In a championship rematch that had been circled on calendars since last December, the Thompson Warriors exacted their revenge on Central-Phenix City, defeating the defending champions 21-7 to capture their fifth AHSAA Class 7A state title in six years.
The victory marked a triumphant return to the mountaintop for coach Mark Freeman’s Warriors, who had seen their four-year championship streak snapped by these same Red Devils in a heartbreaking 21-19 loss just one year ago.
The game began as a defensive slugfest at Protective Stadium, with both teams trading punts and turnovers in a scoreless first quarter. Central-Phenix City (10-2) struck first early in the second quarter, capitalizing on field position to take a 7-0 lead that had many wondering if the Red Devils were poised for a repeat performance.
But Thompson (11-3) had learned from last year’s defeat. Rather than panic, the Warriors methodically went to work.
Sophomore quarterback Trent Seaborn, who had shouldered the offensive burden all season, finally found his rhythm as the Warriors scored on three consecutive drives before halftime. The first touchdown came on a perfectly executed pass to Darion Moseley, tying the game at 7-7 with 5:28 remaining in the second quarter.
Michael Dujon then punched in a rushing touchdown to give Thompson a 14-7 lead, before Seaborn found Moseley again for their second scoring connection of the quarter, extending the advantage to 21-7 as the teams headed to the locker room.
The second half belonged to the defenses, as both teams struggled to sustain drives in a physical third quarter that saw no points scored. Thompson’s defense, which had been the backbone of their playoff run, continued to stifle Central-Phenix City’s usually explosive offense.
The defining moment came in the fourth quarter when Auburn-bound defensive back Anquon Fegans intercepted his sixth pass of the season, effectively sealing the championship for Thompson. The interception was the exclamation point on a dominant defensive performance that held the Red Devils to just seven points — a far cry from their season average of over 40 points per game.
For coach Mark Freeman, the victory was particularly sweet. “Those three losses were painful, (and) those games built this championship,” Freeman said. “It built character and perseverance, more than I can coach it.”
Indeed, Thompson’s path to the title was far from easy. All three of their regular season losses came in overtime by a single point, creating doubt about whether this team had the mettle of previous Warriors squads. But the adversity forged a different kind of championship team — one built on grit rather than overwhelming talent.
The victory gives Freeman his seventh AHSAA state title overall — five at Thompson and two at Spanish Fort — leaving him tied with Fyffe’s Paul Benefield and just one short of the all-time record.
For Central-Phenix City, coached by Patrick Nix (father of Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix), the loss ends a remarkable season that saw them overcome early adversity to reach their second consecutive championship game. The Red Devils will lose key seniors but return a talented core that should keep them in contention for years to come.
For Thompson, the championship represents validation of a program that refused to accept defeat. After having their dynasty interrupted last season, the Warriors proved that champions find a way to respond — and on this December night in Birmingham, they did exactly that.
The blue map returns to Alabaster, and Thompson football is once again king of Alabama’s largest classification.