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Oak Mountain DB/WR Jayden Aparicio (3), Oak Mountain WR Joey Carbonie (13), Oak Mountain WR Patton Knight (2), and Oak Mountain DB Kolby King (6) celebrate a touchdown during a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Oak Mountain DB Kennedy Silas (9) avoids a sack and attempts a pass during a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Oak Mountain RB Marty Myricks (1) finds a whole and runs for a first down during a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Oak Mountain band during a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Pelham DB/WR Terrence Copeland (3) deflecting a pass to Oak Mountain DB Kolby King (6) during a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Oak Mountain QB Charlie Vacarella (11) runs for the first down during a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Pelham WR Jordan Winston (15) catches the ball for a toiuchdown during a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Oak Mountain WR Kasen Lemons (8) bounces the ball and Pelham DB Michael Hall (18) catches the interception during a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Pelham RB Tristen Rutledge (1) running for a first down during a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Oak Mountain DB/WR Jayden Aparicio (3) celebrates a touchdown catch during a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Pelham RB Tristen Rutledge (1) leaps over a tackle during a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Oak Mountain band during a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Oak Mountain LB William Yoder (10) and Oak Mountain DL Joey Lewis (56) tackling the runner during a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Oak Mountain FS Logan Johnson (14) called for pass interference when Pelham WR Jacob Gibbs (6) attempted to catch the ball during a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Oak Mountain QB Charlie Vacarella (11) avoids the sack and passes the ball during a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Oak Mountain WR Kasen Lemons (8) catching a pass during a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Pelham WR Marcus Arnold (2) avoiding a tackle during a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Oak Mountain RB Marty Myricks (1) runs for a short gain during a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Oak Mountain DB/LB Landon Pfaffman (25) and Oak Mountain LB William Yoder (10) stop the run during a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Pelham LB Dylan Palmier (10) intercepts the pass during a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Oak Mountain DB/WR Jayden Aparicio (3) and Oak Mountain DB Kolby King (6) disrupts the pass for Pelham WR Tristan Darden (7) during a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Oak Mountain QB Charlie Vacarella (11) passing the ball during a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Oak Mountain WR Patton Knight (2) catches a pass over the back of Pelham DB Michael Hall (18) during a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Oak Mountain RB Marty Myricks (1) celebrates a touchdown with his team after stretching over the line for a touchdown during a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Oak Mountain football team before the game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Oak Mountain LB William Yoder (10), Oak Mountain DL Dailan Gantt (73), Oak Mountain DL Joey Lewis (56) and Oak Mountain RB Marty Myricks (1) at the coin toss before a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Oak Mountain head coach Shane McComb and Pelham head coach Ross Newton talking before a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
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Oak Mountain LB Carson Lewis (18) passing the ball before a game between Oak Mountain and Pelham on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Heardmont Park. Photo by Michael Jackson.
Trailing in the final minute, Oak Mountain delivered one of the most dramatic finishes of the young season Friday night — a walk-off Hail Mary to defeat Pelham 30-29 at Heardmont Park.
Sophomore quarterback Charlie Vacarella found Kolby King in the end zone for a 46-yard touchdown pass on the final play of the game to tie the score. After an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Pelham pushed the extra point attempt back, Josh Renfro calmly stepped up and knocked it through to seal the Eagles’ second win in as many weeks.
The wild ending capped a back-and-forth battle between the Eagles and Panthers, as Oak Mountain overcame a fourth-quarter deficit for the second straight week. The win pushes Oak Mountain to 2-0 heading into region play, while Pelham drops to 0-2.
Running back Marty Myricks sparked the Eagles early, scoring two touchdowns in the opening minutes of the first quarter. His first came on a 6-yard run to cap Oak Mountain’s opening drive after a turnover on downs. Moments later, following a fumble recovery on the ensuing kickoff, Myricks broke free again for a 25-yard score to give the Eagles a 14-0 lead just midway through the first quarter.
Pelham answered with a punt return for a touchdown to cut the lead to 14-7, and Oak Mountain added a 44-yard field goal from Renfro to take a 17-7 lead into halftime.
The Panthers gained momentum in the third quarter, closing the gap with a 1-yard touchdown run set up by a big pass play from Dylan Smith to Marcus Arnold. Vacarella responded early in the fourth, connecting with Jayden Aparicio-Bailey for a touchdown to extend the lead, but the Eagles missed the extra point — a miss that nearly proved costly.
Pelham surged ahead with two more touchdown passes from Smith, including a strike to Jordan Winston with under a minute to play. But Oak Mountain had one last chance, and made it count.
Vacarella dropped back and launched the ball toward the end zone. King came down with it.
Renfro’s extra point made the celebration official.
Myricks finished with 22 for 131 yards and two touchdowns, and added another 40 yards receiving on five catches. Vacarella completed 17 of 24 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns. He also had two interceptions. Patton Knight also contributed four catches for 73 yards for the Eagles.
Oak Mountain now turns its focus to region play, as the Eagles travel to Prattville next week. Pelham heads to Chelsea.
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