Postgame Recap | Hoover drops Thompson, advances to Super 7

Alabaster, AL – The Hoover Bucs advanced to their second consecutive 7A title game with a 31-12 win over the previously unbeaten Thompson Warriors Friday night in Alabaster. 

The Bucs fell to Thompson 32-25 in the regular season, securing the the Warriors first victory over Hoover in 21 tries.  

This time the defending 7A champs went up 24-0, holding the second ranked Warriors off the scoreboard through three and a half quarters.

George Pickens put the Bucs on the board early hauling in a 70 yard pass from senior quarterback Jalen Parker three minutes into the contest.   Nebraska commit Barrett Pickering split the uprights from 37 yards out in the first minute of the second quarter, quieting the capacity crowd, at Larry Simmons Stadium and giving the visitors a 10 point advantage.

Larry McCammon added the next six for the Bucs, taking a Parker hand-off and bolting into the endzone from inside the 10 to cap the first quarter at 17-0.   

McCammon scored his second rushing touchdown, this one from three yards out stretching the Buccaneer lead to 24 with six minutes and change remaining in the third period.  

Thompson quarterback Taulia Tagovialoa called his own number scampering in for six on the next Warrior possession.  Tagovialoa’s two point conversion pass fell incomplete leaving the score 24-6 in favor of the Bucs with 4:14 left to play in the third.   Two minutes into the fourth, Tagovialoa connected with a slanting Ahmad Edwards in the corner of the endzone, pulling the home team within 12 with a tick over 10:00 remaining in the contest.  McCammon put the semifinal matchup out of reach with two minutes remaining, scoring his third rushing touchdown of the night, this one from four yards out.   

Bucs quarterback Jalen Parker finished the night with 112 yards, completing 5 of 18 passes, all to Auburn commit George Pickens.  McCammon lead the Bucs on the ground rushing for 196 yards and three touchdowns.  

Tagovailoa completed 20 of 43 pass attempts for 199 yards including one rushing and one passing touchdown.  Ahmad Edwards hauled in seven catches for 42 yards including a score. 

The Warriors finished the season ranked second the the final ASWA 7A rankings.  Mark Freeman’s third season at the helm in Alabaster featured the programs first win over region 3 rival Hoover, their third visit to the state semifinals and the second best record in school history.  

Hoover advances to the 7A state championship to face the fourth ranked McGill-Toolen Catholic Yellow Jackets.   The Bucs and Jackets square off in the opening game of the 2017 Super 7 Championships Wednsday, December 6th at 7:00 PM at the University of Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium.  Hoover defeated McGill-Toolen 17-7 in last seasons 7A title game.