Rebels force seven turnovers in topping Thompson
ALABASTER-- Vestavia Hills coach Buddy Anderson knew what it would take for his team to escape Larry Simmons Stadium with a victory.
“We’ve got to play hard-nosed, physical football,” Anderson told his team. “It’s the only thing we’ve got to play. It’s the only way we can survive.”
The Rebels did much more than survive in Friday night’s 7A, Region 3 road matchup against Thompson.
Propelled by a ball-hawking defense, Vestavia Hills (5-1, 3-1) forced seven Thompson (3-3, 1-3) turnovers in route to a critical 23-13 victory.
“They’ve got a good football team, and we beat a good football team tonight,” Anderson said. “I’m very proud of our guys.”
The Rebels jumped out to a 13-0 lead midway through the second quarter, taking advantage of excellent starting field position resulting from three consecutive Thompson turnovers.
Vestavia defensive back Jackson Ewing intercepted Thompson quarterback Walker Lott on each of the Warriors first two possessions, setting up a pair of 33- and 22-yard field goals by kicker Curry Howard.
“Just the right the place at the right time,” Ewing said. “We knew the routes they were going to run, watching a lot film and stuff, so it was good.”
On Thompson’s third possession, running back Carlos Stephens fumbled a ball that was then recovered by Vestavia at the Warriors 46-yard line.
The drive culminated in a 5-yard rushing touchdown on a pitch play to running back Toliver Chatwood. An extra point by Howard gave Vestavia a 13-0 lead with 8:49 to play in the second quarter.
The Rebels first three scoring drives started at the opposing 42, 38 and 46-yard lines.
After trading punts, Vestavia forced its fourth turnover of the first half when Thompson receiver Michael Freeman coughed up the ball after hauling in a catch.
With just 11 seconds remaining in the half after the turnover, Rebels quarterback Brett Jones took a knee, sending the teams to the locker room with Vestavia leading 13-0.
In the first half, Thompson was held to 81 yards of total offense.
Following the intermission, the Warriors picked up right where they left off, fumbling the opening kickoff.
“That’s just part of it, and that’s a big play,” Anderson said.
Although the Rebels couldn’t translate the turnover into points, it made a significant impact on the field position battle, as a 28-yard punt by Howard pinned the Warriors at their own 11-yard line.
After a Thompson three-and-out, a 24-yard punt gave Vestavia possession at the Warriors 41-yard line.
Six plays later, Howard struck again, connecting on a 40-yard field goal that bumped the Rebels lead to 16-0 with 4:24 to play in the third quarter.
The Thompson offense finally got rolling on its next possession, capping a 73-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Lott to receiver Jordan Haywood. The Rebels’ Nolan Turner intercepted Lott’s pass on the attempted two-point conversion.
Vestavia tried to respond on its following drive, eating up 7:23 of game time as they pounded the ball to the Warriors 22-yard line. A failed fourth-down conversion temporarily halted the drive, but on the very next play after the turnover-on-downs, Rebels defensive back Ray Murphy stripped Lott of the football and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown.
With just over four minutes remaining, the big defensive play padded the Rebels lead to 23-6, essentially sealing the game.
A 29-yard touchdown pass from Lott to Haywood with just over a minute to play concluded the Warriors scoring, bringing the game to its final of 23-13.
Offensively for the Rebels, Jones looked very sharp, going 14-of-18 for 125 yards. Despite having some trouble opening the gaps, the offensive line did just enough to allow the rotating group of running backs, primarily Walker Minor and Chatwood, to find a few creases.
“We’re playing good, but we can play better,” Anderson said. “Every week in our region is a battle.”
It certainly will be next week, when the Rebels hit the road to face a Spain Park team that just ended Hoover’s 43-game in-state win streak in shutout fashion.