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Oak Mountain quarterback Charlie Vacarella (2) runs with the ball during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Hewitt Trussville huddles up before a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Oak Mountain head coach Jason Kervin chats with the officials before a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Hewitt Trussville head coach Josh Floyd chats with officials before a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Oak Mountain captains William Yoder (10), Luke Kelly (69), John Bay Whatley (64), and Nolan Lawson (8) before the coin toss during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Hewitt Trussville captains Riley O'Neill (18) and DJ Hall (12) before the coin toss during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Hewitt Trussville runs onto the field before a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Hewitt Trussville kicker Banks Loyd (15) kicks off during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Oak Mountain quarterback Charlie Vacarella (2) throws a pass during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Oak Mountain wide reciever looks to get up field during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Oak Mountain running back KEntrell Tolbert (1) runs past the Hewitt Trussville defense during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Oak Mountain running back Kentrell Tolbert (1) delivers a stiff arm during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Hewitt Trussville defensive end Eli Abney (7) recovers a fumble during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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A Hewitt Trussville lineman looks for someone to block during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Hewitt Trussville tight end Jackson Martin (20) celebrates a touchdown during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Oak Mountain kicks off during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Hewitt Turssville running back Harrison Malone (16) runs with the ball during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Hewitt Trussville defensive back Bryant Wisdom (26) looks to fill a running lane during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Oak Mountain wide receiver Okoye Walker (0) dives out of bounds to get the clock to stop during a drive late in the second quarter during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Oak Mountain scores a touchdown during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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The Oak Mountain Marching Band performs during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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The Oak Mountain Marching Band performs during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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The Oak Mountain Marching Band performs during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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The Oak Mountain Marching Band performs during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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The Oak Mountain Marching Band performs during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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The Hewitt Trussville Marching Band performs during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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The Hewitt Turssville Marching Band performs during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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The Hewitt Turssville Marching Band performs during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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The Hewitt Turssville Marching Band performs during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Addison Strickland is crowned homecoming queen during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Addison Strickland hugs her father aftering being announced as Oak Mountain's Homecoming Queen during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Addison Strickland is crowned Oak Mountain Homecoming Queen during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Oak Mountain quarterback Charlie Vacarella (2) looks for a running lane during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Oak Mountain runs with the ball after a catch during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Hewitt Trussville quarterback Jack Floyd (7) runs for the endzone during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Hewitt Trussville and Oak Mountain get ready for the snap during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Oak Mountain offensive lineman Jackson Ingle (50) looks for someone to block during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Oak Mountain quarterback Charlie Vacarella (2) dives for the endzone during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Oak Mountain running back Kentrell Tolbert (1) runs with the ball during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Hewitt Trussville running back Harrison Malone (16) runs with the ball during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Oak Mountain quarterback Charlie Vacarella (2) scores a touchdown during overtime during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Hewitt Trussville quarterback Jack Floyd (7) scores a touchdown during overtime during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Hewitt Trussville quarterback Jack Floyd (7) celebrates with his teammates after a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Hewitt Trussville quarterback Jack Floyd (7) scores a touchdown during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Hewitt Trussville running back Harrison Malone (16) scores a touchdown during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Oak Mountain quarterback Charlie Vacarella (2) celebrates a touchdown during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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The Oak Mountain student section celebrates a touchdown during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Hewitt Trussville head coach Josh Floyd expresses frustration over a call during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Hewitt Trussville running back Harrison Malone (16) celebrates a touchdown during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Oak Mountain center Luke Kelly (69) snaps the ball during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Oak Mountain linebacker Holan Lawson (8) celebrates a fumble recovery during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Hewitt Trussville running back Harrison Malone (16) runs with the ball during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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The Hewitt Turssville Marching Band performs during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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The Hewitt Turssville Marching Band performs during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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The Oak Mountain Marching Band performs during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Oak Mountain quarterback Charlie Vacarella (2) throws a pass during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Hewitt Turssville quarterback Jack Floyd (7) celebrates a touchdown during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Hewitt Trussville tight end Jackson Martin (20) catches a touchdown pass during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Hewitt Trussville tight end Jackson Martin (20) runs after a catch during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Oak Mountain offensive lineman Eli Ervin (78) drops back in pass protection during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Oak Mountain captains William Yoder (10), Luke Kelly (69), John Bay Whatley (64), and Nolan Lawson (8) before the coin toss during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Heardmon Park gets ready to host a football game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Hewitt Trussville cheerleaders before a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Hewitt Trussville Head Coach Josh Floyd before a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Oak Mountian Head Coach Jason Kervin before a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Oak Mountain huddles up before a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
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Hewitt Trussville head coach Josh Floyd talks to his team after a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Richard Force.
