No. 3 Thompson Rallies Past Top Ranked Hewitt-Trussville 34-12
TRUSSVILLE, AL – In a crucial Class 7A, Region 3 matchup, the No. 3 ranked Thompson Warriors defeated the top-ranked Hewitt-Trussville Huskies 34-12. A game-changing 99-yard interception return by senior cornerback Damonte Tabb in the third quarter sparked a second-half surge that secured the victory for Thompson on Friday night. The win gives the Warriors sole possession of first place in the region and marks their eighth consecutive victory over the Huskies.
Top Five Showdown Unfolds at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium
The contest began with Hewitt-Trussville striking first. After Thompson punted on its opening possession, the Huskies immediately made a big play, turning a simple checkdown pass into a 53-yard gain. The Warriors’ defense stiffened, holding Hewitt to a 45-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead with 7:43 left in the first quarter.
Thompson’s offense responded. Quarterback Trent Seaborn led a drive heavy on passing, which was kept alive by a critical third-down run inside the 10-yard line. After nearly scoring a touchdown, the Warriors settled for a 25-yard field goal from Ethan Black, tying the game at 3-3 with 3:10 remaining in the opening quarter.
Following a quick three-and-out forced by the Thompson defense, Seaborn went back to work. He effectively distributed the ball to receivers Mehkii Billingsley and Dedrick Kimbrough, moving the Warriors down the field as the first quarter concluded.
Warriors Take Control in the Second Quarter
On the first play of the second quarter, Seaborn executed a play-action pass, rolling left and finding Pryce Lewis for a 14-yard touchdown. This gave Thompson its first lead of the game, 10-3, with 11:52 left before halftime.
Hewitt-Trussville’s subsequent drive stalled near the red zone. Thompson’s special teams came up big, blocking a 36-yard field goal attempt to maintain the seven-point advantage. The Warriors capitalized on their next possession. A first-down catch by Lewis and a defensive pass interference penalty set Thompson up in good field position. While the drive ended without a touchdown, Black converted a 36-yard field goal, extending the lead to 13-3.
With just 1:38 left in the half, Hewitt quarterback Jack Floyd engineered an efficient two-minute drill. A defensive pass interference call moved the Huskies to the 15-yard line. Floyd then connected with a leaping Dylan Cope for a 15-yard touchdown, cutting Thompson’s lead to 13-10 at the break.
Tabb’s Pick-Six Ignites Second-Half Surge
The turning point of the game came on the opening drive of the third quarter. Hewitt-Trussville had driven down to the Thompson 3-yard line and faced a fourth-and-1 situation. The Huskies opted to go for it, and Floyd fired a quick pass to the right corner of the end zone.
Damonte Tabb anticipated the play, jumping the route and intercepting the pass at the 1-yard line. He raced 99 yards down the sideline for a touchdown, a pivotal pick-six that silenced the home crowd and extended Thompson’s lead to 20-10 with 7:34 left in the third quarter. The play reversed the momentum that Hewitt had built just before halftime.
Hewitt managed to respond briefly. A well-placed punt pinned Thompson at its own 2-yard line, leading to a safety on the next play when a run was stopped in the end zone. This made the score 20-12, but it would be the final points the Huskies scored all night.
Thompson Closes Out the Victory
The Thompson defense dominated the remainder of the game, forcing consecutive three-and-outs. The offense capitalized on the opportunities. A 72-yard drive, highlighted by key catches from Lewis, ended with Seaborn finding Trey Knight for an 8-yard touchdown. This pushed the lead to 27-12 with 1:23 left in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Warriors put the game away with a methodical, 16-play, 97-yard drive that consumed most of the clock. Seaborn capped the long march with a 3-yard touchdown run, finalizing the score at 34-12 with 3:34 remaining.
Top Performers
Quarterback Trent Seaborn had a standout performance, rebounding from a tough outing the previous week. The junior completed 29-of-37 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns. He also contributed on the ground with 29 rushing yards and a rushing score.
Trey Knight was a primary target, finishing with six receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown. Pryce Lewis added seven catches for 72 yards and a score. For Hewitt-Trussville, Dylan Cope was the main offensive contributor with five catches for 54 yards and a touchdown.
Region Significance
The victory improves Thompson’s record to 5-2 overall and a perfect 4-0 in region play. The win not only places them atop the Class 7A, Region 3 standings but also provides a crucial tiebreaker over Hewitt-Trussville (6-1, 3-1).
Looking Ahead
Thompson will return home to face Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (5-2, 2-2) next week. Hewitt-Trussville will look to bounce back as they travel to Stanley Jensen Stadium to take on the Prattville Lions (3-3, 2-2).
