Thompson Slides Past Hoover, Snags Regular Season Championship

By WVUA 23 Sports Reporter Tatumn Vaught

PC: Stu McCann

A Catch 22 situation, Thompson and Hoover were both 9-0 going into the game but only one would prevail. The Warriors defended their home turf defeating the Buccaneers 39-23, but Hoover definitely put up a fight.

According to Maxpreps, attendance for this much-anticipated matchup was through the roof as approximately 5,000 fans were in the stands to watch the undefeated teams battle it out.

Both teams started the night off strong, but the game really got exciting when Hoover’s No.18 Toshi Yamamoto sacked Thompson’s QB, #15 Connor Harrell on the 47-yard line with seven minutes left in the first quarter.

Hoover’s dominance did not last long; Thompson was the first to score with under five minutes left in the first as No. 26 Jarrett Crockett ran the ball in the end zone. The Warriors followed it up with a good PAT, putting them up 7-0 at the end of the first.

Buccaneer’s Junior Jalen Taylor wasn’t going to let the home team get away easily. At the beginning of the second, Taylor had a short run to score, followed up by a Hoover extra point, tying the ball game at 7-7.

With eight minutes left in the second and fourth down for Thompson, Harrell threw the ball around the 21-yard line for it to be picked off by Hoover.

No. 38 Vinze Moore kicks the field goal for Hoover after the drive, putting the Buccaneers up 10-7.

Harrell fought back against Hoover soon after, throwing a long ball to JB Mitchell. Mitchell dodged Buccaneer defenders left and right, running 65-yards down the field, and scored to put Thompson in the lead 13-10.

With three minutes left in the second, Hoover had their chance to go up at the half. Buccaneer’s running back Massiah Tolen intercepted a pass from Harrell on Thompson’s 45-yard line to set them up to score, but they didn’t take advantage of the opportunity.

Shortly after, Hoover threw a pick-6 when Thompson’s Gavin Shipman ran the ball all the way down the field for an 85-yard touchdown. The Warriors extended their lead, but missed the extra point, putting them up 19-10 at the half.

In the third quarter, Thompson scored a rushing touchdown yet again and followed it up with a successful PAT, putting them up 26-10 with ten minutes to go.

The game only got crazier when Hoover turned over possession on a missed field goal and Thompson ran it back down to their own 20-yard line, but the Warriors did not score. Instead, Buccaneer’s No.41 Markus Clark picked up a fumble and ran it down to Hoover’s end zone to score. The attempted two-point conversion was no good, but Hoover was right on Thompson’s tails with the score at 26-16.

In the fourth quarter, Hoover managed to score once more and complete the extra point, leaving them only down by three, but Thompson ended the hope they had.

The Warriors scored two more touchdowns, with one good PAT, ending the game of the season with a win of 39-23.

Throughout the entire game, both sidelines were on the edge of their seats, but the Warriors were not going to be defeated on their home turf during the regular-season championship.

After taking this week off, Thompson will face off against Grissom at home on Nov. 6 for the first round of the playoffs in hopes to keep their undefeated record stable.