ALABASTER, Alabama -- The Thompson Warriors scored three consecutive touchdowns as they defeated Hewitt-Trussville 21-10 in the Class 7A semifinals game at Warrior Stadium on Friday night. Thompson will face Central-Phenix City on Wednesday, December 6 at 7:00 pm at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and will try for their fifth in a row 7A State Championship.

The three Thompson touchdowns were enough, as the Warriors defense played a key role in this game. "We play with composure," said Warriors head coach Mark Freeman. "We were down 10-0 and came back. We are young in a couple of spots and getting better. We had to regain our composure at halftime. This time of the year, you have to run the football, play defense, and stop the other team from running the football. You have to play great defense. Our kicking game has been much better the last three weeks, so we relied on our defense."

Hewitt-Trussville (9-4) scored first in the game. With 6:39 left in the first quarter, kicker Trip Ward hit a 28-yard field goal, and the Huskies took an early 3-0 lead. With Thompson driving, a fumble by the Warriors turned away a Thompson scoring opportunity. Both defenses forced punts, and with Thompson driving again, they turned it over on downs, and Hewitt-Trussville took advantage of it. 

With 8:43 left in the second quarter, Peyton Floyd scored on a 2-yard touchdown run, and the Huskies took a 10-0 lead midway through the second quarter. Thompson came right back with a score of their own. With 4:50 left in the second quarter, AJ Green powered in on a 1-yard touchdown run, and the Warriors cut the lead to 10-7. "Coach Freeman trusts us that we will get the job done on defense," said Warriors linebacker Caleb Ballard. "We have watched a lot of film on Hewitt. Attention to detail, all playing as one, and everyone doing their job. Looking to make another memory as we did my freshman year, and that game went viral."

With 1:41 left in the half, Thompson scored on their next possession. Trent Seaborn scored on a 9-yard touchdown run, and Thompson took their first lead of the game at 14-10 late in the second quarter. 

The first time Thompson touched the ball in the second half, they scored again. With 8:34 left in the third quarter, Green scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, and Thompson led 21-10. Both teams had scoring opportunities, but a Kaleb Harris sack forced Floyd out of the game on a long third down play that the Huskies couldn't convert, and a fourth down stop in Thompson territory ended another Hewitt-Trussville drive. "We started out slow, and they came with their best shots early, but we made the necessary adjustments," said Warriors DB Harris. "It means a lot when coach has confidence in our defense. This is a standard for us. Coach Freeman pushed all year for us in January, coming in at 6:00 am each morning, and it means a lot to us to get back in this game."  

With 2:23 left in the game, Hewitt-Trussville was driving again, but on a fourth down play, Floyd threw deep and Warriors defensive back Anquon Fegans picked off the pass and sealed the win for the Warriors. "Many people doubted our defense for most of the year," said Fegans. "I'm just proud of our guys with the adversity we came through. I feel like my vert is up there. I just saw the ball and made a decision to go up and get it."

For the game, Seaborn completed 12-of-16 passing for 119 yards and a 9-yard rushing touchdown. Green had 40 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown. Deuce Oliver had six receptions for 68 yards.