Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
Vestavia OL Caleb Boylan (53) snaps the ball in the Hewitt-Trussville vs. Vestavia game at Thomspon Reynolds Stadium on Sept. 6.
The Vestavia Hills High School football team hits the final stretch of one of the most difficult schedules imaginable in October.
Following the Rebels’ open date on Sept. 27, they play four straight Class 7A, Region 3 games in the month. Three of those four will be on the road as well, but the schedule does look more manageable than a first half that included Hewitt-Trussville, Thompson, Carver-Montgomery and Auburn, all teams that appear in the Alabama Sports Writers Association top 10 poll.
Vestavia Hills travels to Prattville on Oct. 4. It will be the first meeting between the two programs, as Prattville moves into Region 3 for the first time this season.
Prattville has been a Region 2 team for the last 10 years before the latest reclassification by the Alabama High School Athletic Association. The Lions have been working to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
The following Friday, the Rebels will play a more familiar opponent, as they travel to Heardmont Park to play Oak Mountain. Vestavia Hills has won 15 of the teams’ 20 meetings, including a 50-0 win last fall.
Similarly to Prattville, Oak Mountain’s last playoff appearance was also 2021.
The Rebels return home Oct. 18 to take on Tuscaloosa County, a program that hasn’t been in the playoffs since 2014. Vestavia has owned this series in recent years, winning 45-0 last year. The Rebels have won nine straight contests in the series and hold a 14-6 edge all time.
Vestavia Hills wraps up the region slate Oct. 25 on the road to play rival Hoover.
It remains to be seen how much the game will mean for both teams. Hoover has navigated the season with interim head coach Chip English and has made the playoffs every year since 2000.
This will be the 60th meeting between the storied football programs, with Hoover holding a 38-21 edge through the first 59 games.
Vestavia snapped a seven-game skid in the series with a dominant 26-7 win early last season. It’s been a series largely dominated by the Bucs in recent years, but even in long losing streaks, Vestavia found a way to make the rivalry matchup a compelling game.
Vestavia Hills will conclude the regular season with a home game against Clay-Chalkville on Nov. 1. The Rebels and Cougars met in the first round of the state playoffs in 2000, with Clay earning a close win.
Clay-Chalkville will provide quite a challenge as the defending Class 6A state champions and one of the top teams in the state once again this season.
If the Rebels qualify for the postseason, the first round is set for Nov. 8.
