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Vestavia Hills quarterback Charlie Taaffe (19) carries the ball during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Julia Freeman.
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Hoover defensive back Steele Lowery (11) and Hoover defensive back Jamar Moultrie (2) combine to stop Vestavia Hills quarterback John Paul Head (13) during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover defensive lineman Michael Nixon (10) pushed through a block by Vestavia Hills offensive lineman Hill Hughen (77) during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Vestavia Hills running back William Tonsmeire (1) looks for running room during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover defensive lineman Cameron Torbor (18) and Hoover linebacker Trey Sanders (20) bring down Vestavia Hills quarterback John Paul Head (13) after a short gain during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover wide receiver Jonah Winston (4) makes a catch during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Julia Freeman.
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Hoover defensive back Steele Lowery (11) grabs Vestavia Hills running back William Tonsmeire (1) during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Julia Freeman.
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Action during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Julia Freeman.
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Hoover quarterback Noah Schuback (10) carries the ball during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Action during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Julia Freeman.
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Hoover defensive back Treshawn Darden (25) and Hoover linebacker Bradley Shaw (7) stop Vestavia Hills quarterback John Paul Head (13) during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Julia Freeman.
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Hoover fans during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Julia Freeman.
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Hoover defensive back Jeremy Cook (5) pursues Vestavia Hills quarterback John Paul Head (13) during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Members of the Hoover band perform during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Members of the Vestavia Hills band perform during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Members of the Vestavia Hills band perform during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Vestavia Hills quarterback John Paul Head (13) scores a touchdown during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Vestavia Hills corner Jack Mayhall (39) defends a pass intended for Hoover wide receiver Jordan Woolen (6) during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover linebacker Bradley Shaw (7) picks up a first down on a fake punt during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Vestavia Hills running back William Tonsmeire (1) is brought down by Hoover defensive lineman Cameron Torbor (18) during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Vestavia Hills wide receiver Blake Smith (27) is recognized during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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A senior Vestavia Hills cheerleader is recognized prior to a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Vestavia Hills quarterback John Paul Head (13) is dragged down by Hoover defensive lineman Michael Nixon (10) during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover offensive lineman Rashad Smith (73) and Hoover offensive lineman Trot English (59) double team Vestavia Hills defensive lineman Harrison Faust (32) during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover defensive lineman Cameron Torbor (18) and Hoover linebacker Trey Sanders (20) bring down Vestavia Hills quarterback John Paul Head (13) after a short gain during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Vestavia Hills running back William Tonsmeire (1) looks for running room during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover defensive lineman Michael Nixon (10) pushed through a block by Vestavia Hills offensive lineman Hill Hughen (77) during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover defensive back Steele Lowery (11) and Hoover defensive back Jamar Moultrie (2) combine to stop Vestavia Hills quarterback John Paul Head (13) during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Vestavia Hills fans during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Vestavia Hills players prepare to take the field during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover defensive back Jamar Moultrie (2) grabs and interception in the endzone during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Vestavia Hills linebacker Jacob Watson (42) knocks the ball from Hoover quarterback Noah Schuback (10) during a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Vestavia Hills players prior to a game between Hoover High School and Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hill, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
VESTAVIA HILLS — The climb up the sidewalk in front of Vestavia Hills High School and across Lime Rock Road is typically a slow one on a Friday night, especially a dejected trudge in recent years when the Rebels take on rival Hoover.
At 9:45 p.m. this Friday night, red- and blue-clad fans moved with ease, as if the steep slope that really puts the “hill” in Vestavia Hills was a simple, flat valley. They had pep in their step. And why shouldn’t they, after No. 6 Vestavia Hills rushed for 340 yards en route to a 26-7 win over No. 9 Hoover, snapping an eight-game losing skid to the Bucs that dates back to 2015.
“This is a huge win, not just because it’s Hoover,” said Rebels head coach Robert Evans. “I thought we were the better team going in and that proved to be true.”
Senior quarterback John Paul Head rushed 32 times for 211 yards and three touchdowns, runs of 9, 1 and 2 yards.
“Winner, gutsy,” Evans said. “Can’t say enough about him. We’ve got to probably not run him 28 or 30 times, but in this region, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do to get a win, and it’s a death match.”
The first quarter saw only three points on a 27-yard Owen Simpson field goal. Head bulled forward for a highlight-reel 9-yard touchdown early in the second quarter to put the Rebels (3-1, 1-1 Class 7A, Region 3) up 10-0. Head added a 1-yard score two minutes later and Simpson’s 35-yard field goal made it 20-0 at halftime.
Head scored from 2 yards out early in the third to give Vestavia Hills a 26-0 lead after a missed point-after attempt. Hoover’s only points came on an 8-yard touchdown run by Fred Dunson with 46 seconds left in the third quarter.
JJ Moultrie intercepted a pass for the Bucs in the first quarter, and the Rebels’ Spence Hanna came away with an interception in the fourth quarter.
“I thought we played good [defensively],” Evans said. “I don’t think Hoover is that great offensively, and they’ve got some running back issues. They’ve got some explosive guys, but this is not one of the better Hoover teams of the last 20 years. We weren’t scared. We weren’t intimidated. In fact, we thought we would win going away, and that proved to be true.”
Running back William Tonsmeire rushed 19 times for 119 yards for the Rebels. Keown Richardson led the receivers with four catches for 57 yards. Head completed 7-of-13 passes for 65 yards and an interception.
For Hoover (1-3, 1-1), quarterback Noah Schuback finished 15-of-29 for 141 yards and an interception. Chalmers Peters led the rushing attack with 25 yards on five carries. Jonah Winston caught six passes for 71 yards for the Bucs.
Hoover hosts Hewitt-Trussville next week. Vestavia Hills is back at home for a Region 3 game against Spain Park.
“I think our game next week with them will be a barnburner, will be a shootout,” Evans said. “We’ve got to get a lot better in our pass drops and things of that nature because they’re a big, physical team. Tim [Vakakes] has done a good job. They’ll be well-rested. I’m going to enjoy this one tonight and get to work in the morning.”
Check out all of our high school football photos from this week.
