PHENIX CITY, Ala. — Thompson wasted little time reminding the state why the Warriors entered the 2026 season with championship expectations. In a matchup that carried all the weight of a playoff game but arrived on opening night, Thompson turned a tight contest into a runaway victory, defeating Central-Phenix City 41-14 Thursday night at Garrett-Harrison Stadium.

The Warriors, ranked No. 24 nationally by MaxPreps entering the season, overcame a 14-14 second-quarter tie by scoring the final 27 points of the night. At the center of the offensive explosion was senior quarterback and Alabama commitment Trent Seaborn, who delivered the type of performance Thompson fans have come to expect from the four-star signal-caller. Seaborn completed 18 of 27 passes for 331 yards and four touchdowns, finding four different receivers for touchdown passes as Thompson pulled away from the Red Devils. "I saw explosiveness; our guys came out from the start," said Warriors QB Seaborn. "We didn't like how we came off this field last season; we got the win, but we knew we could have done better. There was a different fire when we stepped off that bus. Credit to my coaches."

But the final score doesn't tell the entire story. For a while, Central looked ready to make Thompson work for every yard. The Red Devils answered Thompson's opening touchdown and eventually tied the game at 14-14 in the second quarter. With both teams trading punches, the game appeared headed toward another classic meeting between two programs that have developed one of Alabama's most intriguing recent postseason matchups. He has put on some really good weight. He helped us win the game tonight by blocking, made some big catches, and scored the first touchdown. He is good enough to use him as a wideout."

Instead, Thompson changed the game. The Warriors finished the night with 27 consecutive points, taking control offensively while their defense kept Central off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game. Thompson struck first when Seaborn connected with tight end Tanner Ehmen on a 13-yard touchdown pass with 1:09 remaining in the first quarter. Ehmen at tight end has been a position the Warriors have not used over the years. "We have always had four wideouts and a running back, and they just make things happen," said Warriors head coach Mark Freeman. "When we have a good one, we can justify that. He has really done well and put on some good weight. 

The touchdown gave the Warriors a 7-0 advantage and provided an early glimpse of what Seaborn and the Thompson passing attack could become in 2026.

Central responded, however, and the Red Devils eventually pulled even at 7-7. A BJ Coleman pass to a Mychal Bass reception set up the Red Devils' first score. With 9:57 left in the second quarter, Zion Mabry scored on a 1-yard touchdown run.

Thompson regained the lead in the second quarter when Seaborn found Darion Moseley for a 15-yard touchdown. Moseley, an Arkansas commitment, gave the Warriors a 14-7 advantage with 4:34 remaining in the first half. Central answered again, tying the game at 14-14. A Coleman pass to Braylen Averett on a 48-yard touchdown pass play tied the game late in the first half and put Thompson in a position it had faced many times before against the Red Devils: find a way to take control.

The Warriors did exactly that. With only 34 seconds remaining in the half, Seaborn connected with running back CJ Cowley on a 27-yard touchdown pass, putting Thompson back in front 21-14 at halftime. That touchdown proved to be a pivotal moment. Rather than enter halftime locked in another one-score battle, Thompson had regained momentum and carried it into the locker room.

Whatever adjustments Thompson made at halftime worked. The Warriors came out in the second half and steadily separated themselves from Central. The offense continued to create explosive plays, while the defense prevented the Red Devils from finding the answers they had during the opening half. With 5:27 left in the third quarter, Jafari Pegues punched it into the end zone on a 1-yard touchdown run. The Warriors led 27-14.

Seaborn added his fourth touchdown pass of the night when he found Dedrick Kimbrough for a 39-yard touchdown. Kimbrough created separation downfield, and Seaborn delivered a strike that extended Thompson's advantage to 34-14. With 5:43 left in the game, Cowley scored on a 15-yard touchdown run and the Warriors led 41-14.

From there, the Warriors continued to control the game. The 41-14 final represented a remarkable turnaround from the 14-14 deadlock earlier in the evening. Thompson had scored 27 unanswered points to close the game, turning a competitive opener into a convincing statement victory.

For Central, the loss was a difficult opening-night result against a Thompson program that entered the season coming off another championship run. For Thompson, it was exactly the kind of opening-night performance that can establish confidence for a team with significant expectations.

Thursday's game was the latest chapter in a rivalry that has become increasingly significant in Alabama high school football. The two programs met in the Class 7A semifinals last season, with Thompson escaping Garrett-Harrison Stadium with a dramatic 35-34 victory. Central rallied from a 35-14 fourth-quarter deficit and had a chance to win with a two-point conversion late, but Thompson stopped the attempt to preserve the victory.

That game eventually propelled Thompson to another state championship, with the Warriors defeating Opelika 48-10 in the Class 7A championship game. Thompson finished the 2025 season 11-3.

This time, there would be no late-game drama. Thompson controlled the second half and walked away with a 27-point victory. The result also gives the Warriors a 1-0 start as they begin their first season in Class 6A Region 3. The Central game was a non-region contest, meaning Thompson can enjoy the statement win without it affecting its region standings.

There will undoubtedly be plenty of attention on Seaborn following Thursday's performance. The Alabama commitment showed why he is considered one of the state's premier quarterbacks, completing two-thirds of his attempts while throwing four touchdown passes. More importantly, he consistently distributed the football, finding Ehmen, Moseley, Cowley and Kimbrough for touchdowns.

That balance could become one of Thompson's biggest strengths as the season progresses. The Warriors also showed something equally important: resilience.

When Central tied the game at 14-14, Thompson didn't panic. The Warriors responded with the next touchdown, then another, and another, eventually turning the game into a comfortable victory. It was a performance that demonstrated both offensive firepower and the ability to make adjustments when an opponent pushes back.

And considering the caliber of the opponent, the opening-night result carries even more significance. Central entered the season coming off an 11-2 campaign in 2025 and a Class 7A Region 2 championship before its narrow semifinal loss to Thompson. Thompson didn't simply defeat Central. The Warriors eventually overwhelmed the Red Devils. A one Red Devil player coming off the field said, "Let us go watch some film and get after it on Monday."

Thompson returns home next Friday night, August 28, for another major test when the Warriors host Clay-Chalkville. That matchup will provide another early measuring stick for a Thompson team that has made it clear it isn't interested in easing into the 2026 season. The Cougars have won the last three matchups against the Warriors. All three games were decided by four points or less, including an overtime game.

The Warriors opened the year on the road against one of Alabama's premier programs and left Garrett-Harrison Stadium with a 41-14 victory. For a team beginning a new classification, with a championship pedigree and an Alabama-committed quarterback leading the offense, it was more than just a season-opening win. It was a statement.

Thompson trailed the momentum battle early, stood tied with Central at 14-14, and then completely changed the game. Twenty-seven unanswered points later, the Warriors were celebrating a 41-14 victory. And the 2026 Thompson Warriors had officially arrived.