It was homecoming at Larry Simmons Field in Alabaster Friday night, but it was Homewood that felt at home as the Patriots cruised to victory over the Thompson Warriors, 37-6.

Although the Patriots had 19 first downs in the win, it was the Homewood special teams that struck first as Randall Nored blocked a Cody Hall punt and returned it 28 yards for the score.

The Warriors (2-5, 1-5) gave the ball right back to the Patriots as quarterback David Bria was intercepted by Lovie Crawford off of a tipped pass to give Homewood great field position. Homewood quarterback Garrett Powell finished off the drive with a 1-yard keeper to increase the lead to 14-0 following Charlie Preston’s extra-point kick.

The Patriots added another touchdown in the first quarter on an 11-yard pass from Powell to Austin Powell to go up 21-0.

In the second quarter, Homewood’s Houston Walker increased the lead to 28-0 on a 3-yard run.

The second half started off positive for the Warriors as Melvin Jones picked off Powell in the end zone to end the Patriots’ scoring threat, but a three-and-out series lead to a Thompson punt and Patriot quarterback Powell took advantage with a 5-yard touchdown run.

Thompson answered on the ensuing drive with a 32-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Chism to cut the lead to 35-6, and the Warriors followed that drive up by forcing Homewood to three-and-out.

But on the Warriors’ following drive, Bria was dropped for a safety for the final score of the game.

The Warriors would have two more drives on the Patriots’ side of the field, but both drives ended in interceptions.

“Our kids played hard in the second half,” Thompson head coach Brian Maner said. “When you make as many mistakes as we did, people are going to take advantage.”

Offensively for the Warriors, Bria was 11-of-26 for 108 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions. The Warriors accounted for only 155 total yards.

Thompson returns to regional action Friday as the Warriors travel to Oak Mountain. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.