Here we go again in the Class 7A Championship Game. On Wednesday night, the rematch between Central-Phenix City and Thompson at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama. Last year, in the championship game at Bryant Denny Stadium, Central-Phenix City defeated Thompon 21-19.
Central (10-2) defeated James Clemens (70-14), Vestavia Hills (41-21), and Hoover (17-7) in the playoffs, while Thompson has playoff wins over Daphne (50-0), Auburn (34-21), and Enterprise (31-7). Central close game came against Hoover in the playoffs, while Thompson defeated #1 and undefeated Auburn.
Central started the season as the #1 team in the state in Class 7A and stayed undefeated through the first five games. However, in the second half of the regular season, they lost to Auburn (38-33) and at Opelika (23-14) and got wins against a good Carver-Montgomery team (31-26) and JAG (52-14).
The Red Devils offense has scored 128 points in three playoff games, and Andrew Alford is a great quarterback to lead the Central offense. "Andrew is the key to our team," said Red Devils head coach Patrick Nix. "He is such a leader; the guys rally behind him and believe in him. He is such a competitor and finds a way to make a play over and over. He does an unbelievable job of leading our team and making plays." This season, Alford has done a great job of scrambling in the pocket, keeping his eyes downfield on his receivers, and making the big play for his team. For the season, the senior QB has completed 147-of-241 passes for 2,169 yards with 26 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Last year, Alford threw for over 3,500 yards as a junior but had one of the best receivers in Alabama in Cam Coleman last season. Alford has a Georgia Southern offer and it is unbelievable he does have more offers at this time. In two seasons with the Red Devils, the senior QB had thrown for over 5,700 yards.
With Coleman gone, the receiving core still had a great season led by Daylyn Upshaw. "He had to step up and play both sides of the ball for us," added Nix. "We had some injuries in the secondary. He is such a playmaker, and he changes the game. People don't realize how much he changes the game for us. They have to put two or three guys on him to slow him down. He has been really good for us this year." The Miami commitment has 62 receptions for 1,008 yards and 16 touchdowns this season.
With Upshaw is Branden Brown. The sophomore receiver has 34 receptions for 557 yards and six touchdowns. Brown is a good route runner, and when the defense swings to Upshaw, look for Brown to step up and make the big play. Also, Mychal Bass has 22 receptions for 269 yards and five touchdowns, and Davion Bennett has 17 receptions for 339 yards and two touchdowns.
The Red Devils' running back is Tristan Williams. The speedy senior has 1,232 yards on 176 carries and 19 touchdowns. He has averaged 7.0 yards per carry this season. The Samford commitment has four 100-yard games with his season high of 224 yards on 21 carries and three touchdowns against Enterprise in Week #4. Williams has 317 yards in the playoffs on 48 carries and five touchdowns. Also, Donovan Crow has 378 yards on 56 carries and five touchdowns.
Offensive left tackle Mal Waldrep leads the Red Devils offensive line. The Alabama commitment stands at 6-foot-5, 310 pounds, and is a load on the left side of the line. It will be a good matchup against the Thompson defensive line. Left guard JT Williams, center Josh Sumbry, right guard Eric Scribner, and Zavion Chambers are having solid seasons but will face one of the top defensive lines this season in Thompson.
Kicker Jack Ciancio handles the Red Devils' kicking and punting duties. The freshman kicker is 57-of-61 on extra points and six-of-six on field goals, with a long of 35 yards. Thompson will be able to run back the kickoffs because Ciancio usually puts the ball in play.
The Red Devils' defense has been good, but they have given up 20 points per game this season. Linebackers Brennan Core and Deontae Ware lead the team in tackles. Core has 101 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and four sacks on the season. Ware has 88 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks. If Core doesn't get you on the running plays, then Ware cleans right up on the play. Both are extremely fast at their position and can run to the ball with the best of them.
Tristan Lyles leads the defensive line. "Tristan is unblockable," said Nix. "He does an incredible job. He does a great job against the run and the pass. A complete player, very powerful, and physically explosive. He gets after the quarterback. He is a game changer on defense." The junior lineman has crazy stats this season. He has 69 tackles, a whopping 28 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks. Also, against Vestavia Hills in the playoffs, he had an interception return for a touchdown. With Lyles is defensive tackle Calvin Southall (33 tackles, four tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks), defensive tackle Emanuel Smith (49 tackles, three tackles for loss), and defensive end Adarius Lee (58 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks). Lyles has offers from Auburn, Colorado, Clemson, and more.
The secondary has rover Tony Arnett, who had an interception against Hoover in the playoffs. The junior defensive back has 42 tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack. With Arnett is cornerback Max Johnson, who has been out due to injury, and Upshaw has stepped in. Cam Westberry with safeties Briggs Cameron and Marquise Cooper. Cooper leads the team with two interceptions this season.
Thompson (10-3) lost their first game of the season against powerhouse Grayson, Georgia, in overtime to start the 2024 season. Rebounded with a win on the road at Lipscomb Academy in Tennessee. Thompson finished second in Region 3 with wins over Tuscaloosa County (47-7), Oak Mountain (42-7), and Vestavia Hills (38-17). Then they ran into a hot Clay-Chalkville team and lost 14-13 at home in overtime. The Warriors rebounded with wins against Hewitt-Trussville (15-10) and Hillcrest (45-20), then an overtime loss to Hoover 27-26. Thompson had three overtime losses by one point this season.
