The 7A defending champion Thompson Warriors will face the Auburn Tigers in the 2022 AHSAA Super 7 State Football Championships at Auburn University’s Jordan-Hare Stadium on Wednesday night. Thompson has won the 7A state championship three years in a row and looks to continue its dominance in Class 7A football.
The last time these two teams met was in 2020 in Tuscaloosa for the 7A championship, where Thompson made an unbelievable comeback defeating Auburn 29-28.
Thompson is coming off their 40-10 semifinals win against Hoover and might have played their best four quarters of football this season. "We felt good going into the Hoover game on creating good opportunities on offense," said Warriors head coach Mark Freeman. "We didn't capitalize in our first meeting, while the defense played great in the first game. We rolled the dice and came into the game with the same game plan. We did a good job mixing the pace up and winning the field position. We had a few wrinkles that were different. Our players and coaches believed that we could win."
Thompson had a rocky season start with non-region losses to Buford, Georgia, and Lipscomb Academy, Tennessee. The Warriors had a seven-game winning streak before losing to Hoover, then reeling off three straight wins over Huntsville, Vestavia Hills, and Hoover to reach the finals. "We didn't know what we had in some key players this season," Freeman added. "They played freshman games, some junior varsity games, practiced with us every day, but you don't know when they are asked now to be the main guy whether they can create that in their mind and be successful or not until you do it. I scheduled two outstanding opponents to start the year that would help our players in the long run. This is a separate journey from our success from last year. God had another plan for this team, and we just had to follow it. We kept believing in each other. This has been a difficult year, but rewarding year. I am proud of this team and to keep working. This team has worked extremely hard with a great attitude."
Thompson (10-3) had to replace one of the best quarterbacks in Warriors football history last year, and quarterback Zach Sims took the reigns of the Warriors offense. Sims had some experience in some big games last season, playing in the playoffs and state championship games. This season in 10 games, Sims has completed 93-of-153 passes for 1,221 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions. Sims was injured during the Hoover regular season game, so Freeman inserted eighth-grader Trent Seaborn into the starting lineup at quarterback.
In nine-game, Seaborn has completed 92-of-133 passing for 980 yards with ten touchdowns and two interceptions. "Trent wants to be a quarterback all his life," added Freeman. "Even when he was younger, he focused on the mental side of the game. How to prepare, and how to be a leader. He is young, but he believes in what he can do. We try to fit the game on what he can do, and he fits me. He fits in with what I believe in. We can get the ball down the field vertically now, and I think he gives us a chance to do different things. Zach will have some stuff that will help him. We will have some packages for him. Trent allows me to stay in touch with the things we have been good at over the years but combines them with the personnel we have this year."
The Warriors have two good running back in AJ Green and Michael Dujon. Green has the power to bust a big run between the tackles, while Dujon is a little more shifty with great speed. Green has rushed for 1,090 yards and 15 touchdowns, with 186 yards on 20 receptions and two touchdowns, while Dujon has 577 yards and nine touchdowns, along with 117 yards on seven receptions.
The receiving group has big play receivers that can cause havoc in opposing secondaries. Korbyn Williams is the leading receiver for the Warriors. Williams had a huge 75-yard touchdown run against Hoover last week that was a thing of beauty. Williams has speed, size, and great hands. Williams has 52 receptions for 532 yards and seven touchdowns. Duece Oliver has excellent quickness and can take a short pass and turn it into a big play. Oliver has 47 receptions for 508 yards and three touchdowns. Kolby Hearns is another big play receiver. Hearn has 22 receptions for 352 yards and two touchdowns. Bo Jones has 12 receptions for 197 yards, and Roman Mothershed with seven receptions for 128 yards.
The offensive line has improved since the Hoover game. Stanton Ramil, Ryan Walker, Hunter Holtzman, Noah Watts, and Steven Lillich lead the way. "This is a very close group, and we are not what you call super talented," said Freeman. "We are an excellent unit. They all play together and do what they are asked to do. We are not big, we are on the smaller size of offensive size, but we have developed what we do along with how the run game has changed from week to week. They work hard and play together." Tight end Jeffrey Kimochu is another excellent blocker, and he could be another tackle on the offensive front. Kimochu did sneak out for a pass against Hoover, so you never know if we'll see that again against Auburn.
Michigan State verbal commit offensive lineman Ramil had a message after the Hoover playoff game. "We have to prove the haters wrong. We will trust the offensive line and run the ball on anyone. We are a tight group and excited to return to Auburn for the championship game."
The Thompson defense has been outstanding for most of the season. In the last 11 games, the Warriors' defense has given up only 11 points per game—one reason is that Thompson has the best football player in the state. Clemson verbal commit Peter Woods can play just about anywhere on the field. He has been playing varsity football since his eighth-grade season. Woods can play linebacker, noseguard, and defensive end. Put him anywhere you want, but he is the best player on the field. "We get to watch him play in practice every day, and he is one of those special players," added Freeman. "He is just a great teammate. What a great ambassador for our program. He works with our young players. He is working with a freshman defensive lineman at 7 pm. I pray we get another someday, but you don't think there will be another outstanding player like him. He knows the game, studies the game, and watches films. He does things that the average guy can't do. He does what we need him to do for our team to be successful. Woods leads the team with 21 tackles for loss and tied with eight sacks on the season.
