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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
The Rebels listen as Vestavia Hills head coach Robert Evans talks to the team following a 34-14 loss to Thompson in a Class 7A second-round playoff game at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills head coach Robert Evans talks to the Rebels following a 34-14 loss to Thompson in a Class 7A second-round playoff game at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills quarterback John Paul Head (13) hugs halfback Caden Taylor (23) hug following a 34-14 loss to Thompson in a Class 7A second-round playoff game at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Thompson head coach Mark Freeman shakes hands with Vestavia Hills head coach Robert Evans following a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills quarterback John Paul Head (13) passes the ball during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills linebacker Jacob Watson (42) tackles Thompson running back Michael Dujon (5), assisted by Vestavia Hills linebacker Grayson Bruno (10), during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills defensive end Jordan Ross (5) tackles Thompson running back Arrington Green (1) during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills wide receiver Keown Richardson (8) catches a pass during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills quarterback John Paul Head (13) turns to throw a pass during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills running back William Tonsmeire (1) carries the ball during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills quarterback John Paul Head (13) passes the ball during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills linebacker Jacob Watson (42) and Vestavia Hills safety Bo Shea (12) tackle Thompson running back Arrington Green (1) during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills half back Bruce Littleton (22) tackles Thompson defensive back Anquon Fegans (0) on an interception during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills quarterback John Paul Head (13) carries the ball during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills cornerback Kohen Nelson (15) moves in on the Thompson ball carrier during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills quarterback John Paul Head (13) throws a pass to Cooper Mollison (11) during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills wide receiver Keown Richardson (8) and Vestavia Hills wide receiver Cooper Mollison (11) celebrate in the end zone after Mollison scores for the Rebels during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills wide receiver Keown Richardson (8) and Vestavia Hills wide receiver Cooper Mollison (11) celebrate in the end zone after Mollison scores for the Rebels during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills cornerback Kaden Daniels (6), Vestavia Hills safety Bo Shea (12), and Vestavia Hills linebacker Grayson Bruno (10) move in to tackle Thompson running back Arrington Green (1) during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills kicker Owen Simpson (96) kicks the extra point during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills quarterback John Paul Head (13) carries the ball as he’s brought down by the Thompson defense during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills wide receiver Cooper Mollison (11) catches a pass during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills quarterback John Paul Head (13) catches the snap during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
The Vestavia Hills student section cheers during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills quarterback John Paul Head (13) throws a pass during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
The Vestavia Hills defense stops the ball carrier during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills running back William Tonsmeire (1) carries the ball during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills quarterback John Paul Head (13) carries the ball during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills players hug following a 34-14 loss to Thompson in a Class 7A second-round playoff game at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Players and coaches hug following a 34-14 loss to Thompson in a Class 7A second-round playoff game at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills assistant coach Shawn Raney talks to Vestavia Hills head coach Robert Evans on the sideline during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Thompson running back Arrington Green (1) catches a pass during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Vestavia Hills at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills quarterback John Paul Head (13) runs through a tackle attempt by Thompson linebacker Tyler Hicks (4) during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills safety Bo Shea (12) tackles Thompson wide receiver Kolby Hearn (7) during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills defensive end Jordan Ross (5) pushes Thompson wide receiver Trakel Howard (12) out of bounds during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills defensive lineman Chuck Hammack (90) guards Thompson offensive lineman Kingsley Walters (71) during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Vestavia Hills safety Bo Shea (12) tackles Thompson wide receiver Kolby Hearn (7) during a Class 7A second-round playoff game against Thompson at Thompson High School on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. The Rebels fell to the Warriors 34-14 to end the 2023 season. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
ALABASTER – Thompson High School and Mark Freeman is a few years ahead of Vestavia Hills and Robert Evans in terms of program building.
Freeman is in his ninth season leading Thompson, the program that has claimed the last four Class 7A state championships. But Evans, in his second year at Vestavia, is intent on shrinking the gap with each passing offseason, each season and each game.
Thompson pulled away from Vestavia Hills on Friday night with a dominant second half, ousting the Rebels from the playoffs with 34-14 win at Warrior Stadium. It is the second straight year the Warriors have beaten Vestavia in the second round of the playoffs.
“I think we’re a top four or five program in the state of Alabama, we just happen to run into Thompson every year,” Evans said following the game. “We play in the toughest region in the state of Alabama [Region 3], bar none. We’re going to be back. It’s a huge hump to get over Thompson but we’re climbing.”
Vestavia Hills (9-3) looked like a team potentially capable of getting over that hump on this day, as the two teams were deadlocked at 14-14 at half. The Rebels bookended the first half scoring, striking first on John Paul Head’s 1-yard plunge. They tied the game early in the second quarter, as Head found Cooper Mollison in the back of the end zone for a 33-yard score.
Thompson (10-1) scored twice in the first quarter to take a 14-7 advantage, as Kolby Hearn caught a perfectly-thrown pass from freshman phenom Trent Seaborn and took it 72 yards to the end zone. That would be a common refrain on the night, as Seaborn finished the proceedings 15-of-20 for 286 yards and three touchdowns. He completed his first nine passes of the contest. Seaborn also hit Angel Jones for a 33-yard score late in the first quarter.
But something changed in the second half. Thompson came out and dialed up a blinding 80-yard drive that took just six plays and only burned 84 seconds off the clock. AJ Green capped that drive with a 13-yard run. John Alan McGuire booted field goals of 24 and 29 yards, before Colben Landrew caught a 24-yard pass in the end zone on fourth down to make it 34-14 midway through the final quarter.
“They have good players and they completely changed their scheme in the second half, and it worked,” Evans said. “When you have better players, speed the game up, and that’s what they did. Credit to Coach Freeman and their staff.”
Thompson outgained Vestavia 489-286 in the contest. Green finished with 132 rushing yards to lead the way, while Michael Dujon added 48 yards on seven carries. On the receiving end, Hearn had 114 yards on three grabs. Jones finished with 63 yards on a pair of catches, while Deuce Oliver had six grabs for 54 yards.
For Vestavia, Head finished his career by completing 12-of-20 passes for 148 yards, with a touchdown and an Anquon Fegans interception in that second half. He rushed 20 times for 65 yards as well. William Tonsmeire carried the ball 15 times for 60 yards. Keown Richardson caught six passes for 84 yards.
Evans gave plenty of credit to his senior class for winning 16 games over the two seasons he has been at the helm. He believes this year’s team overachieved slightly by finishing with a 9-3 record, only losing to Thompson (twice) and Hewitt-Trussville.
Evans also believes his senior class has made his job more difficult, as longtime rivals Homewood and Mountain Brook have elected not to play the Rebels any longer, considering they are both 6A foes and the Rebels boast one of the largest programs by number in the state.
“We’re ascending and there’s a reason people don’t want to play us,” he said.
Head and defensive lineman Jordan Ross are two seniors Evans specifically pointed out as being “foundational” players for the program. Head has served as the quarterback for the Rebels’ electric offense the last two years, and will soon be playing baseball at UAB. Ross is a University of Tennessee commit that Evans believes has the potential to play in the NFL one day.
“We can’t replace that, but there’s a strength in numbers. There’s a reason we’re the biggest program in the state of Alabama,” Evans said.
For now, Thompson moves on to the semifinals for the seventh straight year. The Warriors will host Hewitt-Trussville next Friday, after the Huskies throttled Hoover 40-7 in the second round.
“We’ll be back at these moments, We’ve just got get bigger and stronger. We’ve got to develop lines of scrimmage to compete and finish these games,” Evans said.
