The Vestavia Hills flag football team has reloaded and set its sights on another deep playoff run this fall.
At the time of this writing (October 18), the Rebels have built up an impressive 13-4 record, including big wins over Thompson, Hewitt-Trussville, and Mountain Brook. Additionally, Vestavia opened the 2026 season with seven consecutive wins, has won its last three games, and has outscored its opponents 443-142.
Perhaps most impressively, the Rebels are flying high without quarterback Julia Rose, one of the top high school quarterbacks in the country, now playing college flag football at the University of North Alabama. Despite the exit of one of the best gunslingers the state has ever produced—and the production that went with her—head coach Daniel Davis says this group of athletes has the ability to reach great heights.
“I have high expectations for our girls. We’ve got some of the best players in the state.”
Leading the way is senior Callie Davis, coach Davis’ daughter, who has emerged as one of the team’s leaders and top weapons on offense. Davis missed much of the 2025 season after suffering a torn ACL; however, she returned this fall with a vengeance, surpassing 1,000 yards of offense thus far.
“She’s really worked hard, you know, both on the field and off,” Davis said.
While Davis receives most of the snaps under center, the quarterback position is evolving at Vestavia Hills. Freshman Alana Anderegg has also contributed at quarterback, as has junior Eden Logan. However, Davis said they are experimenting with new formations to take advantage of the skills and athleticism of other offensive players.
“We’ve got a couple of positions that can throw the ball as needed, Davis explains.
“We’re a little bit different than the traditional mantra of ‘everything runs through the quarterback,’” Davis adds. “We’ve been experimenting with some things and allowing a few players to take snaps from different spots on the field,” he added. “We’re really kind of just exploiting the game of flag football, which is always fun.”
Other key contributors include returning rusher Emma Harper and junior linebacker Emma Kate Jacobs, whom Davis considers one of the best defensive players in the state.
Another important contributor is senior Landon Guinn, a versatile athlete who can line up virtually anywhere on the field. The daughter of a football coach, Guinn has become something of a Swiss Army knife for the Rebels, giving Davis the flexibility to move players around as needed.
“She can play any spot on the field for us,” Davis said. “She’s the one that can play every position.”
Another important piece of the puzzle is the addition of defensive coach Rusty Frisch to the coaching staff. “He has just been a huge asset to our defense,” said Davis.
The path to the top of the mountain won’t be easy, however. With Rose at quarterback, Vestavia Hills advanced to the state title game in 2025, losing to Central Phenix City, the state’s top team, which has won three state championships since the sport was sanctioned in 2021.
Davis said he and the coaching staff try hard to ignore the scoreboard and focus on developing the players’ physical and mental skills. He believes the team and the coaching staff are on the same page, are performing at optimal levels, and have boatloads of potential. As long as the Rebels continue on this path, the results will speak for themselves.
“I always tell them three things, and it’s play with great attitudes, maximum effort, and mental and physical toughness. So basically, attitude, effort, and toughness. That’s what we preach,” Davis said. “If we do that every single game, the scoreboard is going to take care of itself, one way or the other.
“I’ve been really, really proud of our girls,” Davis added. “I think from the freshmen all the way through the seniors have bought in. I think we’ve got a lot of good leadership, and honestly, that’s what it takes.”
Football scores:
Vestavia 0, Prattville 13
Mountain Brook 21, Pelham 25
Homewood 10, Ramsey 7
