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Hoover's R.J. Randle is tackled from behind by Vestavia Hills Reid Adams. at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Vestavia Hills Travis Saunders hauls in a pass resulting in a first down. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Vestavia Hills Thomas Minor finds some blocking in the first half. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Vestavia Hills coach Buddy Anderson on the sidelines. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover band members before the game. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Members of the Vestavia Hills band play at halftime. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Members of the Vestavia Hills band play at halftime. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover coach Josh Niblett on the sidelines. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Vestavia Hills cheerleaders lead out the players. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Members of the Vestavia Hills band play at halftime. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover's CJ Sturdivant looks for some running room with Vestavia Hills Ethan Guidry closing in. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover's KJ Vault chases down the play from behind. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Vestavia Hills Thomas Minor is brought down by Hoover's Christon Taylor. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover's CJ Sturdivant on an early run. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover defenders Khamari Brown, Kholbe Coleman and Rubin Stinson look to the sideline for a play. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Vestavia Hills Remington Patterson runs into a wall of Hoover defenders. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Vestavia Hills William Schaffeld juggles the ball behind the line of scrimmage after an errant shuffle pass. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover's Barret Pickering kicks a field goal in the first half. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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A loose ball is recovered by Vestavia. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover's Jimmie Johnson is brought down by Vestavia Hills defenders Nate Lewis and Jackson Ewing. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Vestavia Hills Coleman Petway dishes off the ball. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover band members before the game. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover's KJ Vault brings down Vestavia Hills William Schaffeld behind the line of scrimmage. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover's PJ Hall carries the ball for a short gain. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover's Jimmie Johnson hauls in a pass for a first down. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover fans carry flags out before the team. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover's Davis Haley is brought down after a short run. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover's Davis Haley is brought down after gaining a first down. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover's CJ Sturdivant takes off on a short touchdown run. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover's CJ Sturdivant strides into the end zone for Hoover's first touchdown. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover's Austin Carter bucks on an extra point attempt. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Vestavia Hill Brett Jones makes a quick pass. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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0Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Vestavia Hills Travis Saunders hauls in a pass resulting in a first down with Hoover's Temarcus Bryant bringing him down. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Vestavia Hills Brett Jones scrambles away from Hoover's Christon Taylor in the first half. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover's Kholbe Coleman tracks down Vestavia Hills Brett Jones on Vestivia's final drive of the first half. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover cheerleaders lead players onto the field. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover's Cortez Hall is brought down after a short run. Vestavia at Hoover in the 2nd round of the AHSAA class 7A playoffs Friday November 13, 2015 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Frank Couch.
There was no looking back for the Hoover football team, only forward.
The Bucs’ rematch with visiting Vestavia Hills wasn’t about a previous loss. The game was about what they could do and had to do to keep playing.
So the 24-0 win fifth-ranked Hoover put up against the sixth-ranked Rebels in the second round of the AHSAA Class 7A playoffs had nothing to do with avenging a seven-point regular-season back in Octobrer.
“Revenge is about the past and about the other team, said junior defensive back Jayden Jordan, who had one of Hoover’s two interceptions in a domination defensive effort. “When we come out and focus on redemption it’s more about the right now and what we’re going to do in the future.
“We came out and redeemed ourselves and got the W.”
Hoover advances to play top-ranked Spain Park, which handed the Bucs their other regular-season loss, next Friday. The Jags defeated James Clemens 13-10 and will play host to Hoover in the third round.
“We executed, all the way around,” Hoover coach Josh Niblett said. “We played fast, we executed, we were physical, we swarmed to the ball, we aligned right and we put ourselves in some good situations. We didn’t let them dictate the flow of the game.”
Running back C.J. Sturdivant had 77 yards on 14 carried and scored twice for Hoover, but it was the defense that set the tone. The Bucs (10-2) completely shut down Vestavia Hills (9-3). The Bucs held the Rebels to just 138 yards on 58 offensive plays. They held the Rebels to just nine first downs and forced five three-and-outs. And they gave the Rebels nothing.
“I just want to thank the defense,” Sturdivant said. “They just did a heck of a job tonight.”
And the effort was truly a team effort. No Buc had more than six tackles (Temarcus Bryant and Kholbe Coleman led with six each), Will Singleton had the other interception.
“It’s awesome too know that they can hold an opponent to that few points and it just depends on the offense to put the points on the board and when that happens we come out with a W,” said Hoover quarterback Christopher Vacarella, who threw a touchdown pass.
It wasn’t that the Hoover offense was so hot either. The Bucs had just 178 yards and nine first downs, but when the opportunities to score came, Hoover pounced.
The Bucs finally took advantage of the battle for field position in the middle of the second quarter for the only two scores of the first half.
After the Rebels quick-kicked to give the Bucs the ball at Vestavia 33, Hoover got a 35-yard field goal from Barrett Pickering with 8:57 left in the half.
Vestavia went three-and-out on the ensuing drive, and a 15-yard punt set up the Bucs at the Rebels 17. Four plays later Sturdivant rumbled in from 5 yards out with 5:28 left in the half to give Hoover a 10-0 lead.
The Rebels got nothing going offensively all half and put up just 44 yards in the first two quarters. Hoover was not much better, with just 89 total yards.
Sturdivant scored again on a 7-yard run with 7:34 left in the third quarter for a 17-0 lead, and Javan Jackson caught Vacarella’s 36-pass over the middle in traffic for a score with 3:29 left in the quarter to complete the scoring.
