By ERIC STARLING / For the Reporter

HOOVER — The Thompson Warriors traveled to Hoover to face the Bucs in a Class 6A, Region 6 match-up Friday evening. Hoover took control just before the half and never looked back on their way to a 41-15 victory.

“The mentality that a Hoover team has when it comes to winning doesn’t happen overnight,” said Thompson coach Caleb Ross. “You have to instill in these kids that it doesn’t matter who is on the other side of the ball, you can win.”

The Warriors first drive showed they could move the ball against the Bucs. A successful running attack gave Thompson manageable third downs, and even when facing a 4th and one, the line was able to push their quarterback up the middle for two yards.

With their first drive stalling at the 15 yard line, the Warriors Matt Nall nailed the field goal to put Thompson on the board first with three points.

Hoover would score a touchdown on their first possession as well putting up seven
points, and then the defenses took turns holding the offenses to limited yards.

Early in the second quarter, Thompson took over at their own 24. After moving the ball to the 34 for another Warrior first down, Trey Matherson dropped back and hit Avery Hale with a short pass underneath and then Hale went to work. Following his blockers and dodging defenders, Hale went 66 yards for the score. Thompson missed the extra point, but held the lead at 9-7.

“Our boys played a good game tonight,” Ross said. “We executed much better on offense and more importantly, we didn’t turn the ball over.”

The Warriors actually had the advantage in the turnover category recovering a Hoover fumble in the third quarter.

Thompson showed a little trickery after the fumble, executing a perfect reverse play that went for 29 yards and carried them into Buc territory. With a combination of runs and short passes, Thompson moved the ball to the one yard line where Dee Tolbert punched it in for the touchdown.

The Warriors will travel to Carver next week to face the Rams.