With Woods on the defensive front are Dylan Campbell and Jacary McCurry. Campbell has 45 tackles, 11 TFL, and two sacks. Defensive lineman Caleb Ballard has 70 tackles, 14 TFL, and eight sacks. Linebackers Seth Hampton, Jake Ivie, Kelby Taylor, and Elijah Williams lead the way for the Warriors' defense. Hampton leads the linebackers with 93 tackles, 16 TFL, and three sacks.
The secondary has been solid, with 17 interceptions between Anquon Fegans, Jasiah Ward, Payton Lewis, Kaleb Harris, and Tony Mitchell. Alabama verbal commit Mitchell has been injured for the playoffs and is looking to make a return on Wednesday with a good week of practice. Fegans is the best cornerback in the '25 class, as he has nine interceptions with three touchdown interceptions for touchdowns.
John Alan McGuire handles the kicking duties. McGuire has a 41.3 punt average with a 60-yard punt. He is 19-for-19 on extra points and 3-for-3 on field goals with a long of 42 yards.
Auburn is coming off their 14-13 win over Central-Phenix City in the semifinal game, where the Red Devils defeated the Tigers 38-17 earlier in the season. "We were ready to play and turned the ball over too much in the first game," said Tigers head coach Keith Etheredge. "Our kids play hard and cut down on mistakes and pre-snap penalties, along with playing a good football game."
Auburn has one of the best quarterbacks in the state in Clyde Pittman. Pittman is a very accurate passer but can also run the football. "He is such a great person, a leader, and a great athlete," added Etheredge. "Smart student of the game, he does the little things right. He is a leader in the locker room and the weight room. He practices well and does all the little things well."
Pittman has completed 132-of-193 passes for 1,750 yards with 16 touchdowns, four interceptions, and 329 yards on 52 carries and four touchdowns. At times Davis Harsin has been getting playing time anytime during a game. Harsin has completed 58-of-83 passing for 866 yards with 11 touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Tigers running game is in great shape with Da'Vaioun (DV) Williams and Tyler Flakes. Williams has great power that can run the ball 25 times in a game. A workhorse for the Tigers. Flakes is a change of pace with speed and quickness. Williams has rushed for 1,125 yards on 191 carries and 17 touchdowns, while Flakes has 540 yards on 88 carries and nine touchdowns. Flakes has ten receptions for 134 yards and a touchdown.
At the receiver position, Ian Nation leads the way for the Tigers. Nation has tremendous speed and good hands and can catch the ball in traffic. "Ian is a phenomenal athlete," said Etheredge. "He is not a big kid but has the best hands I have ever coached. He is a phenomenal route runner, a player having a big season." Nation has 72 receptions for 1,001 yards and 11 touchdowns. Logan Blomeyer has 31 receptions for 437 yards and three touchdowns. Griffin McLean has 25 receptions for 372 yards and three touchdowns. Jack Hudson has 23 receptions for 374 yards and three touchdowns. Tight end Marcellus Josephson has 11 receptions for 116 yards and three touchdowns.
The offensive line has Auburn verbal commit Bradyn Joiner, Avery Ferris, Charles Reese, Eric Patrick, and Caleb Pitts. Joiner and Ferris are on the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star roster.
The Tigers' defense gets to the football and likes to come with pressure, as they did against the Red Devils last week. "Defense has played great," added Etheredge. "We have a lot of guys playing well right now. They play as a team. They play together and cheer for each other. We are not individuals out on the field. We don't have five-star players on defense, but they are outstanding high school players. They have played great all year."
The defensive front has Jordan Reese, Rico Spinks, Cade Rabren, Akeem White, and William Walker up front. Joiner has been on the defensive front at times during his career. At linebacker, these guys know how to get to the football and can run sideline to sideline. Mark Toland, Klark Cleveland, and Coleman Granberry will need to play their best game of the season for the Tigers to hold down the Warriors' offense.
The secondary of Jailyn Davis, Andre Emilus, Andrew King, and Graham Young will anchor the Tigers' secondary. Young can go all over the field, play close to the line or play one-on-one with a receiver.
Special teams have been solid for the Tigers. Towns McGough is 21-of-21 on extra points and 2-of-3 on field goals with a long of 43 yards. McGough has five punts for a 35.0 average with a long of 42 yards. Will Best is 36-of-38 on extra points and 5-of-7 on field goals with a long of 46 yards. Tyler McKinnell has 27 punts for a 35.7 average with a long of 46 yards.
Let us see who comes out on top Wednesday night for the state title. Can Thompson make it four years in a row? Freeman is going for his tenth championship of his coaching career. That would tie Bobby Carr as the only coach in Alabama with ten titles.
