On paper, this game between Vestavia Hills and #1 Hoover looks to be one-sided, but this rivalry between the two schools brings out the best in all. Hoover has won the last six meetings and the Rebels look to turn the streak around Friday night at the Hoover Met.
Vestavia Hills (3-4) need to get this win to keep a playoff spot available in the region of doom. The Rebels are 2-3 in the region and haven't missed the playoffs since 2005. In the three region loses, the Rebels have lost by a total of 11 points. Oak Mountain by seven points, Mountain Brook by three points, and Spain Park by one point.
The good news for Rebels is the defense. The Vestavia Hills defense is #1 in scoring average only giving up 14.4 points per game. Oxford is the only team that put a large number (35) of points against the Rebel defense. "The defense has played real well," said Rebels head coach Buddy Anderson. "The coaches have done a great job of getting them ready to play. For us to be successful, we must play as a unit. We have to make sure that we get more than one person to the football."
Linebackers Michael Woods, Michael Acton, and defensive back Reid Adams look to keep the Hoover ground game in check. Coleman Kitchens and Cole Gunnaway will have to keep the outside Hoover receivers in check.
If Vestavia Hills can win this game, the offense will have to make some big plays. Quarterback Landon Crowder look to keep the ball and limit the Hoover offense. Last week, Hoover gave up two long touchdown passes to Tuscaloosa County and the Rebels have the receivers to do the same. Remington Patterson and Sam Harvey can go deep on any play action play of the Rebels. "We need to control the football," added Anderson. "We can't turn the ball over and must have a great day on special teams to give us a chance in this game."
The option game with Crowder along with the run game will play ball control for the Rebels. Junior running back Thomas Minor, Daniel Gosdin and Carter Jacobs look to keep the Bucs defense on the field. Offensive guard Hayes Lucas has been injured the last two weeks and will be missed on the offensive line.
The Hoover Bucs (5-2) come into the game with a five-game win streak this season after losing their first two games to Miami Central and Colquitt County. The Bucs are 5-0 in the region and will clinch the region top spot with a win Friday night. "I think we listened to people outside of our bubble," said Bucs head coach Josh Niblett. "I hate to loose to anyone, but I think it helped us to get back to who we are. We know understand what our way is."
The Bucs on offense has found its way since its game against Oak Mountain, especially the ground game. The Bucs were having a hard time of getting to the second level in the run game early in the season. "When you have to replace four guys it takes time for the offensive line to gel," added Niblett. "Just because you have a spring game and a jamboree game, it doens't give you enough time for a line to come together. We know have five guys and three swing guys playing together."
One key piece the Bucs offense has is running back Kris Parker. The versitle player was out in the middle of the Central game till the Mountain Brook game. "Kris is very unselfish," said Niblett. "He plays hard and he can play any position on our football team. He is a very physical player that can block any linebacker or a down lineman. He has great hands and is a key player that has really helped us out."
Last week against Tuscaloosa County, the Bucs had over 420 yards of offense. Bradrick Shaw led the way with 220 yards on only eight carries. Shaw had a whopping 27.5 yard per carry and three touchdowns.
The Bucs know that Vestavia Hills wants to control the football while Hoover wants to get positive first downs that gives them many options on offense. QB's Jack Hutcheson and Chris Vacarella have many talented receivers to throw to. If the offense doens't get boged down with penalties, look for Justin Johson, Alex Elam, Leonard Wood and Trey Brackett get their shots down the field.
The Bucs defense has been dominent the last five games. A couple of long touchdown passes against Tuscaloosa County have been the most points in those five games. "We have to make sure we don't give up the big play," said Niblet. "We can't let our safeties get sucked in and give up the big pass play like we did last week."
The Bucs defense have Darrell Williams, Jeremiah Moon, and Christian Bell looking to stop the Rebels run game. P.J. Hall and Jeremy Williams look to take away the big plays of the Rebels offense.
