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In a game that went down to the wire, Anquon Fegans’ interception on the final play helped Thompson hold off Hewitt-Trussville in a defensive battle. (For the Reporter/Kelsea Schafer)

By NIC YOUNG | Special to the Reporter

ALABASTER – Despite a strong second-half effort by the Hewitt-Trussville Huskies, the Thompson Warriors held off the Huskies in a tight defensive showdown 15-10 on Oct. 4 at Warrior Stadium to remain tied for the top spot in the region with Hoover.

“We’re learning every week, and I’m proud of our kids. They persevered,” Thompson coach Mark Freeman said. “We had some tough times, but they battled through, and at the end of the game, we got the win.”

Hewitt-Trussville almost seamlessly moved the ball down the field to open the game, getting into plus territory with ease before facing a fourth-down scenario at the Thompson 31-yard line. The Huskies rolled the dice and converted the attempt to will their drive forward.

Hewitt then faced another fourth down situation later in the drive and this time elected to kick a field goal from the Thompson 25-yard line, which was no good.

Thompson swiftly moved the ball down the field on its first drive. Momentum swung in the Warriors’ favor when a 19-yard pass from quarterback Trent Seaborn to Anquon Fegans put them at their 43-yard line. A few plays later, they were across midfield and into Huskies territory.

Unfortunately, this would be the extent of the Warriors’ drive as it stalled out shortly after, forcing them to punt.

The following Hewitt drive was short-lived with the Thompson defense forcing a fumble. Defensive back Payton Lewis scooped up the loose ball and scampered towards the endzone before being forced out at the Hewitt 2-yard line.

Now tasked with a goal-to-go situation, the Thompson offense seemingly punched the ball in off a run from running back Michael Dujon. However, an illegal procedure penalty took the points off the board for the Warriors.

Penalties and the Huskies defense kept pushing the Warriors offense back and eventually, Thompson fell a yard shy of converting a fourth-and-goal situation from its five-yard line.

Once again, the Thompson defense prevailed to swing momentum back into the Warriors’ favor. On Hewitt’s first play of its drive, the Warriors turned a quarterback sack into a safety to put up the night’s first points and take a 2-0 lead late in the first quarter.

The two sides would trade punts to round out the first quarter.

The Warriors began the second quarter on a drive. After beginning at the Hewitt 48-yard line, Seaborn found Fegans once again for a large gain, this time it was a 38-yard bomb to put Thompson at the 10-yard line. The offense made it to the five-yard line before missing a field goal on fourth down.

An alternating series of punts would chew up most of the second quarter. With around four minutes to go in the half, the Thompson offense began to piece together a lengthy drive.

Starting at their 14-yard line, the offense marched down the field before coming to a halt at the Hewitt 34-yard line.  With 38 seconds to go in the half, Thompson found themselves in a fourth-down situation.

The Warriors opted to take a gamble and attempt to convert a first down, and this risk paid off as Seaborn located receiver Darion Moseley for a 29-yard completion to put them at the 1-yard line.

Dujon barreled in for the score the following play to add to the Warrior lead 8-0 to close out the half.

After each team punted to start the third, things began to pick back for the Thompson offense on its second possession of the half.

Operating near midfield, the Warriors put together a series of explosive plays to move down the field. A 20-yard pass from Seaborn to receiver Jaden Kelly-Campbell set Thompson up in Huskies territory at the 35-yard line.

From there, Seaborn found Fegans on an 11-yard pass a few players later to get the offense to the 17-yard line. Seaborn capped off this drive with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Fegans to make the game’s score 15-0.

The Huskies opened their next drive determined to make a response. The Hewitt offense drove the length of the field before finishing off the possession with a 13-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Noah Dobbins to tight end Jackson Martin to make the score 15-7 late in the third.

The Huskies’ momentum continued as they forced a punt and then got into Warrior territory. An explosive double pass play from receiver Ty Wilkinson to fellow receiver Dylan Cope propelled the Huskies to the Thompson 27-yard line.

The drive stalled after that and Hewitt opted to kick a field goal on fourth down from the 6-yard line, cutting the deficit to 15-10 with five minutes left.

RJ Evans dominated the ensuing drive with four carries for 22 yards, but the Huskies forced a punt just after the Warriors got past midfield, which gave the visitors the ball with less than a minute left.

With the game in the balance and time winding down, the Huskies struggled to get anything going. The Thompson defense came up big once again with Fegans coming down with the interception to seal the victory.

Seaborn finished the night 17 of 27 for 204 yards and one touchdown. Evans took 20 carries for 67 yards, and Dujon ran for 34 yards and a touchdown off 12 carries. Fegans had 94 receiving yards and a touchdown to go along with two defensive interceptions. Jared Smith finished with three tackles.

Next, Thompson will travel on Oct. 11 to Tuscaloosa for another regional matchup against the Hillcrest Patriots.

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