Week 7 marked the return to region play for the U.S. 280 area high school football teams. Briarwood won in convincing fashion, Oak Mountain suffered overtime heartbreak, Spain Park battled one of the state's top teams and Chelsea allowed Helena to slip away late.
Briarwood 56, St. John Paul II 7
Briarwood scored on its first six possessions and cruised to a 56-7 win over St. John Paul II on Thursday night in Private Class AA, Region 2 play, improving to 7-0 overall.
Jackson Reyer opened the scoring with an 11-yard touchdown run, and Ben Reynolds added two rushing touchdowns of his own, from 18 and 10 yards, to go with a 45-yard touchdown pass from Jamison Barnes to Charlie Allen that made it 21-0 after one quarter.
Briarwood kept rolling in the second, with Max Beaumont finding John Campbell for a 52-yard score and Isaac Kerley connecting with Will Butler from 15 yards out to push the lead to 42-0 at halftime.
St. John Paul II got on the board in the third quarter on a 54-yard touchdown run from William Simmons, but Kerley answered with a 2-yard rushing score, and Angelos Petelos capped the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth.
Briarwood piled up 434 total yards on just 44 plays, with Barnes, Beaumont and Kerley combining to complete 12 of 13 passes for 268 yards. St. John Paul II was limited to 124 total yards and committed three turnovers.
Briarwood improved to 4-0 in Region 2 and hosts John Carroll next week. St. John Paul II fell to 0-6 overall and travels to Randolph.
Helena 28, Chelsea 13
Chelsea led in the fourth quarter before Helena scored three times in the final five minutes to pull away for a 28-13 win on Friday night in Class 5A, Region 4 play.
Chelsea actually went ahead in the fourth quarter on a Logan Strunk screen pass to Cole Carroll, its first lead of the night.
Head coach Tad Niblett said the finish, not the effort, was the difference.
"Every game, you have a couple plays you wish you could have back, but that's football," Niblett said told the Chelsea broadcast following the game. "I'm proud of the way our guys competed. We did what we said we wanted to do. We've got to keep working, and we've got to finish it. We tell them every week, and it comes down to the fourth quarter and a few critical plays. We had opportunities ourselves, and we just didn't make the play. I'm proud of our kids and proud of the effort. We're not looking for moral victories, but even there at the end, we drove it down there and gave ourselves a chance to score."
Helena opened the scoring on a 9-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, and Chelsea answered right before halftime when Strunk found Hudson Picklesimer for a 4-yard touchdown, though the extra point missed, leaving Helena ahead 7-6 at the break. Neither team scored in the third quarter. Carroll's touchdown catch put Chelsea up 13-7 early in the fourth, but Helena responded with a short touchdown run to retake the lead at 14-13, added another score to make it 21-13, and sealed it with a fumble return touchdown that went 47 yards to set the final margin.
Chelsea fell to 0-6 overall, and Helena improved to 4-2 overall. Chelsea travels to Homewood next week, while Helena hosts Chilton County.
Hewitt-Trussville 48, Oak Mountain 45 (3 OT)
Hewitt-Trussville survived three overtimes to outlast Oak Mountain 48-45 on Friday night in a back-and-forth Class 6A, Region 3 classic.
