Vestavia Hills Rolls Past Benjamin Russell 23-7 

ALEXANDER CITY, AL — The second-ranked Vestavia Hills Rebels scored 23 unanswered points to knock off Benjamin Russell, ranked No. 4 in Class 5A,  23-7 on Friday night at Martin-Savarese Stadium, staying perfect at 2-0 to start the 2026 season.

The Wildcats struck first and looked dangerous early. But Vestavia’s ground game and the steady arm of junior quarterback Hudson Mote took over, and the Rebels never trailed again after the opening quarter.

First Half Action

Benjamin Russell wasted no time. Kingston Preyear, an Alabama commit, connected with Gabriel Lauderdale on a 12-yard touchdown pass with 8:03 left in the first quarter, giving the home crowd an early jolt and a 7-0 lead.

Vestavia answered on the ground. With 11:04 remaining in the first half, quarterback Charlie Taaffe punched in a short touchdown on a second-and-1 sneak to tie the game.

The Rebels grabbed the lead for good when Mote broke free for a 16-yard scoring run. A 2-point conversion attempt failed, leaving Vestavia ahead 13-7.

Kicker Sloan Morgan added three more before the break, drilling a 34-yard field goal as time expired to push the halftime margin to 16-7.

Key Turning Points

The story of the night was Vestavia’s 23 straight points after falling behind early. Once the Rebels found their rhythm, the Wildcats had no answer.

Mote proved to be the difference-maker, working as a true dual threat. He completed 13 of 16 passes for 187 yards and added 41 yards on four carries. His efficiency kept drives alive and forced Benjamin Russell’s defense to defend the entire field.

Receiver Luke Stubbs was equally reliable, catching all six passes thrown his way for 99 yards. That 6-for-6 target perfection gave Mote a dependable outlet whenever the Rebels needed a big play.

Vestavia’s offense rolled up 430 total yards. Nolan Boylan carried 16 times for 72 yards, and Taaffe chipped in 52 yards on nine attempts. Carter Stagner capped the scoring with an 11-yard touchdown run with 9:23 to play.

Benjamin Russell struggled to sustain drives after its opening score. Preyear finished 11 of 20 for 114 yards, with Eric Young hauling in two catches for 52 yards. Joshua Harriell led the ground attack with 31 yards on 12 carries as the Wildcats fought to move the chains.

Final Outlook

The win sets up a marquee matchup next week in Alabaster. The Rebels open Region 3 play next week at top-ranked Thompson, a road test that will measure just how far this fast-starting team can climb.

Benjamin Russell (0-1) drops its first game but rolls into week 2 with plenty of firepower led by Preyear. The Wildcats look to bounce back on the road at Park Crossing, where a strong showing could quickly put Friday’s setback behind them.

Both teams walked away with lessons to carry forward — Vestavia proving it can absorb an early blow and respond, and Benjamin Russell learning what it takes to hang with one of 6A’s best.