The #5 Thompson Warriors will travel to face the #1 Auburn Tigers in the second round of the AHSAA 7A State Championship playoff game at Duck Stadium on Friday night. Thompson took down Daphne 50-0, while Auburn defeated Bob Jones 63-27 in round one games last week.
Thompson had no problems with Daphne. They got off to a good start and kept it rolling all night. "It was probably one of our best games of the year," said Warriors head coach Mark Freeman. "We have to work hard at some things. We are young in a few spots, but we had a good week of practice last week, and it paid off."
Thompson (8-3, 6-1) has had its ups and downs on offense this season. In the three losses, the Warriors' offense only averaged 17 points per game, and they will need more than that in this game. One area that is not a concern for Thompson is at quarterback; Trent Seaborn has played and won some big games for the Warriors in his career, starting back when he was in eighth grade, playing and winning the state championship game against Auburn in 2022. Seaborn knows the Warriors' offense well and throws the best deep ball in the state. For the season, the sophomore quarterback has completed 167-of-266 passes for 2,194 yards with 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. Also, he has 150 yards on 37 carries and a touchdown. It is something that the Warriors don't like to see him do, but they know he might need to do it more in the playoffs.
The Thompson run game is a two-headed monster with Michael Dujon and RJ Evans. Whichever back is in at the time, both can make the big play for Thompson. Dujon has 847 yards (8.5 per carry average) on 100 carries with 13 touchdowns, along with 16 receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown. Evans has 518 yards on 98 carries, five touchdowns, 23 receptions for 279 yards, and a touchdown. Gabriel Binion serves as the Warriors fullback.
The wide receiving core for Thompson has been solid for most of the season. Darion Moseley, Angel Jones, Pryce Lewis, Trey Knight, Dedrick Kimbrough, Brooks Byars, and five-star defensive back Anquon Fegans. Sophomore Moseley has 549 yards on 34 receptions and eight touchdown has been the deep threat lately for Seaborn. A 16.1-yard per catch average with a 62-yard long shows that he can make it happen down the field. The junior Lewis has 280 yards on 24 receptions and a touchdown. Freshman Kimbrough has 250 yards on 15 receptions and two touchdowns, Byars has 201 yards on 16 receptions and two touchdowns, Knight has 161 yards on 15 receptions and two touchdowns, and DB Fegans has 132 yards on six receptions and a touchdown. Fegans doesn't play both ways in the entire game, but I look to see him on offense, especially around the goal line. "As of right now, I don't think we have a collegiate player at those spots right now," added Freeman. "We have some that when they grow up, yes we will. This group works hard, and that is the most important thing. The group works out with Trent so we hope that pays off."
The Thompson offensive line is healthy, with different players sitting out games this season. Left tackle Braydon Saylor, left guard AJ Williams (just committed to Austin Peay), center Dylan Marquess, right guard Jackson Hughes, and right tackle Parker Mittelstadt will get the start on Friday night. Williams is a run bulldozer and can open a lane for a running back.
Thompson's defense has been strong all season long. Defensive linemen Jared Smith, Nik Alston, Hayden McDonald, and Cam Pritchett will go up against the best offensive line in Class 7A. They will play a considerable part in trying to force pressure on quarterback Kilgore. It could be a long night for the defense if they don't. This is the best matchup of the game with the Auburn offensive line and the Thompson defensive front. Smith, the Auburn commitment, has 75 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks. Smith leads the Warriors in TFL and sacks on the season. "Jared is getting better each week," said Freeman. "We are doing things with him that will be a payoff in college." Sophomore Pritchett has 57 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and one-half sack. Alston has 52 tackles, six tackles for loss, and a sack. McDonald has 43 tackles and three tackles for loss.
The linebacking group includes Vini Pires, Trent Cheatom, and Kevin Davis. Pires sat out last week due to injury, and we do not know his status on Friday night. Pires has 84 tackles and five tackles for loss.
The leading tackler, Cheatom, has 96 tackles and nine tackles for loss. Davis has 56 tackles and eight tackles for loss. "Trent is playing hard and gets better each week," added Freeman. "I thought he played his best game last week, and we will need that type of game this week."
The secondary are Fegans, Peyton Lewis, Damonte Tabb, and Micah Fleming. Fegans is all over the field and can go up and get the ball like no other. The Auburn commitment has 61 tackles, six tackles for loss, and four interceptions. "Anquon is having a great season, a tremendous athlete, and a great person," said Freeman. He has been here a long time and does everything we ask him to do with a smile. He has a bright future."
