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Photo by Frank Couch
Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia players celebrate a stop on the goal line during a game between Vestavia Hills and Thompson on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster. (Frank Couch for Starnes Publishing)
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Photo by Frank Couch
Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills' Tripp Lowery collects additional yardage after a facemark penalty during a game between Vestavia Hills and Thompson on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster. (Frank Couch for Starnes Publishing)
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Photo by Frank Couch
Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia band members cheer on a long run during a game between Vestavia Hills and Thompson on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster. (Frank Couch for Starnes Publishing)
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Photo by Frank Couch
Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills Sam Willoughby reaches for Thompson RB Shadrick Byrd during a game between Vestavia and Thompson on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster. (Frank Couch for Starnes Publishing)
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Photo by Frank Couch
Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills Eli Sawyer is hit hard by Thompson's JB Mitchell and another defender during a game between Vestavia Hills and Thompson on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster. (Frank Couch for Starnes Publishing)
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Photo by Frank Couch
Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills Eli Sawyer makes a pass during a game between Vestavia Hills and Thompson on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster. (Frank Couch for Starnes Publishing)
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Photo by Frank Couch
Vestavia Hills Football
The Vestavia Hills Band playing during a game between Vestavia Hills and Thompson on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster. (Frank Couch for Starnes Publishing)
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Photo by Frank Couch
Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills Sean Smyth runs past Thompson DB Jalen Bustamante during a game between Vestavia Hills and Thompson on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster. (Frank Couch for Starnes Publishing)
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Photo by Frank Couch
Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills Hunter Salmon hauls in a long pass with Thompson defenders closing in during a game between Vestavia Hills and Thompson on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster. (Frank Couch for Starnes Publishing)
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Photo by Frank Couch
Vestavia Hills Football
The Vestavia Hills Band playing during a game between Vestavia Hills and Thompson on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster. (Frank Couch for Starnes Publishing)
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Photo by Frank Couch
Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills Sean Smyth runs for a first down with Thompson DB Jalen Bustamante in pursuit during a game between Vestavia Hills and Thompson on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster. (Frank Couch for Starnes Publishing)
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Photo by Frank Couch
Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills Cooper Bishop drives to the end zone for a first half touchdown during a game between Vestavia Hills and Thompson on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster. (Frank Couch for Starnes Publishing)
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Photo by Frank Couch
Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills Connor Knighten kicks an extra point during a game between Vestavia Hills and Thompson on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster. (Frank Couch for Starnes Publishing)
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Photo by Frank Couch
Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills Cole Johnston brings down Thompson's Shadrick Byrd RB during a game between Vestavia Hills and Thompson on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster. (Frank Couch for Starnes Publishing)
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Photo by Frank Couch
Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills Caleb Leak is hauled down by Thompson's DJ Douglas DB on a reverse during a game between Vestavia Hills and Thompson on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster. (Frank Couch for Starnes Publishing)
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Photo by Frank Couch
Vestavia Hills Football
Cheerleaders lead chants during a game between Vestavia Hills and Thompson on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster. (Frank Couch for Starnes Publishing)
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Photo by Frank Couch
Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills head coach Buddy Anderson during a game between Vestavia Hills and Thompson on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster. (Frank Couch for Starnes Publishing)
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Photo by Frank Couch
Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills Sam Willoughby is hauled down by Thompson's Jeremiah Alexander OLB during a game between Vestavia Hills and Thompson on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster. (Frank Couch for Starnes Publishing)
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Photo by Frank Couch
Vestavia Hills Football
The Vestavia Hills Band playing during a game between Vestavia Hills and Thompson on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster. (Frank Couch for Starnes Publishing)
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Photo by Frank Couch
Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills Sean Smyth tries to break free from Thompson DB Elijah Clayton during a game between Vestavia Hills and Thompson on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster. (Frank Couch for Starnes Publishing)
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Photo by Frank Couch
Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills Sean Smyth cuts upfield with Thompson DB Elijah Clayton during a game between Vestavia Hills and Thompson on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster. (Frank Couch for Starnes Publishing)
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Photo by Frank Couch
Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills Eli Sawyer releases the ball before Thompson's K'Marion Hambright NG can reach him during a game between Vestavia Hills and Thompson on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster. (Frank Couch for Starnes Publishing)
ALABASTER – On a night in which Mountain Brook upset Hewitt-Trussville on the road, Vestavia Hills High School attempted to spoil Class 7A No. 3 Thompson’s homecoming.
The Rebels led early in the fourth quarter at Warrior Stadium but fell 21-20 in a classic game.
“Hard-fought battle, we just ran out of time,” said Vestavia Hills head coach Buddy Anderson. “Came up short. I’m proud of our kids. They came down here to win the ballgame. They didn’t come down here just to play good. We just came up a little bit short.”
After Thompson quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa connected with Kyle Smoak for an 8-yard score to put the Warriors (6-1, 4-1 in Region 3) up 21-20 with 9:10 to play, Vestavia Hills had three more possessions to attempt a comeback. Those drives ended in a punt, an interception, and being tackled as time expired in a play that featured several laterals.
Thompson took an early 7-0 lead when Jarret Crockett scored from 2 yards out midway through the first quarter. The Rebels (4-3, 2-3 in region) answered in the second quarter on a 3-yard run by Cooper Bishop. Thompson took the lead back two possessions later when Tagovailoa found Michael Pettway for a 31-yard strike, giving the Warriors a 14-7 halftime lead.
Vestavia Hills came out of the locker room pounding the ball in the second half. Bishop carried the ball all five plays of the Rebels’ opening drive, capping it with a 19-yard scoring run. The point-after attempt failed, keeping the Warriors ahead 14-13. Thompson, however, was called for a personal foul on the touchdown run, so with the kickoff set near midfield, Vestavia Hills opted for an onside kick, which was recovered by Kade Cannon. Initially it was called Thompson ball, but a Vestavia Hills challenge overturned that call. Three plays later, Josh Silverman bolted for a 29-yard touchdown to put the Rebels up 20-14.
Tagovailoa then found Smoak with 9:10 to play for the game-winner.
“They’re winners,” Anderson said of his team. “They play tough competition. They’re winners. I saw great effort in all phases. We’re getting better. We still have a tough schedule ahead of us.”
Vestavia Hills did convert on all three fourth-down attempts to keep drives going. Bishop and Sean Smyth were instrumental in that. Bishop rushed 26 times for 165 yards and two scores. Smyth caught seven passes for 109 yards.
“Those guys are big,” said Rebels quarterback Eli Sawyer, who completed 11-of-22 passes for 130 yards and an interception. “Those guys are seniors. I wouldn’t trade those guys for the world. It’s ride or die, it’s win or go home. I can’t even explain how proud I am of those guys.”
For Thompson, Tagovailoa finished 24-of-35 for 325 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted twice by Will Brooks. Pettway caught five passes for 134 yards and a touchdown. Smoak finished with six catches for 76 yards and a score. Shadrick Byrd rushed 18 times for 98 yards.
Sawyer said the 41-6 home loss last week to Hewitt-Trussville “kind of woke us up.”
“Our team fought hard to the very end,” he said. “We’ve got a tough team next week in Hoover. That’s our biggest rival.”
Click here to purchase photos from the game.