The Warriors reached the finals by defeating Daphne (50-0), Auburn (34-21), and Enterprise (31-7). "I am excited that we got ourselves in a position to play for a state championship this season," said Warriors head coach Mark Freeman. "We are figuring out a little bit who we are on offense. We have become efficient in what we are doing well. We have to keep blocking and running the right routes. Trent has made good decisions about throwing, running the ball, or handing it off. We added him running the ball a bit more this year because he is a little older."
Trent Seaborn leads the Warriors offense, averaging 38.3 points in those three playoff wins. "Trent has kept working, kept working, and kept working in the passing game," added Freeman. "We had to move a couple of kids around. Some of our speed routes have changed because we were not getting where we needed to be on a play. It just had to be worked out." For the season, the sophomore quarterback has completed 201-of-311 passes for 2,545 yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions. Seaborn has completed 501-of-731 yards for 6,323 yards with 66 touchdowns and 15 interceptions for his young career that started in eighth grade. Seaborn has the most accurate arm on deep passes that I've seen in a few years as a quarterback. Seaborn had at least 22 offers, including Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, and Tennessee.
Darion Moseley leads the Thompson receiving core this season. The sophomore wide receiver has 49 receptions for 696 yards and 11 touchdowns. Junior Pryce Lewis has 34 receptions for 346 and a touchdown. Dedrick Kimbrough has 20 receptions for 346 and three touchdowns and has been the big home run threat as of late for Thompson, averaging 17.3 yards per catch. Senior Brooks Byars has 17 receptions for 209 yards and two touchdowns. You can't count out five-star defensive back Anquon Fegans getting in on offense because he has six receptions for 132 yards and a touchdown. Angel Jones and Trey Knight will get some playing time for the Warriors.
The Thompson run game is in good shape with Michael Dujon and RJ Evans. "Michael runs hard and is a lot stronger than people think he is," added Freeman. "He runs determined and has a great pad level with the ball. He and RJ are hard workers. They have become great running backs and wonderful people, and you are happy when they have great success." Dujon has 986 yards on 125 carries with 15 touchdowns, along with 17 receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown. The senior running back averages 7.9 yards per carry. Evans has 624 yards on 118 carries and seven touchdowns with 24 receptions with 281 yards and a touchdown. Both of these guys could make a big impact in this game.
The Thompson offensive line is playing well in the playoffs. Left tackle Barron Criddle, left guard AJ Williams, center Dylan Marquess, right guard Braydon Saylor, and right tackle Parker Middletsadt will get the start for the Warriors. Williams, an Austin Peay commitment, is one of the best run blockers as a guard in the state of Alabama.
Kicker and punter John McGuire is having a solid season. The Auburn commitment is 48-of-51 on extra points and 8-of-12 on field goals with a long of 50 yards. McGuire averages 44.2 yards per punt for the Warriors. McGuire usually puts the ball in the end zone on kickoffs, but didn't one time against Enterprise and Auburn commitment Eric Winters returned it for a touchdown in the Warriors last game.
The Thompson defense has been salty this season. They have only given up 9.3 points per game in the playoff run. Auburn commitment Jared Smith is a force up front. The senior DL has 83 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks on the season. You better know where he is on offense, and a good matchup could be Smith going against Waldrep, a left tackle. Nik Alston, a Tulane commitment (63 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and a sack), Hayden McDonald (55 tackles, six tackles for loss), and Cam Pritchett 70 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and five sacks) are really coming on in the playoffs and have been dominating for most of the year. Pritchett has been solid during his sophomore season. Pritchett has all kinds of offers from the SEC. Auburn, Texas, Texas A&M, Florida, Ole Miss and other D-1 offers.
If Thompson wins, you can look back and see how the Thompson front four made the difference in the game. The Thompson defense needs to get Alford out of the pocket if they want to win and the Warriors defensive front has the talent and speed to do it.
At linebacker, Trent Cheatom leads the Warriors' defense in tackles. The senior LB has 109 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and two sacks. Cheatom had a huge game against Hoover in the one-point loss with 13 tackles and three tackles for loss. Kevin Davis has 71 tackles and 10 tackles for loss. Chance Strong has 62 tackles and six tackles for loss. He has filled in for injured Vini Pires. Pires has 84 tackles and five tackles for loss, which could be a game-time decision.
The secondary features Auburn commitment Fegans, who has five interceptions this season. Damonte Tabb has three interceptions, and Peyton Lewis and sophomore Micah Fleming round out the Warriors' secondary. Fegans has 72 tackles and nine tackles for loss, so you better keep your eye on him and see if he gets close to the line of scrimmage because he has the speed and quickness to fly all over the field. Look for Fegans to match up with Central star Upshaw on the field. If Thompson and Fegans can limit Upshaw, that is going to slow down the Red Devils offense.
Thompson and Carver have played four times in the 7A championship game since 2018. Central won in 2018 and 2023 while Thompson won in 2019 and 2021, what program will break the tie on Wednesday night?
