No. 1 Thompson, No. 2 Central-Phenix City Set for Alabama Heavyweight Showdown
The 2026 Alabama high school football season opens with a matchup that looks more like a postseason showdown than a season opener.
No. 1 Thompson travels to Phenix City on Thursday, August 20, to face No. 2 Central-Phenix City at Garrett-Harrison Stadium in a battle between two of the state's premier programs. The Warriors enter the season as the defending Class 7A state champions, while Central is looking to make an immediate statement under new head coach Cody Flournoy.
Last year in the AHSAA Class 7A Semifinal Game at Garrett-Harrison Stadium, these two teams were playing for a spot in the championship game, and Thompson held on for a 35-34 thriller. Central went for a two-point play and could have tied it with an extra point but failed on the two-point try.
Both teams come into the game with question marks early in the season. Thompson needs to find a couple more linemen and some linebackers. Central-Phenix City needs to find some defenders on that side of the ball. Both teams have so many skilled players.
For Thompson, the spotlight begins with quarterback Trent Seaborn, the Alabama commit and reigning Class 7A Back of the Year. Seaborn returns after a spectacular junior season in which he threw for 3,692 yards and 35 touchdowns while leading the Warriors to another state championship. Also, Seaborn rushed for 108 yards and five touchdowns. "The word I like to use for him is humility," said Warriors head coach Mark Freeman. "He values people. He is not a bragger or boaster. He is genuinely a good person who is good to people. In this day and time with all the stuff he could be buying into, he remains steadfast and cares for the underdog. He is aware of his surroundings, but he handles them very well. He is a great teammate and is great to people in the community."
The four-star quarterback committed to Alabama in October 2025 and enters his senior season as one of the most closely watched players in the state. Seaborn should be up for the Mr. Football award this season. Jahari Nation was limited as a backup last season due to being in 8th grade. Nation is now a 6'1" freshman and is the backup to Seaborn at quarterback. Seaborn has been an active mentor to Nation. "Help us train him as the other quarterbacks did for you," added Freeman. "And Trent is doing that. Jahari's most valuable asset right now is that he has been with Trent, who has been showing him how to handle things. Jahari is growing as a quarterback and is ahead of many quarterbacks entering their freshman year. He still has to learn to watch film; you can't watch it as a spectator, but look at it as, "What is my read right here?" and Trent does a great job showing him and working with him."
The Warriors' running game has a big one-two punch. Junior Urijah Casey and Hoover transfer CJ Cowley lead the way. As a sophomore, Casey was the third running back and really took over the job halfway through the 2025 season. Last season, Casey led the Warriors with 679 yards (7.6 yards per rush) with 10 touchdowns. Also, he had 16 receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown. The 2028 prospect has offers from Jackson State and UT Martin. Casey took over the reins as starting running back midway through the season last year. "He was so young last year, but watching him in practice, we knew that he was going to be a talented running back," said Freeman. "As the season went on, we just turned him loose. He had some great runs in the championship game but was injured. He has bounced back from that." Casey will not return until midseason.
Cowley has offers from Auburn, Colorado, Georgia Tech, Indiana, and Maryland. "CJ is a phenomenal running back," added Freeman. "If he was at Thompson his whole career, he would have been one of the top running backs in the state right now. He is really talented, and a very hard worker." Also, Nic McKissic, a transfer from Spain Park, will look to get some touches this season. Jafari Pegues is a powerful running back but can get the edge when needed. Latrell Sanders is a sophomore who will be coming on the scene in the near future.
The wide receiver core has plenty of talent. Darion Moseley, Mason McClure (a Spain Park transfer), Dedrick Kimbrough, and Bralen Coleman can flip the field at any time with their speed. Last season, Moseley had 68 receptions for 1,128 yards (16.6 yards per catch) with seven touchdowns. Moseley is an Arkansas commitment. Kimbrough had 43 receptions for 686 yards (16.0 YPC) and five touchdowns. Kimbrough has offers from Oklahoma, Alabama, Florida, Miami, Oregon, and others. McClure, a Maryland commitment, had 46 receptions for 820 yards (17.8 YPC) and nine touchdowns for Spain Park last season. Tight end Tanner Ehmen, a 6'4" 213-pound senior, is an asset the Warriors will have. The Central Florida commitment had only four catches for 44 yards last season. Look for Ehmen to have some big games, a position the Warriors' offense has not seen much of in the past years. "We can do a lot of things with Tanner," said Freeman. "He can play as an H-back, a wideout, or keep him in to block on the line, so he is going to be valuable for us. We can move him around even to change formations."
Coleman didn't get many touches last season, but had a big offseason with the Warriors and is waiting for his opportunity. "He is growing and learning the position," said Freeman. "He has to spend time on what I am supposed to do on this play. He is such a gifted athlete. When he learns to play fast and stop thinking about what I do here, he will be phenomenal. Great, great receiver. He has to fine-tune his craft, and he is learning to do so. He had a great offseason and has all the tools." Coleman has offers from Miami, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and others.
The Thompson offensive line has Tommy Williams, Maleek Billingsley, Lleyton Wall, Adley McGarry, and Brycen Johnson. Johnson has the most size on the offensive line, standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 300 pounds. The 2029 prospect has offers from Vanderbilt and UT Martin. "We have three guys that have played a lot of snaps from last year," said Freeman. "We have three or four guys fighting it out this week for the last spot. They are getting a lot of reps."
