‘Watching our own offense evolve’ fun for Vestavia Hills

Through the first four games of the 2016 season, Vestavia Hills had nearly as many rushing attempts as passing yards.

Yes, you read that correctly.

The Rebels rushed 183 times for 932 yards and nine touchdowns through the first four games. They passed for 188 yards on just 30 passing attempts, completing 17 of them for one touchdown.

It is no secret Vestavia Hills enjoys running the ball. Buddy Anderson’s offense has been a staple since 1978, when he became head coach. But this season, there have been a few wrinkles.

Senior offensive lineman Patrick Nuss said the addition of the shotgun and option the Rebels have been running has helped open the offense up more and create more plays. He said a lot of people may think Vestavia Hills’ offensive line just lines up and hits the person in front of them.

“But in reality, we have a check on almost every play we run,” Nuss said, who will decide among a list of college offers from Air Force, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Western Kentucky. “We read each other’s blocks, zone block some, and we run a lot of plays to the split side this year, which is something we hadn’t done too much of before. It’s been fun watching our own offense evolve.”

Nuss said the Rebels began using the shotgun formation more in 2015, beginning with a 20-13 win over Hoover. 

“Ever since then, we’ve been able to use it more and more due to a mobile quarterback and a solid, athletic tight end who can help lead the way for our backs to read the option off of,” Nuss said. “The transition has been pretty smooth. Since a lot of the guys starting now didn’t play last year, it’s kind of the offense they just know now.”

Vestavia Hills coaches took note of how athletic the team could be this year and decided that a shotgun/option approach could prove successful. 

“As we practice it more and more throughout the year, I truly think it won’t be able to be stopped,” Nuss said. “It’s spaced out our offense and now the other defenses can’t just stack the box against us because we have a strong outside rush now.”

That outside rush is led by senior Toliver Chatwood, who, through four games, had rushed for 348 yards and four touchdowns on 61 carries. 

“We often do see teams running more of an up-tempo passing offense, which is definitely different than how we do things,” Chatwood said. “I think as a team we are content with how we go about things for the most part. It’s definitely a physical and demanding style of offense.”

The offense is all about execution. After rushing for 86 yards and a score in the season-opening win over Homewood, Chatwood said the focus is always knowing assignments and reading blocks.

Nuss agreed.

“Even if the other team knows what’s coming, we can exert our own will on them,” he said.

Another key is team chemistry. Vestavia Hills does not pass the ball much, so it would be easy for wide receivers and tight ends to demand the ball more. It would be easy for Chatwood, junior quarterback Coleman Petway, junior running back William Schaffeld and senior running back Cooper Jones to hassle over who gets the most carries. Petway is the only one to eclipse the century mark, rushing for 105 yards against Huffman.

“Team chemistry is one of the most important things in our system,” Chatwood said. “Trusting your teammates to do their assignments and knowing that if you do your job, you will be successful. Our team chemistry is strong because we are all friends outside of football, and we get along very well.”

Chatwood, who is listed at 170 pounds, said he is thankful to live in Vestavia Hills, where Anderson’s offense reigns supreme.

“It allows an average-sized kid like myself to really expand my talents and grow as a person and football player,” he said.

Nuss said he does not believe Vestavia Hills is “behind the times” with its offense. 

“Everyone knows we run the same offense we always have, but that fits in with the culture of Vestavia,” he said. “Tradition is very important to us here. It can be difficult at certain times, but there’s also no better feeling than winning a ball game using a system that everyone claims shouldn’t work anymore. And as an offensive lineman, whether it’s spread, power or passing, blocking is always the same in the end. We line up and try to knock the helmet off the man in front of us.”

After a win over Homewood to open the season, Vestavia Hills dropped its first two Class 7A, Region 3 games before beating Huffman. The Rebels also won their Homecoming non-region match up with Helena. But the potential is there now and in the future for the Rebels to be great. The underclassmen have great talent, solid size and talented skill players.

Nuss said he is looking forward to seeing them all grow and mature as players, and watching them win.

“Vestavia won’t be a team to sleep on,” he said.