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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Hoover quarterback Bennett Meredith (3) drops back to pass during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Vestavia Hills Cheerleaders during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Vestavia Hills defensive back John Martin Richter (17) and Hoover offensive lineman Ethan Hubbard (58) lock up during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover tight end/fullback Jabari Gaines (4) hauls in a touchdown pass during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover quarterback Bennett Meredith (3) hand off to Hoover running back Ahamari Williams (1) during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Action during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover outside linebacker DJ Estes (5) brings down Vestavia Hills quarterback Sam Carroll (10) after a short gain during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Vestavia Hills quarterback/punter Mitchell Towns (16) rolls out and looks downfield during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Vestavia Hills quarterback Mitchell Towns (16) throws a pass during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Vestavia Hills running back Bryant Agee (5) is tackled by Hoover defensive lineman Corey Warren (16) during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover outside linebacker DJ Estes (5) grabs an interception during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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The Vestavia Hills band performs at halftime during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Vestavia Hills linebacker Davis Stewart (30) and Vestavia Hills defensive lineman Max Neuroth (55) team uip to bring down Hoover running back Ahamari Williams (1) after a long gain during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Vestavia Hills linebacker Houston Owen (18) hangs on as Hoover running back Ahamari Williams (1) drags him and another Vestavia Hills defender on his way to a touchdown during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover linebacker Bradley Shaw (33) and teammates bring down Vestavia Hills running back Bryant Agee (5) during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Family members and friends of Victor Hill are recognized before a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Vestavia Hills Cheerleaders during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Game Captains and members of the Marines shake hands before a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Vestavia Hills running back Bryant Agee (5) is brought down by Hoover cornerback Jacob Finley (17) during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover offensive lineman Jason Avelar (76) leads the blocking during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Vestavia Hills fans during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Vestavia Hills defensive lineman Blake Jeffers (99) bings down Hoover running back Lamarion McCammon (11) during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Vestavia Hills linebacker Houston Owen (18) tackles Hoover quarterback Bennett Meredith (3) after a short gain during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover Cheerleaders during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Vestavia Hills offensive lineman Hoke Smith (74) and Vestavia Hills offensive lineman Jack Dawsey (57) lead the team back onto the field during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover outside linebacker Josh Carter (30) stops Vestavia Hills running back Bryant Agee (5) during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Vestavia Hills wide receiver Keown Richardson (8) gets behind the defence and hauls in a long pass during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover running back Josh Giddens (21) runs the ball for a nice gain during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover wide receiver Cotton Peters (12) catches a pass during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover running back Josh Giddens (21) recovers a fumble during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover inside linebacker Kaleb Jackson (10) and Hoover outside linebacker Josh Carter (30) bring down a Vestavia Hills ball carrier during a game with Vestavia Hills High School on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
HOOVER — Hoover High School forced five turnovers and scored a defensive touchdown in a 34-6 drubbing of rival Vestavia Hills on Friday at the Hoover Met.
The second-ranked Bucs (3-0) intercepted four passes and safety Paul Thompson scored on a 43-yard fumble recovery on the final play of the first quarter.
“I was just in the moment,” Thompson said. “I just picked it up and took off.”
Hoover got interceptions from D.J. Estes, Jacob Finley, Jeremy Cook and Keith Christein. Vestavia Hills (0-3) managed just 195 total yards against Hoover.
“We go as our energy goes,” said Hoover head coach Josh Niblett. “I thought we played with pretty good energy early on. We were able to get some turnovers and get some drives.
Ahamari Williams rushed for touchdowns of 2 and 9 yards in the first quarter before Thompson’s scoop and score. Peyton Argent’s field goals of 24 and 27 yards gave the Bucs a 27-0 halftime advantage.
“We had some opportunities to blow the game wide open and we didn’t come away with touchdowns, we came away with field goals,” Niblett said. “We’ve got to score when we’re in the red zone. We want seven points.”
Hoover’s final seven points came on Williams’ third touchdown, a 5-yard run late in the third quarter. Cole Turner’s 62-yard punt return touchdown with 7:19 to play were the only points the Rebels managed.
Despite the scoreboard, Hoover was called for 11 penalties, mostly on the offensive side of the ball, which totaled 89 yards.
“We shot ourselves in the foot,” Niblett said. “I don’t know if it was a hearing thing, but we’re going to play in loud stadiums the bigger the games get so we’ve got to get that handled and taken care of.”
Offensively, quarterback Bennett Meredith finished 15-of-28 for 244 yards. Williams rushed 14 times for 84 yards and three touchdowns. Cotton Peters led the receivers with 90 yards on three catches.
For Vestavia Hills, Mitchell Towns was 5-of-12 for 62 yards and two interceptions. Fort Edmonds was 4-of-8 for 24 yards and two picks. Bryant Agee gained 70 yards on 12 carries, and Keown Richardson led the receivers with three receptions for 43 yards.
“We really all played to the ball,” Thompson said. “We really all flew to the ball.”
Hoover hits the road for its first of three straight away games next week at Gadsden City, while the Rebels host Oak Mountain.
“The mentality is all about us,” Niblett said. “These kids have a good mentality about them and they understand the tasks that are in front of them, how big the next games are. We’ll just try to be 1-0 on the next one.”
