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Thompson scores huge comeback win over Hewitt-Trussville

Brant Berry | PrepsNet

Alabaster, AL – The Thompson Warriors (8-1, 6-1) stunned a capacity crowd and a national tv audience Friday night, overcoming a 28 point deficit to take down the fifth ranked Hewitt-Trussville Huskies 63-49.  

Mark Freeman’s second ranked Warriors flexed their muscles in front of a standing room only crowd, an ESPN audience, and a star studded sideline including Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn, LSU’s Ed Orgeron and Heisman Trophy frontrunner Tua Tagovailoa.  

Electric receiver JaVarrius Johnson started the Husky offensive onslaught early in the first capping the opening Husky drive with a 9 yard grab from Alabama commit Paul Tyson.  Tyson added added the next Hewitt score calling his own number from 2 yards out.  With a minute remaining in the first stanza Armani Goodwin put the visitors up by three scores.  Parker Colburn’s three extra points gave the Huskies a commanding 21-0 lead 12:00 into the contest.  

Johnson hauled in his second TD pass of the night to open the second quarter, this one from just across the midfield stripe.  With 9:45 remaining in the opening half the Huskies lead the defending 7A region 3 champs 28-0.  The Thompson offense came to life with just over five minutes remaining in the second as quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa pulled the ball down and scampered 47 yards in for a score.  Evan McGuire split the uprights on the first of his nine PAT’s to pull the Warriors within three scores.  On the next Thompson possession, James Mitchell snagged a 28 yard Tagovailoa pass for a touchdown bringing the Thompson faithful to their feet.  The home crowd would get quite a few seconds later, however as JaVarrius Johnson returned a McGuire kickoff 99 yards for his third score of the first half.  Not to be outdone, Tagovailoa added his second ruining score with less than a minute left before the break, rushing in from 14 yards out.  

Hewitt carried a 35-21 advantage into the locker room.  

Thompson owned the third quarter as Shadrick Byrd and Jarrett Crocker each chalked up rushing scores while the Warrior defense shutout the Huskies.  In the fourth the Warrior rushing attack took charge as Byrd, who carried the ball over 20 times for 207 yards in the second half, scored on a 2 yard bolt.  Bama commits Tyson and Dazalin Worsham hooked up from their own two yard score on the next Huskies possession before Byrd struck for the third time hitting pay-dirt from 45 yards out.  Trussville’s Sean Jackson capped the next Husky possession scoring from just inside the redzone.  Thompson’s Michael Pettway haled in a 59 yard touchdown pass from Tagovailoa to give the Alabaster faithful a little breathing room but the victory was sealed with a timely turnover by the Warrior defense.  D.J. Douglas picked off a Tyson pass, tipped by Tyreke Bivins, giving the ball back to Tagovailoa and company with a 56-49 lead with less than two minutes to play.  Crockett sealed the deal for the Warriors with a one yard touchdown run with less than a minute remaining capping one of the most electrifying gridiron matchups in the metro area in recent memory.  

The powerhouse offenses accounted for over 1,000 yards of combined offense while lighting up the Warrior Stadium Jumbotron with over 100 points.  

Thompson signal caller and Alabama commit Taulia Tagovailoa passed for 264 yards on 15 of 26 passes and two touchdowns through the air while carrying the ball 12 times for 152 and three scores.  Byrd carried the ball 29 times for 207 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.  The senior added 54 yards through the air on three receptions.  Michael Pettway hauled in three receptions for 75 yards and a score.  

Hewitt quarterback finished the night with 270 yards, completing 15 of 24 passes and three scores.  Armoni Goodwin rushed for 195 yards and a touchdown on the ground.  Auburn commit JaVarrius Johnson lead the Hewitt receiving corps with 232 yards on nine receptions and a 99 yard kickoff return for a touchdown.  

Evan McGuire and Parker Colburn finished the night perfect with a combined 16 point-after-touchdowns.  

Thompson travels to Crestview Florida next Friday night to take on the Bulldogs before hosting their first playoff contest at their new home, Warrior Stadium.  Hewitt has the week off before hitting the road for the first round of the 7A post season.  

The Thompson win, coupled with Hoover’s victory over the Mountain Brook Spartans gives Hoover the region 3 crown.  Thompson will enter the playoffs as a No. 2 seed, Mountain Brook takes the region’s third seed while Hewitt claims the fourth spot.