2nd Ranked Hoover Downs Arch Rival Vestavia Hills 38-20
HOOVER, AL — The No. 2-ranked Hoover Buccaneers knocked off arch rival Vestavia Hills with a decisive 38-20 win Friday night at the Hoover Met.
With the win, coach Chip English’s Buccaneers improve to 8-2, maintaining a flawless 7-0 mark in region play. Meanwhile, the Rebels fall to 4-5 overall and 4-3 in the region.
Rob Evans’ Rebels came off the bus firing as Leyton Downey intercepted a Hoover near midfield. Capitalizing on this turnover, Carson Mann scored with a 39-yard touchdown run, capping a quick three-play, 43-yard drive.
The Buccaneers countered with an 85-yard drive over 10 plays, leveling the score with a 23-yard touchdown run by AJ Allen midway through the first quarter.
After a series of turnovers and punts from both teams, Hoover broke the stalemate with a 26-yard field goal by Matthew Diabes with just over 4 minutes remaining in the second stanza.
Vestavia responded when Carson Purdy connected with Luke Stubbs via a halfback pass for a 29-yard touchdown to go ahead 14-10..
Hoover regained the advantage before halftime with an 8-yard touchdown run by Allen, concluding a 55-yard drive, leaving the score at 17-14 with 1 minute and 25 seconds remaining before the break.
The momentum shifted in favor of the Bucs as Justyn Hartley picked off a Charlie Taaffe returning it 60 yards into the endzone, extending the Bucs’ lead to 24-14 as the first half came to a close.
The third quarter saw Hoover increase their lead when J.R. Mosley scored from just inside the Rebel 5-yard line. The Bucs then executed a successful onside kick, leading to a 6-yard touchdown pass from Mac Beason to Ar’Mari Towns, pushing the score to 38-14.
Vestavia’s Bruce Littleton wrapped up the scoring with a 21-yard touchdown run, finalizing the score at 38-20.
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Hoover signal caller Mac Beason completed 13-of-18 passes for 154 yards, adding a touchdown and an interception, alongside 35 rushing yards on seven attempts. Allen lead the Buc rushing attack with 82 yards on 12 carries and a pair of scores. Kelian Jefferson had 24 rushing yards on five carries. Jeremiah Tabb caught five passes for 87 yards, while Jonah Winston hauled in four receptions for 28 yards.
Taaffe completed 6-of-12 throws for 82 yards and a pair of interceptions, while Purdy was a perfect 2-of-2 for 33 yards through the air and a touchdown. Mann rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown on 10 attempts, and Littleton had 56 rushing yards on 10 carries and a touchdown. Stubbs made two catches for 38 yards and a touchdown.
Looking ahead, the Class 7A, Region 3 champion Bucs will take the week off before hosting the Fairhope Pirates at the Hoover Met in the first round of the postseason. Vestavia Hills will welcome the defending Class 6A state champion Clay-Chalkville Cougars to Thompson Reynolds Stadium next Friday night before traveling to Mobile to take on the Mary Montgomery Vikings in the first round of the 7A playoffs.
