By JORDON SEMIEN / FOR THE REPORTER

VESTAVIA HILLS — The Briarwood Christian Lions traveled to Vestavia Hills to take on the Rebels in a preseason game Aug. 23, falling 17-14.

VHHS won the coin toss and elected to defend first. The Lions first drive stalled after 4 downs, giving Vestavia the ball on their own 32.

The Rebels then put together a nine-play drives marked by a field goal to take a 3-0 lead with 7:17 left in the first.

The Lions next drive fizzled out their own 35 yard line.

Vestavia took over and drained the clock down to nine seconds left in the first quarter with a 15-play drive that ended with a rushing touchdown, with the score 10-0 in favor of Vestavia Hills.

Briarwood found life off a bad snap on a Vestavia punt, resulting in BCS ball at the Rebel 9 yard line. Following eight yards gained on two Victor Jerald runs, quarterback Walker Lott finished off the drive with a one-yard keeper to move within three with 8:14 left in the first half.

Briarwood continued to fight back, as Tim Robertson returned an interception 24 yards for a touchdown to give the Lions a 14-10 lead with 7:59 left in the second quarter.

Vestavia answered back with a nine-play scoring drive, taking a 17-14 lead into the half.

In a format adopted by several schools around the area, the junior varsity squads took over in the second half playing their own contest to gain experience. Briarwood came out on top in the JV contest, winning 6-0 on a long pass from Lott to Will Faust.

BCS coach Fred Yancey said his varsity team was too error-prone in the game for his liking.

“The good thing about a jamboree is that you can make a lot of mistakes and get over it,” he said. “It doesn’t really count, but we made too many (mistakes).”

Yancey said mistakes in the coverage game and on special teams, including a blocked field goal and one personal foul that lead to a Rebel score, were his main concern.

The Lions will start the 2013 regular season with an away game against Eagles Landing (Ga.) Aug. 30 before returning home to face Sylacauga.