Photo by Todd Lester
Oak Mountain Football
Oak Mountain's Noah Egan (7) throws a stiff arm in a game between Oak Mountain and Huffman on Friday, September 2, 2016, at Viking Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama.
The matchup between Oak Mountain and Vestavia Hills pits two teams facing a situation neither finds desirable.
That situation presented itself after each team lost its Class 7A, Region 3 opener last week. Oak Mountain could not slow down Huffman's ground game in a 21-11 loss. Vestavia Hills could not find the necessary to hang with Spain Park in a 28-14 defeat.
One team will leave the contest looking at a manageable 1-1 mark in Region 3 play. The other will face a 0-2 record, digging a rather deep hole to climb out of in search of a playoff berth.
The Eagle offense hit the skids against Huffman, managing just 11 points without starting quarterback Wyatt Legas, who suffered an injury against Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa. Legas is not expected back for at least a few more weeks.
The Rebels should bring an even better rushing attack into the game at 7 p.m. on Friday at Heardmont Park, led by William Schaffield, Toliver Chatwood and Cooper Jones.
Last week, Chatwood and Jones had trouble finding space against Spain Park's stiff defense, but Schaffield gained 57 yards and scored a touchdown.
Vestavia QB Coleman Pettway also played well, and was 6-of-9 through the air for 55 yards and the score to Langley. He also rushed for 95 yards on 9 attempts.
Vestavia Hills seems to be in the better position, but Oak Mountain finished strong after an 0-3 start last fall, winning five of its last seven contests.
If last year's 35-26 Vestavia win is any indication, the two teams should be in for a battle once again.
