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Photo by Todd Lester
Vestavia Hills WR Charlie Hughes (6) and Vestavia Hills RB Landon Neese (23) celebrate a touchdown during a game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, at Jaguar Stadium in Hoover.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Vestavia Hills RB Landon Neese (23) dives for extra yardage during a game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, at Jaguar Stadium in Hoover.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Vestavia Hills DB Joseph Sullivan (7) delivers a hit on Spain Park RB Justin Pegues (5) during a game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, at Jaguar Stadium in Hoover.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Vestavia Hills DB/WR John Ross Ashley (4) defends a pass to Spain Park WR Cooper Kelley (10) during a game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, at Jaguar Stadium in Hoover.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Vestavia Hills RB Taiyo Crawford (11) runs the football during a game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, at Jaguar Stadium in Hoover.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Vestavia Hills RB Landon Neese (23) runs for a touchdown during a game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, at Jaguar Stadium in Hoover.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Vestavia Hills RB Landon Neese (23) runs for a touchdown during a game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, at Jaguar Stadium in Hoover.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Vestavia Hills WR Charlie Hughes (6) and Vestavia Hills RB Landon Neese (23) celebrate a touchdown during a game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, at Jaguar Stadium in Hoover.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Vestavia Hills RB Taiyo Crawford (11) extends a play during a game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, at Jaguar Stadium in Hoover.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Spain Park RB Justin Pegues (5) eludes Vestavia Hills DB John Ross Ashley (4) during a game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, at Jaguar Stadium in Hoover.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Spain Park LB Ethan Gutowski (27) battles Vestavia Hills DEHasting Sykes (86) at the line of scrimmage during a game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, at Jaguar Stadium in Hoover.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Spain Park LB Jonas Harrelson (42) tackles Vestavia Hills RB Landon Neese (23) during a game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, at Jaguar Stadium in Hoover.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Vestavia Hills LB Thomas Brown (29) tackles Spain Park WR Jaylen Ward (1) during a game between Oak Mountain and Thompson on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Spain Park WR Jaylen Ward (1) attempts to elude Vestavia Hills DB Joseph Sullivan (7) during a game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, at Jaguar Stadium in Hoover.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Vestavia cheerleaders during a game between Oak Mountain and Thompson on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
A Vestavia cheerlesder during a game between Oak Mountain and Thompson on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
\Vestavia band members during a game between Oak Mountain and Thompson on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Spain Park WR Jaylen Ward (1) attempts to catch a touchdown pass during a game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, at Jaguar Stadium in Hoover.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Vestavia Hills DB/WR Joseph Sullivan (7) attempts to tackleSpain Park RB Justin Pegues (5) during a game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, at Jaguar Stadium in Hoover.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Vestavia Hills DB/WR Thomas Watson (28) attempts to tackly Spain Park RB Zamir Farris (28) during a game between Vestavia Hills and Spain Park on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, at Jaguar Stadium in Hoover.
HOOVER — The Vestavia Hills High School football team made head coach Buddy Anderson’s final game against Spain Park one to remember.
The Rebels rushed for 308 yards en route to a 32-7 dominating victory at Jaguar Stadium.
“The biggest thing was we needed to control the clock with them because they’re so explosive,” Anderson said.
Mission accomplished. Vestavia Hills (2-6, 2-4 in Class 7A, Region 3) held the ball for 28:01 to just 19:59 for Spain Park. It started from the Rebels’ opening drive, when they marched 90 yards on 14 rushing attempts, a scoring drive capped by Taiyo Crawford’s 2-yard run. That drive ate up 7:49 of the first quarter.
Matthew McMeans added a 46-yard field goal late in the second quarter to give the Rebels a 10-0 lead. After a quick three-and-out by Spain Park (2-6, 0-6), Vestavia’s Bryant Agee bolted 67 yards for a touchdown.
Vestavia Hills quarterback Braden Glenn scored on a 3-yard run early in the third quarter. The Jags scored their lone touchdown when quarterback Bennett Meredith found Jaylen Ward across the middle for a 14-yard touchdown. Vestavia answered on the ensuing drive when Landon Neese ran up the middle for a 31-yard TD. A two-point conversion run by Hoke Smith made it 32-7.
Crawford led the Rebels on the ground with 107 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Agee added 90 yards and a score on eight carries. Neese finished with 72 yards on 10 carries and a score. Glenn, who rushed five times for 22 yards and a score, also completed all five of his passes for 100 yards.
“Our guys game-planned well,” Anderson said. “Coaches do a great job and game-planned well.”
Meredith finished 24-of-39 for 243 yards and a touchdown for Spain Park. David Moultry caught five passes for 72 yards. Justin Pegues, who rushed 16 times for 51 yards, caught seven passes for 59 yards. Ward finished with 58 yards and a TD on seven receptions.
“Our defense did a good job,” Anderson said. “They bent but didn’t break.”
Vestavia Hills finished with 408 yards of total offense on 47 plays, good for 8.7 yards per play. Spain Park ran 62 plays for 321 yards, a 5.2 average.
Vestavia Hills travels to Gadsden City next week, while Spain Park hits the road for Tuscaloosa County.
“They’re very athletic,” Anderson said of Gadsden City. “We’ve got to play up there. Our kids have played hard every week.”
Click here to view and purchase photos from the game.
