ALABASTER, Alabama -- The Hoover Bucs held the Thompson Warriors to their lowest point total of the season and go on to win 31-12 over Thompson and advance to the AHSAA Class 7A Championship Game in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Larry McCammon rushed for 199 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Bucs offense to the title game against McGill-Toolen at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Hoover (10-3) led 24-0 midway through three quarters and limited the Thompson offense all game long. "To God be the Glory, this group is incredible," said Bucs Head coach Josh Niblett. "The schedule we played this year we were battle tested and we played very physical. The defense the way they played was huge and we ran a lot of plays to take time of the clock late in the game."

Hoover scored first in the game, when Jalen Parker found George Pickens in the middle of the field and Pickens weaved his way through the Warriors defense for a 69-yard touchdown and the Bucs led 7-0 with 8:01 in the first quarter. With 11:48 left in the second quarter, Barret Pickering kicked a 36-yard field goal and Hoover led 10-0 early in the second quarter.

Hoover scored the last touchdown of the half when McCammon scored on a 8-yard touchdown run and Hoover led 17-0 with 6:08 left in the second quarter. Hoover moved the ball late in the half, but couldn't get any points out of the late drive and Hoover led 17-0 at halftime.

Thompson was stopped on downs on their own 41-yard line to start the third quarter. Hoover picked up where they left on in the first half as the Bucs offense scored again on a McCammon 3-yard touchdown run. With 6:43 left in the third quarter, Hoover led 24-0. 

With 4:04 left in the third quarter, Thompson gets on the scoreboard as Taulia Tagovailoa took off after sitting in the pocket for a 13-yard touchdown run. With 10:01 left in the game, Tagovailoa found Ahmad Edwards on a 11-yard touchdown pass. Both two-point conversions failed and Hoover led 24-12 early in the fourth quarter.

Tagovailoa, a transfer from Hawaii, led the Warriors offense all season long with impressive numbers. The junior QB completed 287-of-435 passes for 3,820 yards, the fourth best single-season passing total in state history. He also threw 36 touchdowns with only eight interceptions. "He did some great things this season," said Head coach Mark Freeman. "We have great kids. Great student section, great fans and proud of our kids. They have done everything we have asked them to do."

With Thompson with the momentum and only down two touchdowns, Hoover ran a fake punt on a fourth down play and Will Reichard rambled 10-yards for the huge first down. "We say it all game long on the fake and we just took it," added Niblett. Reichard had two second half punts in side the five yard line that was huge to Hoover. Both times, Thompson failed to convert any points after those two huge punts. "Coach did a great job of getting us ready to play physical," said Bucs offensive lineman Mike Maye. "We are collectively playing together and getting the job done. We have more work to do."

With 2:02 left in the game, McCammon scored on a 4-yard touchdown and Hoover led 31-12 late in the game. George Pickens made a big catch from Parker to setup the Bucs touchdown. For the game, Pickens caught six passes for 115 yards and the touchdown.

Wide receiver Ahmad Edwards of Thompson broke a single season state record with his 125 receptions for 1,459 yards. Vonte Brackett  had 44 yards on 11 carries while Parker completed 5-of-18 passing for 112 yards for the Bucs.