Hoover Claims Class 7A, Region 3 Crown in Overtime Thriller Over Thompson
ALABASTER, AL – The 5th ranked Hoover Bucs came away with a thrilling 27-26 overtime win over the No. 3 Thompson Warriors on Friday night in Alabaster, securing the Class 7A, Region 3 title.
Head coach Chip English’s Bucs improved to 7-2 overall with a flawless 6-0 mark in region play. Thompson falls to 6-3 overall and 5-1 in the region.
Hoover kicked off the game with an impressive 80-yard drive, capped by a J.R. Mosley 5-yard touchdown run.
Third-ranked Thompson failed to convert on its opening drive, allowing Hoover to extend their lead with a 42-yard field goal, putting the visitors up 10-0 with a little over 8 minutes remaining in the half.
The tide turned in favor of the Warriors when Hoover fumbled a punt return, giving Thompson the ball deep in Hoover territory. Mark Freeman’s squad capitalized with a 38-yard field goal to reduce the deficit to 10-3.
The Thompson defense held on the ensuing Buccaneer possession forcing a punt and handing the ball to standout signal caller Trent Seaborn. He connected twice with Dedrick Kimbrough for 52 yards, leading to a Michael Dujon 5-yard touchdown sprint, tying the game just before halftime.
The second half saw Hoover’s defense stiffen forcing another three-and-out, setting the stage for a 72-yard drive punctuated by a Jonah Winston 30-yard touchdown run restoring Hoover’s lead to 17-10 in the third quarter.
Thompson quickly leveled the score, as Seaborn connected on a 50 yard strike to Darion Mosley setting up a one yard quarterback sprint into the endzone. Later, John Allen McGuire nailed a 50-yard field goal to edge Thompson ahead, but Hoover responded splitting the uprights from 29 yards out tying the game at 20-20 with just over three minutes left in regulation.
The closing seconds of the fourth quarter saw Hoover intercept Seaborn on a fourth down pass attempt, pushing the game to overtime.
Click here to check out the full Alabama high school football scoreboard.
Thompson struck first with a Seaborn 7-yard touchdown pass to Moseley. However, Hoover blocked the extra-point attempt. Hoover matched the Warrior score as Winston bolted across the goal line from 10 yards out. The Buc point-after sailed through the uprights securing Hoover’s 23rd region crown in program history.
Hoover quarterback Mac Beason completed 10-of-17 passes for 121 yards and added 74 rushing yards on 13 carries. Winston caught eight passes for 86 yards, rushed for 46 yards and two touchdowns, including the decisive overtime score. Mosley contributed 31 rushing yards on 16 carries, along with a touchdown.
For Thompson, Seaborn completed 13-of-28 throws for 176 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, while rushing for a score. Dujon carried the ball 11 times for 88 yards and a touchdown, Moseley caught four passes for 83 yards and a touchdown.
Looking ahead, Hoover will face arch rival Vestavia Hills (4-4, 4-2) at the Hoover Met next Friday, while Thompson hosts the Prattville Lions (4-4, 2-4).
