Patriots fall short against Vestavia Hills
VESTAVIA HILLS – Gyasi Hill knew the game would be decided by the final play.
But he had no idea that play would be his to make.
Hill’s interception with 20 seconds remaining helped the Vestavia Hills High School football team preserve and capture a 17-10 win over rival Homewood on a long Friday night at Thompson Reynolds Stadium.
“I was just praying to God that we finished it strong,” said Hill, a senior who transferred from John Carroll prior to the season. “It just so happened it was my play. It was very exciting.”
With Homewood driving in the final minute, quarterback Larkin Williams was looking for Wesley Williams over the middle, near the goal line. Even with Wesley Williams holding inside position, Hill leapt and reached over the receiver to come down with a highlight reel catch as the pass arrived. The pick sealed the victory for Vestavia Hills (1-0) and avenged last season’s defeat.
“It’s never easy,” said Vestavia Hills head coach Buddy Anderson. “I heard a coach say one time if you get to a point where you’re not nervous before a game and everything’s not just in turmoil, it’s time to get out. Believe me, it was in turmoil today. I’m just proud of our kids. It was a great battle.”
After a quick start to the game for both offenses, Mother Nature interrupted the proceedings between the first and second quarters. The delay lasted nearly two hours and 45 minutes, as rain and lightning moved through the area.
On the opening drive of the game, Michael Vice scored on a 54-yard pass to put the Rebels out front. Vice got behind the defense and shook off two would-be tacklers before making his way to the end zone. But Homewood responded with an eight-play touchdown drive of its own, as Trae Ausmer’s 16-yard grab led to a KeOnte Davis 7-yard scoring run.
Before play was halted, the Rebels had marched down to the Homewood 12-yard line, and Cooper Bishop finished off the drive with a 5-yard touchdown to put the Rebels up 14-7 three plays after play resumed.
Lane Gilchrist rebounded from a rough game against Hueytown last week to punch through a 28-yard field goal on Homewood’s ensuing drive. The second half turned into a battle of the punters, as the teams combined for six punts over the final two quarters. The only other scoring in the game came from Caleb Huber’s 24-yard field goal in the third.
Homewood (1-1) struggled following the weather delay, picking up just two total first downs over the second and third quarters. On the final drive of the game, Larkin Williams hit Marcus McGhee and Ausmer for first downs and scrambled to convert a fourth down as well.
“It was just ugly,” said Homewood head coach Ben Berguson. “We shot ourselves in the foot all night long. It all goes back to the week of practice we had. I thought we lacked concentration all week in practice and it told on us tonight. We had every opportunity in the world to win this game tonight.”
Larkin Williams finished the evening 16-of-29 passing for 152 yards and was also the Patriots’ leading rusher with 30 yards. McGhee was his leading target, snagging eight balls for 57 yards.
Rob Barrentine and Andrew Sims notched sacks on the evening for the Rebels, as their defense turned up the heat on Larkin Williams in the second half. Homewood’s John Firnberg picked off Eli Sawyer late to set up Homewood’s final drive.
The Rebels’ normally potent rushing attack was held in check much of the evening, but Cooper Bishop managed 54 yards and a score on eight carries. Sawyer was 11-of-20 through the air for 186 yards and the touchdown. Vice caught three balls for 79 yards, while converted quarterback Sean Smyth went for 58 yards on three catches.
Both teams begin region play with critical contests next week. Homewood hosts Pelham and Vestavia Hills travels to Spain Park.
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