Vestavia Hills Downs Defending Class 6A Champ Clay-Chalkville 28-14

VESTAVIA HILLS, AL – Vestavia Hills quarterback Charlie Taaffe led the Rebels to a 28-14 victory against the defending Class 6A state champion Clay-Chalkville Cougars Friday night at Thompson Reynolds Stadium.  

Head coach Rob Evans’ Rebels capped the regular season with a 5-5 record. Meanwhile, the Cougars, ranked fifth in class 6A, finished at 8-2.

Vestavia Hills lit up the Buddy Anderson Field scoreboard early as Taaffe bolted into the endzone from two yards out in the first quarter. Senior Bruce Littleton extended the lead to 14-0 with a 25-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. The Cougars answered back with a 14-play drive, culminating in Aaron Osley score from inside the Rebel five yard line, narrowing the gap to 14-7 at the half.

After the break, Taaffe and Littleton connected for a 33-yard score early in the third quarter, and shortly thereafter, paired up again for a 34-yard score, increasing the lead to 28-7. Joshua Woods responded for the Cougars with a 25-yard touchdown run, closing the game to 28-14.

Sophomore signal caller Charlie Taaffe finished the game with 237 passing yards and a pair of touchdown tosses, going 16-of-22 through the air, along with 89 rushing yards on 11 carries and a score on the ground. Littleton rushed for 62 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries and was the Taaffe’s favorite target hauling in six catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns.

For the Cougars, quarterback Aaron Frye completed 17-of-26 passes for 151 yards. Running back Aaron Osley gained 107 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Marlon Compton led the Clay-Chalkville receiving corps with four grabs for 68 yards.

Looking ahead, the Rebels will travel four hours south to Semmes to face the No. 4 ranked Mary Montgomery Vikings (9-1) in the first round of the Class 7A postseason next Friday night. Clay-Chalkville will host the Gadsden City Titans (6-3) at Jerry Hood Field.