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The best of the best in Alabama High
School Football over the past 100 seasons.
Rivalries
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These two titans have waged war each season since 1972 with Vestavia's decision to break away from Jefferson County and create its own municipal school system. The Over the Mountain schools have fought through some of the best games ever among the largest schools in the state. It has always been an intense rivalry, but ticked up a notch in 1999 with the arrival of Rush Propst at Hoover. The Bucs became a national icon thanks to MTV's portrayal during "Two-A-Days," which chronicled the Hoover program. Throw in some forfeited games, controversy, accusations and general dislike for each program by the opposing fans and you have the makings of a great rivalry. Most seasons they played in the same region so every game was not only for a region championship but in many seasons it had implications for a state championship. Since 1990 the two have played in the same region except the 2012-13 seasons. Between 2001-2016 the winner of the regular season game won the region championship every year except the 2011 and 2015 seasons. In 1980 the Rebels (14-1) won the Class 6A state Championship with a 15-13 victory over Parker. The Bucs took some pleasure in handing them their only defeat of the season with a 14-7 win in early October. It is likely the biggest upset in the series. In 2000, the Rebels got some revenge for the 1980 loss when they handed the Bucs (14-1) their only loss of the season 34-31. Hoover later won the 6A title over Daphne 28-7. It happened again in 2003 and 2009 when Vestavia Hills managed to defeat Hoover during the regular season only to see the Bucs win another state championship. Only in 1989 did the winner of this game finish the season with a losing record. Every other year since 1972, the winner of the rivalry game had a winning record. Six times the teams have played a regular season game and met again in the state playoffs. Hoover holds a 5-1 advantage in the playoffs games. It's common for 10,000 fans to show up for the game. Coach Buddy Anderson was a fixture at Vestavia Hills between 1978 and 2020. He retired with more wins than any other coach in the history of high school football in the state with 346. He has also lost 160 games with 31 of those losses coming at the hands of the Bucs. By far this is the most of any opponent he faced during his forty-three seasons as ahead football coach. It is the only opponent he has a losing record against that the Rebels have played more than five times. The schools are only about ten miles apart so many of the players and fans know each other. That does not take away from the intensity of this rivalry between the big boys of high school football. Total Meetings: 60 Series Record: Hoover leads 39-21-0 Home Record: Hoover: 19-12-0 Vestavia Hills: 9-20-0 First Meeting: 9/1/1972, Hoover 45, Vestavia Hills 0 Last Meeting: 10/25/2025, Hoover 38, Vestavia Hills 20 Longest Winning Streak: Hoover 8 (2010-2015), Vestavia Hills 5 (1983-1987) Biggest Wins: Hoover 45-0 (1972), Vestavia Hills 42-15 (1998) Biggest Upsets: 1980 - Hoover 6-5 upset Vestavia Hills (13-1) 14-7
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David Parker
AHSFHS.org
dparker@ahsfhs.org
Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History
Robby James has won nine AISA State Championships during his career at Catherine Academy, Morgan Academy and Marengo Academy.
Robby James has won nine AISA State Championships during his career at Catherine Academy, Morgan Academy and Marengo Academy.
