Photo by Todd Lester.
The month of October represents the renewal of rivalries that have run as long as Vestavia Hills High School has had a football program.
The month of October represents the renewal of rivalries that have run as long as Vestavia Hills High School has had a football program.
Head coach Buddy Anderson has always scheduled opponents with the intention of playing them every year, and many programs have kept up their end of the deal.
The Rebels finish Class 7A, Region 3 play with three straight region games to start the month, before concluding the regular season with a non-region contest at Shades Valley. They will need to finish strong to have a shot at the state playoffs.
One of those longtime rivals is Mountain Brook, likely to be a critical game in terms of each team’s playoff hopes. The Rebels and Spartans have played each year since 1971, including five playoff matchups, and will face off at Thompson Reynolds Stadium Oct. 7.
Vestavia Hills leads the all-time series, 28-22, including last year’s comfortable 37-7 victory. In that contest, the Rebels forced three fumbles in the second half and ran away with it.
The following Friday, the Rebels play against another longtime foe, Hoover. Vestavia Hills beat the Bucs last fall for the first time in eight tries, as Walker Minor scored the go-ahead touchdown with just over two minutes remaining in the game.
However, Hoover got its revenge in the playoffs, shutting out the Rebels 24-0 in the second round game.
Vestavia Hills finishes off the Region 3 gauntlet by hosting Tuscaloosa County Oct. 21. The Rebels defeated the Wildcats in a defensive struggle last fall, going up 15-0 before hanging on to win 15-7. The teams have split 12 meetings all-time.
One final constant on the Rebels’ schedule is a game against Shades Valley Oct. 28 to conclude the regular season. The teams have played each year since 1975, with Vestavia Hills holding a stranglehold on the series. The Rebels have won 33, lost nine and tied once against the Mounties, including wins in 15 of the last 16 contests.
GET TO KNOW...
Patrick Nuss | Vestavia | OL | Senior | 6’7” | 276
Q: What is your favorite social media platform?
A: Twitter. It’s the best way to connect to college coaches. That’s the only reason I got it.
Q: Who is your favorite Olympian?
A: Michael Phelps. He’s a winner.
Q: Who is your favorite teacher?
A: My AP Biology teacher, Ms. Busbee.
Q: If you were a baseball player, what would your walk-up song be?
A: Be Like Me by Rick Ross.
Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: The Shawshank Redemption.
Q: What is your dream job?
A: NFL.
Q: What is your nightmare job?
A: Accountant.
Nuss was the only returning starting offensive lineman for the Rebels this fall.
