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The Thompson Warriors used three defensive scores and a dominant defensive effort against Vestavia Hills on Friday, Sept. 20 to pick up a 38-17 road win. (For the Reporter/Jason Homan)

By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Publisher

VESTAVIA HILLS – Trailing 17-14 at the halftime break, the Thompson Warriors took advantage of two second-half defensive scores to pull away for their fourth win in a row in a road matchup with Vestavia Hills on Friday, Sept. 20.

After one pick six in the first half, the Warriors utilized two fourth quarter defensive scores to create separation in an otherwise tight game.

The first came just after the game shifted into the fourth quarter with the Rebels looking to go into the end zone and take the lead to start the period.

Star defensive back Anquon Fegans had other plans, ripping a ball away and taking it close to 95 yards to the house to completely flip the momentum and give Thompson a 28-17 advantage.

Now really in a position to start finding some offense against Thompson’s strong defense, the Rebels were quickly forced into a third-and-7 on the ensuing drive, which led to an interception from Micha Fleming, who took it back to the house for a pick six that made it 35-17.

That short span of plays quickly swung the doors wide open, as the Warriors went from possibly trailing 24-21 to up 35-17.

Vestavia had no answer after that, as the Warriors tacked on a field goal late to finish off a 38-17 victory and pick up their fourth consecutive win to improve to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in the region.

Ultimately, Thompson had to claw back in the game after a slow start in the first half.

Vestavia Hills took a 7-0 lead early thanks to an onside kick setting the offense up in good shape. Eventually, the Rebels were able to recover their own fumble in the end zone for a Will Ainsworth touchdown less than 1:30 into the game.

The Rebels went on to take a two-score lead when they got a defensive stop and scored on their second consecutive drive to open the game thanks to an Owen Simpson field goal that made it 10-0 with 7:43 left in the first.

Thompson’s answer, however, came in the form of Mike Dujon and the first defensive touchdown of the night.

Dujon put together a 41-yard touchdown run to put the Warriors on the board and trim the deficit to 10-7 with 4:54 left in the opening quarter.

That set the stage for a Jared Smith pick six on the ensuing drive for the Rebels, giving Thompson the lead for the first time in the game at 14-10 at the end of a wild first quarter.

Vestavia responded with a physical 16-play, 80-yard drive that was capped off by a Charlie Taaffe run to make it 17-14 with 7:50 left in second, ultimately becoming the halftime score.

The defense, however, flipped a switch and quickly started the second half with a statement.

With Vestavia on the move to start the first drive of third quarter, Fegans made his first big play of the half with his team backed up against the goal line thanks to an interception.

That set up a long scoring drive for the Warriors that was capped off by a touchdown run from Reggie Evans to make it 21-17 with 3:54 left in the third.

That interception started the onslaught of dominant defense.

It was the first of three consecutive drives for Vestavia Hills that ended in a turnover that led to a score with the next two being defensive scores from Fegans and Fleming to cement the comeback win.

It marked an important comeback for Thompson, as the second half of the schedule features the likes of Clay-Chalkville, Hewitt-Trussville, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, Hoover and Prattville.

Next week, it will be 4-1 Thompson against Class 6A defending state champ and 4-0 Clay-Chalkville.

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