John Perry
Rebels head coach Buddy Anderson.
The sixth-ranked Vestavia Hills Rebels open the Class 7A playoffs against Bob Jones on Friday at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $8. They are available through PrepTix.
Bob Jones normally plays its home games at Madison City Schools Stadium, and that's where this game was scheduled. But It was decided to move the game to Milton Frank Stadium in Huntsville because Madison school James Clemens is hosting Hewitt-Trussville on Thursday at the Madison stadium, and there were concerns about the field. Milton Frank has a turf field.
Bob Jones (9-1) dropped from the top spot to No. 4 in the final Alabama Sports Writers Association poll after losing to Class 6A Austin in the regular-season finale.
Vestavia (8-2) was ranked sixth in the final poll.
If there is inclement weather, as expected, that could aid the Rebels' upset bid, as it plays to their ball-control offense and physical defense.
But Bob Jones is averaging 24.8 points a game while allowing 19.7. If they have a weakness, it is their defense, which has improved from a season ago, but has been lit up a few times. Three of the of Pats' wins are by 3 points or less.
Under current coach Kevin Rose, the Pats are 66-16 over the past seven seasons as Bob Jones has become a powerful north Alabama program, earning its 11th straight playoff berth.
The Rebs and Patriots have met four times, twice in the playoffs, and all wins for Vestavia. The Rebels won 42-17 in 2004 and 24-16 in 2005. Vestavia won in the opening round of the 2007 playoffs 21-7 and won a third-round playoff game in 2013 19-12.
Vestavia HIlls has made 30 playoff appearances and has posted a record of 47-28, They are 20-10 in first-round games.
Buddy Anderson has cached the Rebels in all but two of those playoff games. HIs record is 46-27 in playoff games, and he has won two state championships.
