Vestavia Hills tops Spain Park 26-8
Vestavia Hills, AL – The dynamic duo of quarterback John Paul Head and running back William Tonsmeire shined Friday night at Thompson Reynolds Stadium, each amassing over 100 yards on the ground, playing a pivotal role in the Rebels’ commanding 26-8 victory over Class 7A, Region 3 foe Spain Park.
Head shouldered the rushing game with 29 carries, churning out an impressive 133 yards. Tonsmeire made his mark with 122 yards on 11 carries, which included an electrifying 62-yard touchdown dash.
The Rebels, ranked 5th in Class 7A, rolled to an impressive 428 yards of total offense, boosting their record to 4-1, 2-1 in region play.
Head, displaying his versatility, completed 10-of-18 passes for 160 yards, managing two touchdown throws against one interception. The victory saw seven different receivers getting in on the action, with standout moments including Chase Webb’s 36-yard touchdown reception and Garner Leake’s skillful 17-yard touchdown catch. Leading the charge for the Rebels receiving corps was Hayes Hudson, hauling in three grabs for 46 yards.
Owen Simpson, the reliable Rebel kicker, notched a pair of successful field goals from 44 and 20 yards out.
Vestavia Hills dominated from the outset, surging to a 19-0 lead before Spain Park (2-3, 0-3) managed to put points on the board with a 16-yard run courtesy of Dakarai Shanks, who led the Jaguars with 40 yards on the ground on 10 carries.
Click here to check out the full Alabama high school football scoreboard.
On the defensive front, University of Tennessee commitment Jordan Ross made an indelible impact, boasting an impressive stat line of 12 unassisted tackles, five sacks, a forced fumble, and a crucial fumble recovery. Jacob Watson also contributed with four unassisted stops.
Spain Park signal caller Brock Bradley completed 9-of-17 passes for 70 yards, William Lloyd contributed a pair of completions for 38 yards.
Historically, in a series that dates back to 2002, the Rebels continue to exert their dominance, maintaining a commanding 15-6 advantage and securing an impressive six consecutive victories against their rivals from Valleydale.
Both teams are now looking ahead to a well-deserved week off before Vestavia travels to Shelby County to take on the Chelsea Hornets (2-3, 1-2). Spain Park will look to bounce back with a road trip to Tuscaloosa County (4-1, 2-1).
