With nothing but pride on the line, the Class 7A second-ranked Hoover Bucs shrugged off a rough opening stanza in cruising to a 38-20 victory over Vestavia Hills in Friday’s Region 3 rival showdown at the Hoover Met.

Hoover (8-2, 6-0) received the opening kickoff, but an interception by Vestavia Hills’ Leyton Downey led to a score. The Rebels wasted little time and scored on a 39-yard touchdown run by Carson Mann to cap a quick 3-play, 43-yard drive.