By TREY HICKMAN/For the Reporter

BIRMINGHAM — Running back Dee Tolbert turned in a powerhouse farewell performance in his final game for Thompson football.

The senior reeled off a robust 242 yards on 23 carries and registered five rushing scores as the visiting Warriors ripped John Carroll Catholic 52-17 on Nov. 1.

“The is the biggest game of the season because it was the next game of the season,” said Thompson head coach Mike Montgomery. “You’re always revamping, retooling, learning from your mistakes. That’s just kind of what you do when you rebuild a program.”

On the game’s opening possession, Tolbert had a hand in all 65 yards of Thompson’s 4-play drive, completing a 27-yard halfback pass to wide receiver Eric Reeves and rushing three times, the last of which went for a 20-yard score.

Thompson was more efficient with its second possession of the night when, following a Cavaliers punt, quarterback Zach Brammer connected with Reeves for a touchdown from 48 yards out on the drive’s first play.

It took the Warriors a mere three minutes, three seconds to put those 14 points on the board.

For the remainder of the first half it was virtually all Thompson. Tobert added a 4-yard rushing touchdown and Brammer hit Reeves again, this time for a 12-yard score. Kicker David Buckelew tacked on points with a 22-yard field goal that came with one second before intermission.

The early going of the third quarter was basically a mirror image of the initial stage of the opening quarter as Thompson shot out of the gate with two quick scores, both by way of Tolbert’s legs. The senior scored from 15 and one yard out, the second coming with 9:17 remaining in the period.

Fittingly, Tolbert also scored the Warriors’ final touchdown of the night when he found pay dirt from 32 yards out, giving him a trio of third-quarter scores.

“I think we came out and executed,” Tolbert said. “I think we could have done a little better, but I’m just proud of the way we (the seniors) finished (our careers) and I hope they (the underclassmen) carry on to next year as well as they did tonight and start off the season on a positive note. I’m glad we (the seniors) could help them (the underclassmen) achieve that. It means a lot (to end my career with a win). It has to come to an end eventually so I’m just glad we finished with a ‘W’ and on a positive note.”

Running back Alex Zimmerman posted a 7-yard touchdown run and Mitchell Byrd had a 4-yard rushing score for John Carroll.

For Thompson, Brammer finished 7-of-9 passing for 151 yards and his pair of touchdowns while Reeves had eight catches for 178 yards and his two scores.

Thompson ended its season 4-6 while John Carroll finished 2-8.