George Pickens. McCammon rushed 11 times for 122 yards with an 11-yard second-quarter score, as Hoover led 21-7 at halftime.
“We knew they were playing to get in (the playoffs) and we were playing to get in,” said Niblett, who won his 200th game as a coach. “For us to come here on their turf, I thought we played a complete game tonight. I thought we were able to do some things to keep them off balance. When you come in here, you know it’s going to be a physical game.”
This is a big rivalry, and there was some chirping between players after plays. Hoover was flagged for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty in the first half, and the Bucs lost a first-half fumble. The teams were called for offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct fouls in the second half. Other than that, it was a clean game.
“It’s better than beating Spain Park and better than beating everybody in the region,” said Pickens, an Auburn University commitment. “It’s hometown rights. Vestavia and Spain Park are our rivals, and Vestavia kind of overtook Spain Park because they’re better.”
Vestavia Hills got a 16-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter from Eli Sawyer to Michael Vice. But it wasn’t enough, as this will be the third straight season that the Rebels miss the playoffs.
“They played a good game,” Rebels head coach Buddy Anderson said. “They’re very talented. I’m proud of our kids. We made some mistakes that hurt us and we’ll live another day.”
Vestavia Hills got a stop on the first series of the game, and Hoover kicker Will Reichard missed a 33-yard field goal attempt, but the Rebels were called for roughing the kicker. It gave Hoover a first down, and the Bucs scored on the drive.
“I felt it should have been a running into the kicker instead of a roughing,” Anderson said. “Here again, I’ll watch the film and go from there. I wish we hadn’t of done that, but we had to overcome that.”
Pickens finished with eight catches for 83 yards and sprang a big block on Ashford’s touchdown run.
“I was over there blocking my man to the ground and I looked up and he was in the end zone,” Pickens said. “I didn’t really see him, but I’m glad he scored.
“He reminds me a bit of Cam Newton with the size.”
Hoover hosts Mountain Brook next week, and Vestavia Hills is at Oak Mountain.
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