1 of 27
Kamp Fender
Vestavia's Cooper Bishop (41) avoids an arm-tackle during a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
2 of 27
Kamp Fender
Members of the Vestavia band lead the football team on to the field before a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
3 of 27
Kamp Fender
Vestavia Cheerleaders lead the football team onto the field before a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
4 of 27
Kamp Fender
Vestavia's Cameron Lyaka (29) remains onside during the opening kick of a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
5 of 27
Kamp Fender
The entire offense from Vestavia poses for a photo in celebration of Cooper Bishop's opening touchdown during a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
6 of 27
Kamp Fender
Vestavia's Chandler Merrill (37) during a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
7 of 27
Kamp Fender
Vestavia RB Cooper Bishop (41) accumulates more total yards during a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
8 of 27
Kamp Fender
Vestavia Head Coach Buddy Anderson provides words of wisdom to TE Jackson Trotman (88) during a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
9 of 27
Kamp Fender
Vestavia's QB, Eli Sawyer (17), breaks the Rebel huddle during a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
10 of 27
Kamp Fender
Vestavia RB Cooper Bishop (41) celebrates another touchdown during a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
11 of 27
Kamp Fender
Vestavia TE Michael Vice (82) carries defenders for extra yardage after a catch during a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
12 of 27
Kamp Fender
Vestavia TB Tripp Lowery (39) scores a touchdown during a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
13 of 27
Kamp Fender
Hannah Vines was crowned Homecoming queen during halftime of a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
14 of 27
Kamp Fender
Vestavia WR Sean Smyth (15) celebrates a touchdown with offensive lineman Andrew Cross (52) during a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
15 of 27
Kamp Fender
The Vestavia Rebels are led by captains Douglas Thompson (77), Walker McCulley (60), Charlie Stoves (19) and Andrew Sims (57) during a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
16 of 27
Kamp Fender
The Vestavia Rebels win the toss and defer to the second half during a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
17 of 27
Kamp Fender
Vestavia FB Josh Silverman (42) fights for extra yardage during a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
18 of 27
Kamp Fender
Vestavia RB Cooper Bishop (41) dprepares to run the ball during a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
19 of 27
Kamp Fender
Vestavia LB Rob Barrentine (48) tackles a Huffman ball carrier during a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
20 of 27
Kamp Fender
Vestavia TE Michael Vice (82) attempts to outrun a defender after a catch during a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
21 of 27
Kamp Fender
Vestavia Head Coach Buddy Anderson paces the sidelines during a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
22 of 27
Kamp Fender
The Vestavia bench celebrates as WR Sean Smyth (15) turns a short catch into a long touchdown during a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
23 of 27
Kamp Fender
Vestavia QB Eli Sawyer (17) readies the troops during a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
24 of 27
Kamp Fender
The Huffman Drum Major is a stud. Here seen breaking his own ankles during halftime of a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
25 of 27
Kamp Fender
Vestavia TB Tripp Lowery (39) scores a touchdown during a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
26 of 27
Kamp Fender
Vestavia FB Josh Silverman (42) splits the trenches during a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
27 of 27
Kamp Fender
Vestavia's Cooper Bishop (41) scores his first touchdown of the night during a game between Huffman and Vestavia Hills on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, AL (Kamp Fender)
VESTAVIA HILLS -- For the first time since 2015, the Vestavia Hills High School football team finished its season with a winning record after dominating visiting Huffman, 42-18, on Friday night.
The Vestavia Hills (6-4) ground game led the way with 214 rushing yards. Senior running back Cooper Bishop ran for 106 yards on 15 carries, scoring twice in his final game. Josh Silverman, another senior back, also scored twice on seven carries, gaining 85 yards.
After forcing a punt on their first defensive drive, the Rebels marched up the field with Bishop, who gained 63 yards and scored, putting them up 7-0 with about four minutes left in the first quarter.
The Vikings answered quickly on a 36-yard touchdown run by quarterback Anthony Wiggins, who finished the game with 76 rushing yards and 41 passing yards, including a touchdown pass.
The Vikings went for it on fourth down on their next drive, but the Rebels defense came up with a big stop, taking over in Huffman territory. On the first play of the ensuing offensive drive, Silverman busted through the defense for a 40-yard touchdown run.
On the next Vikings drive, a penalty negated the return of an interception by Vestavia’s Will Brooks for a touchdown, although the interception stood. While the Rebels punted on their next possession, Huffman’s Tacoby Trammell threw the second Vikings interception, this time to Vestavia’s Gyasi Hill.
The ensuing drive ended with a six-yard touchdown run by senior running back Tripp Lowery in his only run of the game.
After taking a 28-6 lead into halftime, the Vestavia attack continued in the second half, with Sawyer delivering a 56-yard touchdown pass to senior Sean Smyth to put the Rebels up 35-6.
The last Vestavia touchdown came on a 14-yard run by Silverman with about four minutes left in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Vikings made the score a little closer, with Wiggins tossing a 21-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Tillman. That was followed a few minutes later by an 18-yard touchdown pass from Demariay Bimbo to Ramon Posey, after Bimbo ran for 27 yards on the drive.
Huffman’s option attack, using four running backs and three quarterbacks throughout the game, yielded 255 rushing yards, but the Vikings, hurt by two turnovers, were unable to stop the Rebels rushing attack, which gave Vestavia an advantage in time of possession.
Vestavia Hills head coach Buddy Anderson, completing his 41st season at the helm, said his seniors left a legacy that can be improved upon going into next season.
“They came out and played hard; they wanted to finish strong and leave a legacy and that’s what they did,” Anderson said.
Although Vestavia will miss the playoffs, finishing over .500 for the first time since 2015 will help the Rebels as they prepare for next season, Anderson said.
“I’m just proud of them for all their effort this year, and proud of their effort tonight, and it will carry over into next season,” he said.
