Mary Montgomery quarterback Shondell Harris breaks loose for a gain against Vestavia Hills in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs Thursday night in Semmes. The Rebels upset the No. 3 Vikings 42-21. (Helen Joyce/Call News)
By JOHN VELLA
SEMMES — Charlie Taaffe accounted for four touchdowns, including three on the ground, as Vestavia Hills shocked No. 3-ranked Mary G. Montgomery 42-21 in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs Thursday night.
Taaffe scored on runs of 1 yard, 2 and 18 yards for the Rebels (6-5).
MGM quarterback Shondell Harris scored on runs of 1 yard and 34 yards and tossed a 5-yard TD pass to Devin Pettway but the Vikings (9-2) fell behind 28-7 and never caught up.
MGM cut the lead to 28-21 with 7:36 left in third quarter but the Rebels added a two more scores to stop the Vikings’ 14-game home winning streak.
“We gave ourselves some chances in the second half but could not quite get over the hump,” Mary G. Montgomery coach Zach Golson said.
The Vikings had the No. 3 defense against the score in Class 7A, allowing 13 points per game, but Vestavia Hills outgained MGM 437 yards to 246, including 244 yards passing.
The Rebels opened the game with six straight passes, setting the tone with an 80-yard, 12-play drive capped by Taaffe’s 22-yard scoring pass to Chase Webb.
Harris completed 11 of 23 passes for 65 yards.