Lewis has 50 tackles and an interception. Tabb had 31 tackles and two interceptions. Fleming had 49 tackles and three tackles for loss. The secondary will have a challenge with the speedy Auburn receivers.
The kicking game is in good hands with John McGuire. The senior kicker is averaging 44.1 yards per punt this season. He is also seven of ten on field goals, with a long of 50 yards.
The Auburn Tigers dominated most of their games this season. Quarterback Jackson Kilgore is the point guard dishing out to all his teammates. "Jackson is playing unbelievable this season," said Tigers head coach Keith Etheredge. "His play has been in trickle on what we are going. He does a great job moving around in the pocket and extending plays. He finds the open receivers while sharing the ball. He understands what we are doing on offense and I think he is the best quarterback in the state. He can flat-out play." The senior QB has completed 137-of-179 passes for 2,130 yards with 22 touchdowns and only two interceptions.Also, Kilgore has 244 yards on 32 carries.
The running back at Auburn is an exceptional talent. The bulk of the load goes to Omar Mabson. The powerful, dynamic runner is one of the best backs in Class 7A and is having an unbelievable season. Mabson has 1,432 yards on 167 carries and a whopping 28 touchdowns. Cam Ward will bet a few touches carrying the football as he has 276 yards on 23 carries and five touchdowns.
The wide receiving core has excellent speed, and their quarterback knows how to get them the football. Everything Peyton Plott leads the way. Anytime he touches the ball he can take it to the house. This season, Josh Askew, Antonio Welch, and Cash Reif are starters. "We try to look and see what the defense gives us," added Etheredge. "Askew had over 150 yards the other night; different guys have stepped up for us. Tony has played well for us. Plott is electric. Turn a two-yard hitch into an 80-yard touchdown." Plott has 44 receptions for 922 yards (21.0 yards per catch average) with five touchdowns. Welch has 31 receptions for 405 yards and six touchdowns. Askew has 578 yards on 38 receptions and four touchdowns. Cash Reif has nine receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown."
The offensive line is going up against one of the best defensive lines in Alabama this week. Center Hugh Bodiford gets everyone in the right spot. Right guard Aidan Platt, left guard Tucker Aubin, right tackle Trinton Pritchett, and left tackle Clem Womack is playing like the best offensive line in the state. Together, Pritchett and Platt, I believe, could move a mountain with their run-blocking. "We are very good offensively, and the offensive line has played really good for us," said Etheredge. "We have to continue to play well. That is big for us. Also, we have done a good job of not turning the ball over."
Defensive end Caleb Pitts leads the Auburn defense and has only four seniors on defense. Pitts has 48 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and eight sacks and lives in the opposing team's backfield. He can get off his man and attack the football with the best of them. Other defensive linemen are Cameron Creighton, Carnell Jackson, Kyle King, Kollin King, and Michael Foster. The Tigers' defensive front has been battling injuries for most of the season. Earlier against Dothan this season, Creighton had a big game with 12 tackles, three tackles for loss, and a sack. For the season, he has 36 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and five sacks. Jackson has 29 tackles and three tackles for loss.
The Auburn linebackers have a special talent as they are both tackling machines. Jackson Lovvorn leads the Auburn defense in tackles and tackles for loss with 94 tackles and 20 TFL. The other linebackers, Greg Williams has 75 tackles, ten tackles for loss, and an interception, and Alex Gamston has 45 tackles and five tackles for loss. They can be all over the field to make a play for the Tiger's defense.
The secondary has the only senior, LaMychael Gunn, who has 27 tackles. JB McGee has 32 tackles, three tackles for loss, and three interceptions. Isaac Benford has 25 tackles and an interception, and Cortez Cooks has 24 tackles.
The kicking game for Auburn is in good shape with Joseph Daniel. Daniel averages 40.8 yards per punt, 50 for 50 in extra points, and 7-of-9 field goals with a long of 46 yards.
The epic game should not be a quarterfinal matchup, but here we are. It is a long time since Thompson has come into a game as the underdog. There are some exceptional matchups on the Auburn offensive line going against the Thompson defensive line in this game. The Auburn offense has been the best in the state. Will Fegans match up with Platt and his speed? Who has the better game in Seaborn or Kilgore? I can't wait to see this special contest between these two giant football programs.
