John Perry
Curry Howard kicks a field goal against Hoover. Howard booted three field goal Friday to lead the Rebels to a crucial win over Tuscaloosa County.
NORTHPORT – Curry Howard nailed three field goals Friday to help lead the Vestavia Hills Rebels to a 15-7 road victory at Tuscaloosa County. Vestavia (7-2, 5-2) wraps up region play in a three-way tie for second-place in Class 7A, Region 3 with Hoover and Hewitt-Trussville. The tie cannot be broken until after next week's non-region games. Tiebreaker "L" will determine the seeding, although all three teams join region champion Spain Park in the Class 7A playoffs. Tiebreaker "L" involves beaten non-region opponents' wins.
Howard made a 32-yard field goal to put the Rebels on the board with 49 seconds left in the first quarter. Tuscaloosa County’s Frank Garcia missed a 27-yard try on the next drive, and Howard added a 42-yard field goal to send the Rebels into halftime with a 6-0 lead with 1:02 remaining in the second quarter.
Penalties plagued the Rebels’ offense during the night, collecting 11 penalties for 78 yards, including 70 yards against the offense. Vestavia didn’t find the end zone until 4:12 remaining in the third quarter on a 5-yard run by Morgan Long. Howard’s point after kick was no good.
Tuscaloosa County looked to challenge the Rebels in the fourth quarter, but was forced to punt. The kick was mishandled on a fair catch and recovered by the TCHS Wildcats at the Rebels’ 31, but turned the ball over on downs at the Vestavia 3. David Taylor later recovered a Vestavia fumble with 2:36 to play, helping to set up a 25-yard touchdown pass from Samuel Cooper to LaDarrian Mobley with 1:50 to play. Garcia’s PAT made it 15-7, but he his onside kick, which followed, landed in the Rebels’ hands. Vestavia went on to run out the clock.
Brett Jones led the Vestavia offense, completing 9-of-12 passes for 133 yards, while Toliver Chatwood (89 yards) and Walker Minor (65 yards) controlled the bulk of the Rebels’ 182 rushing yards. Vestavia collected 315 total yards. Jones threw one interception, picked off by Cameron Rice.
County High, which has struggled offensively during a now 0-9, 0-7 season, collected 226 yards and only two penalties on offense. However, the Rebels forced three turnovers. Jonathan Hess led Vestavia with 12 tackles, a pass breakup and a forced fumble, which was recovered by Nolan Turner. Turner and Jackson Ewing each had interceptions.
Vestavia will close its regular season at home Friday, Oct. 30, hosting Shades Valley for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
