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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Vestavia Hills wide receiver Cole Turner (22) catches a long pass on a touchdown-scoring play during the second half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Vestavia Hills wide receiver Jake Murphree (85) kicks off during the second half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Spain Park defensive back Jamari Mosley (8) breaks up a touchdown pass intended for Vestavia Hills wide receiver Cole Turner (22) during the second half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Spain Park defensive back Jamari Mosley (8) breaks up a touchdown pass intended for Vestavia Hills wide receiver Cole Turner (22) during the second half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Vestavia Hills fans watch during the second half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Vestavia Hills running back Tucker Smitha (46) loses the ball during the second half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
The Vestavia Hills marching band performs during halftime of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Spain Park wide receiver John Michael Lee (16) is brought down by Vestavia Hills linebacker Gaines Johnson (11) and Vestavia Hills defensive back Caleb Harwell (21) during the second half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Vestavia Hills quarterback/punter Mitchell Towns (16) runs the ball during the second half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Vestavia Hills head coach Sean Calhoun walks the sideline during the second half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Vestavia Hills offensive lineman Hoke Smith (74) hoists quarterback John Paul Head (13) aloft after scoring a touchdown during the second half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Vestavia Hills kicker/punter Avery Creel (92) gets a low five from coach Sean Calhoun after kicking an extra point during the second half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Spain Park running back Zamir Farris (28) runs through during the second half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Vestavia Hills running back Tucker Smitha (46) carries the ball during the second half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Vestavia Hills wide receiver Keown Richardson (8) runs the ball during the second half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Spain Park running back Zamir Farris (28) runs the ball during the second half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Vestavia Hills quarterback John Paul Head (13) tumbles into the end zone for a touchdown during the second half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Spain Park running back Zamir Farris (28) runs the ball during the second half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Vestavia Hills wide receiver Cole Turner (22) catches a long pass on a touchdown-scoring play during the second half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Vestavia Hills quarterback/punter Mitchell Towns (16) throws a long ball to Vestavia Hills wide receiver Cole Turner (22) on a touchdown-scoring play during the second half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
The Spain Park marching band performs during halftime of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
The Spain Park marching band performs during halftime of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Vestavia Hills quarterback/punter Mitchell Towns (16) throws the ball during the first half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Spain Park quarterback Mitchell Nutter (10) tosses the ball under pressure from Vestavia Hills defensive lineman Trey Saunders (33) during the first half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Vestavia Hills wide receiver John Hinton Hogue (87) makes a catch for a big gain under coverage by Spain Park defensive back Tyler Hunter (30) during the first half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Spain Park head coach Shawn Raney stands on the sideline during the first half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Vestavia Hills’ Mitchell Towns (16) scores a touchdown on a quarterback keeper during the first half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Vestavia Hills quarterback/punter Mitchell Towns (16) runs the ball during the first half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Spain Park quarterback Evan Smallwood (7) celebrates in the end zone with Spain Park offensive lineman Hudson Cahalan (74) and Spain Park defensive lineman/tight end Caldwell Bussey (21) after scoring a touchdown during the first half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
Vestavia Hills vs. Spain Park Football
Vestavia Hills quarterback/punter Mitchell Towns (16) runs the ball toward the goal line during the first half of a football game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park at Thompson Reynolds Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Rebels beat the Jaguars, 37-6. Photo by Laura Chramer
VESTAVIA HILLS -- Last week’s heartbreaking loss to Hewitt-Trussville could have caused Vestavia Hills High School to roll over and pack it in, but first-year head coach Sean Calhoun knew his seniors wouldn’t let that happen.
On a night where the seniors were honored pregame, the Rebels picked up their second win with a 37-6 thrashing of Spain Park. Quarterback Mitchell Towns rushed for two scores and his 88-yard deep ball to fellow senior Cole Turner on the first play of the second half gave the Rebels (2-6, 2-4 Class 7A, Region 3) a 24-6 lead. Calhoun said he saw something on film during the week that indicated the bomb pass could work.
“We had that drew up in practice,” Turner said. “We knew we were going to run it whenever we wanted and it would pretty much be an automatic touchdown. The right time to take it out was at the start of the third quarter.”
Calhoun said that colleges are missing out by not putting much effort into recruiting Turner, the youngest son of the late former Alabama fullback Kevin Turner and younger brother of Clemson safety Nolan Turner. Cole Turner also completed a 39-yard pass to Max Stewart on trick play where he evaded what should have been a 5-yard loss after taking a handoff from Towns.
“He is a do-it-all player,” Calhoun said. “Colleges are missing out on him. He was phenomenal. He makes you better in every aspect of a program on and off the field. Him doing those things is what we’re accustomed to, but he was fantastic.
An interception by Vestavia’s Will Cox set up a short field for the Rebels’ first score, and Cooper Mollison took it in from 12 yards out on a reverse.
The Rebels went ahead 14-0 on Towns’ 8-yard run, and 17-0 on Jack Brewer’s 36-yard field goal.
Spain Park (1-7, 0-6) got a sustained drive midway through the second quarter, highlighted by a 39-yard pass from Mitchell Nutter to Pierson Cole. Ethan Gutowski’s 3-yard touchdown run cut the Rebels’ lead to 17-6, but they extended it to 24-6 at half on Towns’ 1-yard sneak with under a minute left in the second quarter.
After the 88-yard score, the Rebels closed the scoring late in the third quarter on a 19-yard touchdown run from backup quarterback John Paul Head.
Last week’s 49-35 loss knocked the Rebels out of playoff contention. Hewitt-Trussville, a top 10 program in Class 7A, scored two defensive touchdowns late to seal the win.
“That was such an emotional and physical game that could have gone either way,” Calhoun said. “For us to come out and send these seniors off on a game like this was great, but I think it’s a testament to our team. That knocked us out of the playoffs and we could have packed it in, but we had the leadership among our seniors to not let that happen. It was a great night for our seniors and these kids deserved it.”
Spain Park has not won since the opener against Huntsville. Nutter, a sophomore quarterback, got his second straight start in place of the injured Evan Smallwood, and the Jags opened up the playbook. He completed 6-of-13 passes for 56 yards (three passes for 50 yards to Cole), but did throw two interceptions and the Jags did lose another fumble.
“We tried to work some of that in,” Spain Park head coach Shawn Raney said. “Playing a sophomore quarterback in this league right now, it’s tough. But he’s getting better and it’s good experience for him and I’m happy for the way he’s improved. It’s a lot on him.”
Raney said that he would find out Monday if Smallwood could play next week.
Zamir Farris was a bright spot for the Jaguars, rushing for 100 yards on 20 carries. Towns completed 4-of-10 passes for 140 yards and he rushed for 58 yards on 15 carries. Tucker Smitha led the Rebels on the ground with 71 yards on 14 carries.
Neither team will make the playoffs, but there are still two games left for each and one in region play. Spain Park will host Tuscaloosa County and Vestavia Hills will host Gadsden City next Friday.