In a battle of talented young quarterbacks, Charlie Vacarella accounted for five total touchdowns on the ground for Oak Mountain, matching Hewitt-Trussville's Jack Floyd blow for blow in a game that came down to the final possession of a third overtime.
Oak Mountain controlled the ball for much of the first half, according to head coach Josh Floyd.
"First thing I say, give Oak Mountain credit," Floyd said. "They did a good job controlling the clock tonight, which we knew that was going to be their game plan, so it wasn't anything shocking. We made some mistakes. I feel like we tried every possible way to lose the game. We kept giving them chances. They're a good football team, with one of the best running backs in the state. I felt like they dominated time of possession. I think we had the ball three times in the whole first half, so they controlled the clock, man, and we had to play their game."
Oak Mountain recovered a fumbled punt early and nearly cashed in, but missed a field goal to keep it scoreless. Jack Floyd found Jackson Martin for a short touchdown pass to put Hewitt-Trussville up 7-0, but Vacarella answered immediately with a long touchdown run to tie it. Floyd scored on a short run to make it 14-7, but Oak Mountain drove the length of the field in the closing seconds of the half and Vacarella found Jacob Gibbs for a touchdown pass, missing the two-point try to trail 14-13 at the break.
Oak Mountain took its first lead of the game in the third quarter on a Vacarella touchdown run and successful two-point conversion, going up 21-14. Jack Floyd tied it on a touchdown run to make it 21-21 early in the fourth quarter, but Oak Mountain answered with another short touchdown run from Vacarella to retake the lead at 28-21. Floyd tied it again at 28 with a fourth-down touchdown run with under a second left in regulation.
The teams traded touchdowns through two overtimes. Vacarella scrambled in for a score in the first, and Floyd answered to make it 35-35. Malone and Vacarella traded 1-yard touchdown runs in the second to make it 42-42, Vacarella's fifth rushing touchdown of the night. In the third overtime, Oak Mountain settled for a 22-yard field goal, and Floyd's touchdown run won it for Hewitt-Trussville.
Floyd finished 21 of 26 passing for 212 yards and a touchdown, and also led Hewitt-Trussville on the ground with 130 yards and four touchdowns on 21 carries. Malone added 64 yards and two touchdowns. Vacarella passed for 139 yards and a score and ran for 86 yards and five touchdowns on 13 carries for Oak Mountain, while Kentrell Tolbert, the Eagles' leading back, was held without a touchdown despite 127 yards on 29 carries.
Josh Floyd called quarterback Jack Floyd's late-game composure the difference, pointing to a fumble recovery in the second overtime as the turning point.
"Jack just made plays at the end, man," Floyd said. "I thought the second one, when the ball was on the ground, we scrambled around, made a play. Jack's a warrior, man. There wasn't a lot of doubt in that one once we stopped them for a field goal."
Hewitt-Trussville improved to 4-2 overall and 3-1 in Region 3, and hosts Thompson next week. Oak Mountain fell to 1-5 overall and 0-4 in the region, and travels to Prattville.
Prattville 35, Spain Park 28
Spain Park traded big plays with Prattville deep into the fourth quarter before falling 35-28 on Friday night in Class 6A, Region 3 play.
Tristan Hill's 98-yard interception return for a touchdown tied the game at 7 in the first quarter, erasing an early Prattville score.
Prattville answered with a field goal to retake the lead at 10-7, then added a 9-yard touchdown run to go up 17-7 in the second quarter. Nash Davis cut it to 17-14 on a quarterback sneak just before halftime. Prattville pushed the lead back to 24-14 on a short touchdown run in the third quarter, but Davis found Barrett Price for a 39-yard touchdown to make it 24-21.
Prattville answered with a field goal to make it 27-21 with four seconds left in the third, then added a pick-six on the final play of the third quarter to push the lead to 33-21.
CJ Davis cut the deficit to 33-28 on a 9-yard touchdown run, but Prattville closed the game out with a safety to make it 35-28 and ran out the clock from there.
Spain Park fell to 3-3 overall and 1-3 in Region 3, and hosts Tuscaloosa County next week.
