PHENIX CITY, Alabama --  In a nail-biting Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Class 7A semifinal clash under the Friday night lights of Garrett-Harrison Stadium in Phenix City, Alabama, the Thompson Warriors (11-3) held off a furious fourth-quarter comeback by the Central-Phenix City Red Devils (11-2) to secure a 35-34 victory on November 21, 2025.

With Thompson leading 35-14 in the fourth quarter, three Red Devils touchdowns closed the gap in a flash, and a two-point conversion try with 50 seconds left in the game was halted by Thompson defensive back Junior James' tackle at the three-yard line, and Thompson closed out the game with the one-point win. "We were in man coverage and I saw the back come in play and read the quarterback was going to throw his way and just made the play," said James.

This heart-stopping win propelled Thompson to its eighth consecutive state championship appearance, a testament to the program's dynasty under head coach Mark Freeman. The Warriors will now face the Opelika Bulldogs in the title game on December 3 at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, aiming to add to their recent haul of four championships in the last five years.

The first quarter set the tone for a defensive battle laced with offensive fireworks. Central-Phenix City received the ball first but stalled on third-and-9 when Thompson's free safety, Damonte Tabb, snagged an interception, giving the Warriors prime field position.  Thompson capitalized quickly, as junior quarterback Trent Seaborn—an Alabama commit—connected on key passes to Pryce Lewis for first downs before finding Mehkii Billingsley on a 3-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring at 7-0 with 8:48 left in the first quarter. Billingsley was wide open in the corner of the end zone for a Thompson touchdown.

The Red Devils responded in kind, marching down the field with short passes and a crucial third-down conversion, culminating in quarterback BJ Coleman's 3-yard touchdown toss to JJ Joiner to tie it at 7-7 with 2:37 left in the first quarter. A miscommunication in Thompson's offense led to an interception by Central, which they turned into points when Coleman aired out a 44-yard bomb to Mike Bass for a touchdown, giving the Red Devils a 14-7 lead late in the quarter with 10:23 left in the second quarter. 

After that Central score, the second quarter belonged to Thompson, as they flipped the script with opportunistic defense and explosive plays. After a punt, the Warriors' defense forced a three-and-out, setting up a drive where Seaborn hit Dedrick Kimbrough for a 26-yard gain, paving the way for KJ Jackson's 17-yard rushing touchdown to knot the score at 14-14 with 4:52 left in the second quarter. 

Thompson linebacker Chance Strown then intercepted Coleman, halting a potential Red Devils drive. Thompson struck again when RJ Evans punched in a 17-yard rushing touchdown after a spectacular 28-yard toe-tap catch by Darion Moseley, pushing the lead to 21-14 with only 2:59 left in the half. With time winding down in the half, Jeremy Alo-Perry picked off Coleman, giving Thompson one last chance. Seaborn delivered, launching a 35-yard touchdown strike to Moseley with seconds remaining, extending the halftime advantage to 28-14.

The Warriors' defense forced three turnovers in the half, turning them into points, while their offense balanced passing (Seaborn went 14-of-24 for 231 yards and two touchdowns) with timely runs.  Central, meanwhile, leaned on Coleman's arm but struggled with five interceptions total, a season-high.  Coach Freeman later reflected on the game's intensity, saying, “Every time we play these guys, the games are like this. It’s a great place to play football and a great atmosphere. Thank God we made the plays on defense at the end of the game.”

The third quarter saw Thompson's defense shine brightest. After punting on their first two possessions, Tabb intercepted Coleman twice—once thwarting a fourth-and-1 house call and again with a leaping grab on the sideline. 

Trent McCorvey stuffed Central on another fourth-and-1 near the red zone. Energized, the Warriors drove 81 yards, capped by Urijah Casey's explosive 53-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter, ballooning the lead to 35-14 with 9:58 left.  Casey finished with 14 carries for 84 yards, embodying Thompson's ground game that averaged 5.4 yards per carry.

But the fourth quarter transformed into a Red Devils rally for the ages. Central scored quickly to cut it to 35-21 on a Coleman 8-yard rushing touchdown with 4:40 left in the game. After a Thompson three-and-out, Thompson's offense stalled, punting the ball back, and Central drove for the equalizer: Coleman found Joiner for a 14-yard touchdown pass with 53 seconds left, making it 35-34 Thompson. 

In a bold move, Coach Nix elected to go for the two-point conversion and the win rather than kick for a tie. Coleman rolled out and hit a receiver in the flat, but Thompson's defensive back, James, exploded through the line, tackling the ball carrier at the one-yard line to preserve the one-point lead, and the Warriors' sideline erupted after the Warriors' defensive stand.

After another onside kick recovery, Seaborn kneeled out the clock, sparking jubilant celebrations on the field as Thompson escaped with the victory. Standout performances defined the night. For Thompson, Seaborn's poise under pressure was key, completing passes to Moseley (5 catches, 100 yards, 1 TD), Lewis (5 for 74), and Kimbrough (2 for 54).

The defense, with Tabb's three interceptions and a total of five picks, forced five turnovers overall, including seven quarterback hurries and five tackles for loss.  Evans and Jackson added rushing scores, while Casey provided the dagger early in the fourth. On Central's side, Coleman was a one-man show, accounting for all five touchdowns (three passing, one rushing), though his five interceptions proved costly. "We did a lot of film study on them," said Warriors DB Tabb. "You never know how much you can do, but when you watch the film, you know the keys that they will run. Junior saw the play coming, and he went and got it. I believe when we can get a turnover, it flips the momentum for the game."

Joiner and Bass were primary targets, with Joiner hauling in two scores and Bass one. The Red Devils' rush defense held Thompson to 146 yards, but couldn't prevent the big plays. Central finished with 183 passing yards on 15-of-28 attempts and 143 rushing yards, but the turnover margin (Thompson +3 in interceptions alone) was decisive.

Freeman praised the team's resilience, crediting tough earlier matchups like overtime at Grayson, a last-minute win at Clay-Chalkville, and a field-goal victory at Hoover for preparing them: “We want to play good teams, and I think those games have bottled up...Those games bottle up, and they help us get through these things...So, I thank God for the journey. I don't question the journey.”

This semifinal wasn't just a game; it was a chapter in Alabama high school football lore, blending strategy, athleticism, and sheer will. Thompson's escape keeps their dynasty alive, while Central-Phenix City's valiant effort ends a strong season one play short. As the Warriors prepare for Opelika, the echoes of James' game-saving tackle will resonate, reminding all that in playoff football, every inch matters.