TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) – The Hillcrest Patriots are looking to bounce back after dropping their region opener to Hoover a week ago, 35-6.

The Patriots were this week’s SIDELINE Pep Rally of the Week, presented by Jack’s, and head coach Jamie Mitchell spoke to Jeh Jeh Pruitt ahead of Friday’s game against Vestavia Hills.

“You better bring you’re a-game every Friday night,” Mitchell said about the toughness of Region 3.

The Patriots are coming off three season with 11 or more wins and back-to-back region championships in Class 6A, but this is their first year as a 7A school.

They opened their season 2-0 against Florence and Sparkman, but only scored two field goals against the Bucs to open region play.

“We got off to a slow start, something we’re not used to here,” Mitchell said Friday morning. “We’re looking forward to bouncing back.”

The Patriots’ attention now turns to another region opponent, Vestavia Hills.

The Rebels are 0-3 on the season, losing to Carver Montgomery, Auburn, and Hewitt-Trussville to start the year. Hillcrest however, is focused on themselves and what they need to do to get their first region win of the year.

Linebacker Brooks Fowlkes talked about discipline on defense as a key to the game.

“It’s going to take discipline from us and just getting lined up and getting the call from the sideline,” Fowlkes said, with Tayvion Johnson adding they just need “to do our jobs.”

When asked what the offense needs to do to win the game, quarterback Bryson Kimbrough said they need to be efficient.

“Efficiency, making sure we stay out of our own way and we’ll handle business from there,” Kimbrough said.

Hillcrest and Vestavia kickoff Friday night in Tuscaloosa.

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