Thompson knocks off Spain Park 35-7

Alabaster, AL – Mark Freeman’s Thompson Warriors improved to 5-1, 3-1 in 7A region 3 play, with a 35-7 victory over the slumping Spain Park Jaguars (1-5, 0-4) Friday night at Warrior Stadium.  

The loss extended Spain Park’s loosing streak to five games, likely eliminating the Jags from playoff contention for the first time since 2014.

Mark Freeman’s Warriors jumped on the board midway through the first quarter as Michael Pettway snagged his first Tagovailoa pass from inside the Jaguar 10 to put the visitors up 7-0. Tagovailoa extended the Warrior lead, after a Spain Park three-and-out, capping a Thompson drive with a three yard rushing score.  

Pettway hauled in his second score of the first half, pulling down a Tagovailoa pass and bolting into the endzone from 60 yards out.  The electric play put the defending 7A region 3 champs up 21-0 early in the second quarter.  

The Jaguar offense came alive midway through the third as backup quarterback Harrison Barker lead the Jags on a drive that included a pair of fourth down conversions capped by a Barker to Jalen Handerson three yard score cutting the Warrior led to 21-7 heading into the locker room.  

After the break, Thompson payed off their first possession with a Tagovailoa to Pettway scoring strike from inside the Warrior 15.  Tagovailoa tossed his fourth touchdown pass of the night midway through the fourth, this one to J.B. Mitchell.  Evan McGuire’s fifth extra point capped the scoring at 35 giving the Warriors their second straight win over their region three rivals.  

Alabama commit Taulia Tagovailoa completed 12 of 23 passes for 323 yards and four touchdowns through the air and accounted for a fifth score on the ground.  Senior running back Shadrick rushed for 106 yards on 14 carries while Michael Pettway, who has caught a touchdown pass in each of the warriors first six games hauled in nine grabs for 152 yards and a pair of scores.  

Thompson travels to Thompson Reynolds stadium Friday night to take on Buddy Anderson’s Vestavia Hills Rebels (4-2, 2-2).   Spain Park hosts cross-town rival and defending 7A state champion Hoover (4-2, 3-1) next week at Jaguar Stadium.  

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