Friday Night Football: Vestavia vs. Hoover

Photo credits: Bama Preps

On Friday, October 24, Vestavia Hills Varsity Football, ranked as the number two seed, faced their rivals, the Hoover Bucs, ranked number five.

The Rebels needed school spirit to pull off the win, so Friday began with a morning pep rally. Each grade level dressed according to its theme: freshmen wore camo, sophomores dressed as celebrities, juniors wore black, seniors wore togas, and the band wore their Halloween costumes. David Leon took senior toga pictures on the senior patio free of charge as a result of the new phone policy.

The pep rally began with the recognition of 24 seniors named National Merit Semifinalists—the largest group from any Alabama high school this year and the most from Vestavia in nearly 20 years. (23 seniors named National Merit Semifinalists in 2006). After hearing those individuals’ accomplishments, a game of musical chairs commenced. After several rounds, the finals came down to senior Harrison Gilder and junior Sofia Paredes. Following a tough battle over the final chair, both Harrison Gilder and the senior class were victorious.

The pep rally then shifted to performances by the Rebellettes, dressed in their creepy doll costumes, and the Majorettes, wearing neon-colored outfits. At the end of every pep rally, each grade tries to make the most noise for the spirit stick, and this time, the seniors won, rushing the gym floor to sing the alma mater.

School spirit was high going into the game, Vestavia vs. Hoover, at home at 7 p.m. The game theme was “Barbie the Bucs,” so everyone wore pink. The senior girls wore their hot pink T-shirts, while the senior guys wore their Doughboy T-shirts—an idea created by Emory Bear this year to raise more funds for Vestavia’s fall charity, The Lovelady Center. The Lovelady Center supports women and their children struggling with addiction by providing essential life skills and job opportunities.

During the football game, the Rebels were down 3–0 at the end of the first quarter and trailed 24–18 at halftime. Both schools’ bands performed an impressive halftime show, and the Rebels led 25–24 at the end of the third quarter. The final quarter was a nail-biter, but ultimately, the Rebels ended the game with a 39–30 win, securing their spot in the playoffs. After this huge victory over their rivals, the students rushed the field, and the night ended in major success.