On Friday night, the #4 Hoover Bucs play the #3 Thompson Warriors at Warrior Stadium in a big Class 7A, Region 3 contest. The winner will get the region title and the #1 seed in Region 3 going into the 2024 playoffs.
Both teams are 6-2 overall and 5-0 in region play and are coming off wins. Both teams lost to 6A teams in Week #5 and have two game-winning streaks coming into this game. Hoover lost to 6A Parker (14-10), and Thompson lost to 6A Clay-Chalkville (14-13) in their non-region games in Week #5.
Hoover comes into the game averaging 28.9 points on offense and will need consistency down the stretch. Hoover is coming off a big 56-point game against winless Tuscaloosa County last week. Hoover will need to clean up turnovers and penalty issues they had the previous few weeks.
Quarterback Mac Beason leads the Bucs offense and is having a solid season. "He is a competitor and gun slinger," said Bucs head coach Chip English. "He makes big-time plays. He has to take care of the ball, and not just him. We need to put him in great situations. He can find the open receivers and get the ball into their hands. I'm excited for him and see him grow a lot this season. The more and more reps he gets, the more seasoned he becomes."
The Bucs' running backs—Jaccorey Hayes, Keilan Jefferson, Anthony Allen, and Jabari Mosley—are in good shape. All four can break off a long run at any time during a game. Jefferson has good hands and runs good routes from the backfield.
The wide receiver core is solid. DeMarion Gardner has speed and can go deep. Jeremiah Tabb, Jonah Winston, Avery Crawford, Reggie Jackson, and Ar'mari Towns are very talented. Winson can play the quarterback position at any time, especially around the goal line, and is very shifty in the secondary when he gets the ball. Towns is a big target around the goal line with his 6-foot-6 frame. Reggie Jackson can make a big play anytime he touches the ball. One of the big targets for the Bucs is tight end Chris Warren. Warren can play tight or go out wide on a play and is very versitale.
The offensive line will be key, giving the Bucs offense time to be successful. Thaddus Fields, Storm Fain, Fletcher Burdick, Trot English, and Jackson Richard will play an essential role in this game. "Jackson, Storm, and Trot have led the charge for our offensive line," added English. "They are big physical guys that like this kind of game. We need to get a push, and they have a good defensive line." Offensive lineman Walker Weed and Tyler Callins will get some playing time for the Bucs offense.
The Buc's defense only gives up 12.8 points per game, second-best in Region 3. The defensive line of Tyson Bacon, Jovon Pulliam, Pa-landing Drammeh, Darius Crawley, Zach Morell, and Tarance Jackson is solid.
The linebackers core of Theodus Sanders, Garrett Goldsby, Towns, and Cameron Torbor are having good seasons. Sanders and Torbor will be essential for the Buc's defense, as they can go all over the field and make plays for the Buc's defense.
The secondary has Tre Darden, Jamar Moultrie, Dorian Waluyn, Jeremiah Robinson, and Donell Williams, and they will have their hands full with an improved Thompson receiving group.
Thompson is averaging 30.1 points per game, second most in Region 3. Quarterback Trent Seaborn leads the Warrior's offense. Thompson defeated Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 45-20 last week and played their best offensive game of the season. "I was our best game of the season," said Warriors head coach Mark Freeman. "I have been trying to ensure we secured a playoff spot. Our receivers are all new, and we have not performed well enough to feel comfortable opening our offense up. I was thrilled with the way they performed and executed their responsibilities. Hopefully, we can continue to improve heading into the playoffs."
The sophomore signal-caller has completed 114-of-180 passing for 1,387 yards with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions. Seaborn had a considerable game, completing 30-of-42 passes for 403 yards and four touchdowns against Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa last week. If Seaborn warms up late in the season, watch out for the Warriors in the playoffs.
Running backs Michael Dujon and RJ Evans will get most of the carries for Thompson. Last week, this combination had 304 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns against Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa. Dujon has 673 yards on 76 carries and nine touchdowns on the season. RJ Evans has 422 yards on 84 carries and five touchdowns. Evans has 16 receptions for 199 yards and a touchdown.
The wide receiving core is gaining experience each week and will see if they can make enough plays against Hoover this week. Darion Mosley, Dedrick Kimbrough, Trey Knight, Jaden Kelly-Campbell, Anquon Fegans, Pryce Lewis, Angel Jones, and Brooks Byars have opportunities in the Warriors offense. Last week, freshman Kimbrough had a breakout game with nine receptions for 142 yards and a touchdown. Also, he had an unbelievable one-handed catch in the back of the end zone for his score in the game.
The offensive line has AJ Williams, Barron Criddle, Dylan Marquess, Braydon Saylor, and Parker Middlesadt. Williams, a big-time player, has a solid season coming in from 6A state champion Clay-Chalkville last season. Marquess will play a big role at center for the Warriors offense.
The Thompson defense only gives up 13.9 points per game. The defensive line starts with Jared Smith. The senior defensive end leads the team with 16 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks this season. Nik Alston, Hayden McDonald, and sophomore Cam Pritchett will be a massive test for the Bucs offensive line.
Linebackers Kevin Davis, Trent Cheatom, and Vini Pires lead the Warriors in tackles. Cheatom has 73 tackles and four tackles for loss, Pires has 71 tackles and four tackles for loss, and Davis has 37 tackles and four tackles for loss.
The Warrior's secondary is solid, and this is no exception this season. Anquon Fegans is the best defensive back in 7A and maybe in Alabama. Peyton Lewis, Damonte Tabb, and Micah Fleming round out the starters. Fleming, a sophomore, is gaining valuable experience each week. Fegans has been a stat stuffer this season with 49 tackles, six tackles for loss, three interceptions, and two fumble recoveries on defense. On offense, he has six catches for 132 yards and a touchdown. What a massive season for Fegans.
There are a lot of keys in this game. Can Hoover keep the pressure off Beason and get time to throw the football downfield? Turnovers and penalties have plagued the Bucs' offense this season. Can they figure that out? Can the Warriors' passing game build on last week? Can Kimbrough have another monster game at receiver? Special teams, who can make the big kick, kickoff, or punt return? Let us see who comes out as Region 3 Champions.
