John Michael Simpson
Landon Crowder
Vestavia Hills senior quarterback Landon Crowder, left, out with a concussion, talks to his replacement, Brett Jones, before the Rebels’ game against Tuscaloosa County. Photo by John Michael Simpson.
The Vestavia Hills Rebels have made the state playoffs every year since 2005.
That streak ended with a loss Oct. 24 at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Buddy Anderson Field.
Anderson, the winningest coach in Alabama high school football history, couldn’t quite get his hard-luck Rebels there, as Tuscaloosa County nipped Vestavia Hills 14-7 in a game typical of this season.
Missing senior quarterback Landon Crowder due to concussion symptoms, Anderson turned to junior Brett Jones. Jones played admirably, getting the Rebs in position for one last shot only to have his heave intercepted in the end zone at the final horn.
“Our kids played their butts off,” Anderson said. “They just can’t get a break. This game teaches you a lot about life.”
The Rebels fell to 3-6 overall — sealing their first losing season since 1991 — and 2-5 in Class 7A, Region 3. Tuscaloosa County (5-4, 4-3) locked up a playoff berth.
It looked like Vestavia Hills might pull it out early. The Rebels defense was bending but not breaking, and the game was scoreless after Nolan Turner returned a TC punt 15 yards to the Wildcats 34 with 6:34 left in the first half. Vestavia needed seven running plays — including four carries by Walker Minor for 26 yards — to score, with Minor breaking through from the 3. Jack Hatchett’s extra point gave the Rebels a 7-0 lead with 3:31 before intermission.
But TC marched down the field, using the aerial attack that worked well against Hoover. Eight pass plays, plus a targeting call against the Rebels, set up a 23-yard touchdown pass from Seth Franks to Chase Pearson. Moises Carrasco’s extra point tied the score at 7 with 1:02 before half, and it stayed that way.
The Rebels put together a drive midway through the third quarter on the strength of its ground game led by Minor and Carter Jacobs. Hatcher’s 47-yard field goal was long enough but wide left.
The Wildcats immediately drove the ball down the field, mostly on the ground with Randy Echols doing the damage. TC cashed in the 80-yard drive on a 5-yard run by Roe Wilson. Carrasco’s PAT provided the game’s final point.
The Rebels had two more shots.
After another good defensive stand, the Rebs drove the ball from their 38 to the TC 5. But on third down Minor was thrown for a 3-yard loss. On fourth-and goal from the 8, Jones’ pass was just a tad early for Nolan Turner in the corner of the end zone.
The Rebels didn’t quit and forced a punt with a half-minute to play. Jones connected with Grant Logsdon over the middle for a gainer to the TC 24. After a spike and an incompletion, Jones’ last heave was just over the head of his receiver and intercepted as the clock went to zeros.
