Photo by Shawn Bowles
Charlie Vacarella (11).
Oak Mountain High School enters a new era this fall under first-year head coach Jason Kervin, and the rebuild has started with the small tasks. The attention to detail has been present from day one.
“We don’t have custodians vacuum our locker rooms anymore. We’ve got our own vacuums, we vacuum our own locker rooms,” Kervin said. “It takes time for kids to embrace those things and understand that it’s not punishment.”
Kervin said the offseason program ran well from January through spring, though his full defensive staff, including coordinator Michael Brown, wasn’t yet in place. Since that group arrived, Kervin said the coaches have worked daily to reinforce the same language and expectations across the board.
“Everybody seemed to be locked in, they’re eager to learn,” Kervin said. “It’s not just offenses and defenses we’re teaching, it’s culture, how we act, how we behave, how we celebrate, how early we get here, when we leave.”
The program’s goal is straightforward: reach the playoffs for the first time since 2021, something that has been just out of reach for Oak Mountain in recent years.
“First of all, our goal is to get to the playoffs,” Kervin said. “I think the biggest thing is to play in a way that is clean and physical.”
Oak Mountain opens the season at home against Pelham on Aug. 21, then hosts Buckhorn the following week before region play begins Sept. 4 at Spain Park. The Eagles travel to Vestavia Hills, Prattville and Tuscaloosa County and host Hoover, Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson within the region. Oak Mountain has an open date Sept. 25 and closes the regular season on the road at Homewood.
OFFENSE
Kervin’s offense runs through junior quarterback Charlie Vacarella, who started as a sophomore a year ago. Kervin coached Vacarella’s cousin, Christopher, at Hoover and said Charlie’s experience last season gave him confidence in what he was getting.
“Anytime you’ve got a quarterback that has experience as a sophomore, that level is going to pay dividends as a junior,” Kervin said.
The offensive line was an early point of emphasis, and Kervin said the addition of line coach Austin Stidham has made a difference after a spring and offseason together. Senior Luke Kelly returns at center as the group’s vocal leader, flanked by seniors John Bay Whatley at right guard and Jackson Ingle at left guard. Junior Sam Oswalt has emerged at right tackle, and junior Eli Ervin, Kervin’s most highly regarded lineman behind Kelly, returns at left tackle. Charles Larkin is also in the mix up front.
Photo by Todd Lester
Judson Sachs (26).
At running back, Oak Mountain returns senior Judson Sachs and senior Kentrell Tolbert, a pairing Kervin called a legitimate one-two punch.
“Kentrell is as talented a running back as I’ve ever coached,” Kervin said.
Kervin wants to build around two tight ends and a fullback, a group he said didn’t previously exist in the program. Junior Tucker Kelly, a converted lineman and Luke Kelly’s cousin, headlines that group along with junior Brody Hughes, junior Labree Ham and sophomore Silas Allday.
At receiver, senior Okoye Walker brings track speed and physicality on the outside, while senior Jacob Gibbs, a transfer from Pelham, adds another proven target. Senior Blaise Hayes works out of the slot, and junior Isaac Booth, who caught a long touchdown against Hoover as a sophomore, rounds out the group.
DEFENSE
Oak Mountain’s defensive line will be undersized for the region, but Kervin said the group plays with more toughness than its size suggests.
Senior Peyton Gamble is the unit’s leader, a hybrid edge player who Kervin said had three sacks in the spring game. Junior Zander Pender and senior James McCallister, a wrestler, round out a line Kervin wants to keep moving and disguising.
Photo by Barry Stephenson
William Yoder (10).
At linebacker, senior William Yoder led the region in tackles a year ago and anchors the middle of the defense.
“He’s a tackling machine,” Kervin said. “He’s going to be able to master Coach Brown’s defense and get everybody lined up.”
Senior Nolan Lawson and sophomore Aiden Molette are competing at Will linebacker, with junior Keenan Wolf playing a hybrid role at Spur.
The secondary returns only one starter from a year ago in senior Clay Mills, who Kervin called the leader of the back end. Junior Deacon Brewer and junior Cooper Campbell round out the safety group. Junior Josiah Sachs, younger brother of running back Judson Sachs, starts at one cornerback spot, with senior Matthew Beard, a converted receiver, and senior Paxton Haley providing depth on the other side.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Senior Josh Renfro returns as both placekicker and punter. Sophomore Joe Junkin will push for kickoff and field goal duties and also serves as holder, while sophomore George Ball returns at long snapper.
