VESTAVIA HILLS, Alabama -- The #9 Vestavia Hills Rebels knocked off the #3 Auburn Tigers in a Class 7A non-region game at Thompson-Reynolds Stadium on Thursday night. The Rebels used their fast-tempo offense to keep the Tigers off balance for most of the night, and they were generally a step slow in adapting to the fast-paced offense.
"We had an unwavering spirit and talked about protecting our home this week," said Rebels head coach Robert Evans. "I couldn't be prouder of this team. This is a program win over a top team in the state the last couple of years. Our pace wore on them a little bit, but it is not just pace; it is multiplicity with pace, something we have worked on. Both our coordinators called a great game."
Vestavia Hills (2-0) built a 35-7 halftime lead, and it was an uphill climb for Auburn after that. The Rebels' offense had 430 yards compared to 235 for the Tigers. "Our key was the pace like we work on a lot during the week," said Rebels QB Charlie Taaffe. "The offensive line works really hard every day in practice on that pace, and it is impressive to see them work like that. This means a lot tonight because we felt like we are a little underrated in the state rankings." Taafee had an unbelievable game against Auburn. The junior QB completed 15-of-20 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown with 96 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns.
Vestavia Hills received the ball and marched right down the field for the first score of the game. With 10:23 in the first quarter, Noah Boylan ran right up the middle for the score, and the Rebels took the 7-0 lead. After the Rebels' defense forced a punt, Vestavia Hills marched right down the field again, and with 8:17 left in the first quarter, Grayson Harper took a shovel pass from Taaffe and raced 31 yards for a touchdown.
With 1:06 left in the first quarter, Taaffe scored on a 4-yard touchdown run and the Rebels led 21-0 at the end of the first quarter. That was three possessions and three touchdowns for the Rebels. Vestavia Hills was not done, as with 8:36 left in the second quarter, Carson Purdy scored on a 2-yard touchdown run, and the Rebels led 28-0. Price LaMaster had a 46-yard toss to set up the Purdy touchdown. The Vestavia Hills offense went Nascar, and the Auburn defense had a hard time slowing them down.
With 3:27 left in the first half, Purdy scored again, this time on an 8-yard touchdown run, and the Rebels led 35-0, and the rout was on. Auburn had no answer on both sides of the ball and struggled with the speed of the game, and had a hard time finding the football for much of the night. "They jumped all over us from the start and had a great plan in," said Tigers head coach Keith Etheredge. "They executed. This was not Auburn High School football tonight. Hats off to the Vestavia, they played phenomenally tonight. I told our guys that is what happens when you play as a team against guys playing as individuals. We got whipped up front, and we are not used to that, and didn't respond tonight."
Auburn (1-1) scored late in the half with only 1:34 left in the second quarter, when Jaylen Huff scored on a 5-yard touchdown run. With the score, the Tigers trailed 35-7, but took some momentum into the locker room. In the second half, the Tigers responded with another score. With 11:41 left in the third quarter, Cason Myers hit Antonio Welch on a 66-yard touchdown pass play, and the Tigers kept the momentum going from the end of the half.
With 9:50 left in the fourth quarter, Taaffe scored on a 22-yard touchdown run, weaving through the Tigers' defense and pretty much taking the game out of reach. The Rebels kept driving and took time off the clock, and their defense kept the Tigers' offense away from scoring again, closing out the game with a turnover and a turnover on downs late in the game.
Tight end Grayson Harper had a huge game for the Rebels. "We showed a lot of grit tonight. I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," said the Rebels TE Harper. "Coach Evans did a great job for us. We planned, we saw how aggressive their defense was, and just planned around it." Harper had 10 receptions for 221 yards and a touchdown in the big win.