The Warriors also return one of the nation's top young defensive linemen in Cameron “Cam” Pritchett. The four-star Class of 2027 edge rusher is committed to Oregon and gives Thompson a difference-maker capable of changing a game from the defensive front. Pritchett recorded 78 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks in 2025. Bradlee Cocchairo will be another pass rusher, while Wes Gover will be the run stuffer. King Golson, CJ Dailey, Xavyer Jordan, and sophomore Tysley Gaison-Salanoa bring depth to the defensive line position.
The backend of the defense has all the makings of another great Thompson secondary. The hero in the 2025 semi-final against Central, Junior Tu'upo, returns after stopping the two-point conversion in the playoff game last season. The Texas commitment had 66 tackles, five TFL, and three interceptions last season. "He is very vital and critical to the secondary," said Freeman. "He can do so many things."
Another great defensive back is Eli King. "He has developed into a great defender," said Freeman. "He attacks the blockers, attacks the box. He runs through tackles. He does all the things along with Junior. They are both so versatile in the secondary. They make great plays for us. Trent McCorvey is another player with great experience for us. Kevin Davis is another very good football player. We have some holes, but other guys have to step up and make the players that we need for us to be successful on that side of the ball." Other defensive backs are Micah Fleming, Conner Williams, Trenton White, Terry Robinson, Mehkii Blillingsley, and Mason Robinson. McCorvey is a Baylor commitment. Davis is a Colorado State commitment.
The kicking duties could belong to Ethan Black. He has the experience and opportunity to handle the Warriors' everyday kicking duties.
Central has been working hard in fall camp, and Red Devils first-year head coach Cody Flournoy is ready to see what his team can do this fall season. "I am ready to play some football," said the Red Devils head coach Flournoy. "We are experienced on offense and rebuilding our defense, and so I have seen flashes on offense where we have returned 10 starters. We are not fine-tuned yet, and I don't expect us to be, but we need to execute at a high level. Are we a playoff form? No, not yet, and that is why we play these games."
Thompson's defense will have to contend with a Central offense led by BJ Coleman Jr., who committed to Georgia State in April. Coleman threw for 3,000 yards and 33 touchdowns as a junior, guiding the Red Devils to an 11-2 record and the state semifinals. "BJ is growing as a football player," added Flournoy. "His leadership, the quarterback intangibles are there. He is excited about this game. He is ready to redeem himself from this game last season. If you are selling a quarterback to someone, he has it all. He can run, and he has a cannon for an arm. He is growing as a quarterback, and he has a lot of weapons around him."
The Red Devils' running back is a special player and is coming off a big season last year. Jayshaun Woodhouse ran for 1,661 yards and 18 touchdowns. He ran for 10.5 yards every time he touched the football. "Woodhouse has elite speed," said Flournoy. "He runs with good power. Teams just don't tackle him well, and that is a credit to him. I have watched a lot of film, and this fall camp of his, and players just don't square him up. That is a sign of a good back. He slips out of tackles. Once he gets a step, he is gone."
The receiving core has talent and experience. Braylen Averett, Mychael Bass, Jaren Joiner, and Oxtavius Staton all made big plays for the Red Devils last season. Averett had 49 receptions for 939 yards and nine touchdowns as a freshman. "He comes out of a great home as his mom and dad are administrators at the school," added Flournoy. "A great kid, takes leadership, and he wants everyone to be elite and plays as he plays. When we run our first team and then bring in our second team, he is out there with the second team trying to get more reps. He is mature for a young player, but the sky is the limit with his talent. Really explosive and strong through his hips. For him to play at a program like this, you really have to be mature, and he is." Bass had 41 receptions for 817 yards and eight touchdowns. Another explosive receiver for the Red Devils.
The offensive line has a lot of talent. "We want to hang our hat on the offensive line," said Flournoy. "That has been our most consistent and hardest-working group since I have been here. We have four seniors and a junior, all of whom have experience. They have a lunch-pail mentality: they show up and go to work. Sometimes I have to tell Bobby to run the ball, just because we are really good up front." Jatori Williams is going to Miami, and it's a big get for an out-of-state football team. A big-time athlete for his size. Jordan Devoes will play next to Williams. The center spot is Quincy Adams. At right guard is Izayuh Warren, and right tackle is JT Scarbrough.
The defensive side of the ball has talent but not much experience. The defensive line will have a lot of inexperience but talent. Defensive line coach Adrian Lyles has produced a lot of talent at that position for the Red Devils. T.J. Parker went to Clemson and now plays for the Buffalo Bills. Tristan Lyles, at Jacksonville State, was one of the best on tackles for loss in the state last year. Now, he has Junior Marcus Price, who has experience and is the leader of the defensive front. Twins Aiden Lyles and Jathan Lyles will get playing time. "Marcus is our team captain," said Flournoy. "He is a workaholic football guy and is extremely talented on that side of the ball."
The secondary has one of the best in the state in Marquise Cooper. "These guys are close to my heart since that is what I coached," added Flournoy. "A smart football player, quarterback of the defense. The last time I was here, we had three guys to sign college scholarships, and we will add him to the list. To be a safety, you have to see everything, not get beat deep, so you have to run down in the box and make open-field tackles. He can do all of those."
At linebacker, the Red Devils have some concern due to inexperience. Senior Jeremiah Moore, Daveion Givens, and sophomore Garrett Robinson will be the first group to go in.
With the experienced offensive linemen going against the defensive front seven, the Red Devils have something to look at in fall camp.
The place kicking duties go to Jack Ciancio. The junior kicker is one of the most accurate kickers in Alabama.
This isn't simply an opening game. It's a collision between two programs that expect to be playing deep into November—and one of Alabama's biggest games arrives before the first full weekend of the season. Can't wait for Thursday. Let the games begin; it is game week!
