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Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills' William Schaffeld (32) runs up the middle in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills' Jonathan Hess (18) makes a touchdown-saving tackle in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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The line of scrimmage in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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A Vestavia Hills offensive lineman in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Vestavia Hills' Ferguson Smith (9) attempts to defend a pass in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Vestavia Hills Football
Homewood's Jackson Griggs (12) in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Homewood's David Robertson (5) runs with the ball in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Homewood's David Robertson (5) gets hit in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Vestavia Hills Football
Homewood's Ty Hatcher (18) throws a pass in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Vestavia Hills Football
Homewood's Joseph Molstad (62) punts the ball in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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The Vestavia Hills band performs at halftime in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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The Homewood band performs at halftime in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Vestavia Hills Football
Homewood fans in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills' Joseph Travis (88) runs after a reception in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills' Cooper Jones (33) runs with the ball in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills' Cole Petway (14) gets caught from behind by Homewood's Antoine McGhee (50) in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Vestavia Hills Football
Homewood's Antarius Mitchell (28) in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills' Jonathan Hess (18) in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Vestavia Hills Football
Homewood's Chestin Jones (1) attempts to elude Vestavia Hills' Andrew Knight (24) in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills cheerleaders in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills' Tucker Queen (19) returns an interception late in the 3rd quarter in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills fans in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Vestavia Hills Football
Homewood majorettes in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills' Coleman Pettway (14) rolls out in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Vestavia Hills Football
Vestavia Hills' Nathan Bullock (75) pursues Homewood's Larkin Williams (10) in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Homewood's David Robertson (5) is tackled in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Homewood's David Robertson (5) runs with the ball in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Homewood fans in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Homewood's Traveon Allen (45) in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Homewood's David Robertson (5) is tackled in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Homewood's David Bearden (88) in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Homewood's Larkin Williams (10) runs with the ball in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Vestavia Hills runs onto the field in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Homewood's Larkin Williams (10) runs with the ball in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Homewood in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Homewood's Elliott Yacu (43) in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Homewood's C.D. Daniels (3) runs with the ball in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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A Vestavia Hills defender makes a tackle in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Vestavia Hills' Coleman Pettway (14) in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Vestavia Hills' William Schaffield (32) runs with the ball in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
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Vestavia Hills' William Schaffield (32) runs with the ball in a game between Homewood and Vestavia Hills on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
Make it 10 in a row for Vestavia Hills.
Vestavia Hills did not attempt a pass in the second half because it wasn’t necessary, pounding its way to a 20-3 season-opening win over Homewood at Thompson Reynolds Stadium.
It is the 10th year in a row that the Rebels (1-0) came out victorious over the Patriots (1-1). The last time Homewood beat Vestavia Hills was Oct. 27, 2006, a 28-10 victory.
“We always like coming out here and beating them because we’re all friends so it’s always nice,” said Vestavia Hills senior running back Toliver Chatwood. “It’s a friendly competition. We always want to come out and start the year with a nice win, especially against a rival.”
Chatwood did most of the work for the Rebels, churning out 86 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
“It’s exciting,” Chatwood said. “It’s nice to come out here every time and continue to pound it on them.”
Chatwood capped an 11-play opening drive with a two-yard dive into the end zone to give Vestavia Hills a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Junior running back William Schaffeld bolted 10 yards for the game’s only other touchdown with 11:14 remaining in the second quarter.
Homewood cut into the deficit with 7:23 remaining until halftime when junior Ibrahima Sylla booted a 37-yard field goal. Vestavia Hills responded on the ensuing drive, and senior Manraj Singh split the uprights with his own 37-yard field goal as time expired, providing the Rebels with a 17-3 halftime lead. Singh made good on another 37-yarder early in the fourth quarter for the game’s final points.
The game could have been a lot closer. Homewood reached the Vestavia Hills 5-yard line on its first drive of the second quarter, but had to settle for a field goal after a bad snap, an ineligible receiver penalty on a would-be touchdown pass and a negative rushing play. In the fourth quarter, Homewood marched 62 yards to the Vestavia Hills 14-yard line before sophomore quarterback Larkin Williams lost a fumble.
“We’re going through some growing pains right now offensively, especially on our O-line,” said Homewood head coach Ben Berguson. “We’ve got a lot to work on.”
Vestavia Hills amassed 221 rushing yards in the game and did not attempt a pass in the second half.
“It’s good,” Berguson said of the Vestavia Hills run game. “They’re so well-coached and they do things right. And that’s where they beat you -- up front.”
Chatwood said the running game is all about repetition and toughness.
“When you do it as much as we do, it makes it look simple,” he said. “You don’t have to be the biggest or fastest person out here to be the starting running back. You’ve just got to be tough, know where to go, know your assignments and read your blocks.”
For Vestavia Hills, Schaffeld finished with 67 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Junior quarterback Coleman Pettway completed 4-of-5 passes for 67 yards, including a 38-yard completion to Cooper Jones.
Vestavia Hills came up with two turnovers, an interception by Tucker Queen and a fumble recovery by Travis Saunders.
“They did wonders for us,” Chatwood said of the defense. “It could have been a lot closer than it was. I can’t say enough about our defense.”
Berguson said the 10 consecutive losses to the Rebels has “gotten to be where it’s all mental with us now.”
“If we could ever get over that hump we’d be OK,” Berguson said.
Vestavia Hills travels to Spain Park on Friday, Sept. 2.
“They went to state last year, so I’m pretty sure they’re going to be coming back strong,” Chatwood said. “We’re going to practice hard this next week and really focus on them. I think we’ll be ready next week.”
