HOOVER, Ala. — Top-ranked Thompson kept its unbeaten season intact Friday night, rolling past rival Hoover 31-14 at the Hoover Met in a Class 6A Region 3 showdown and pushing its state-best winning streak to 11 games.
The Warriors (6-0, 4-0 region) controlled the game from the opening snaps behind a lockdown defense and a three-touchdown night from former Hoover running back CJ Cowley. Alabama commit Trent Seaborn overcame a quiet first half to finish 18-of-24 for 187 yards and a touchdown as Thompson answered Hoover’s recent history of tight wins in the series.
Thompson set the tone immediately. On the third play from scrimmage, linebacker Trent McCorvey stepped in front of a pass from Kaleb Freeman and returned the interception 31 yards for a touchdown. The pick-six gave the Warriors a 7-0 lead with 10:15 left in the first quarter and established defensive dominance that would define the night.
Thompson’s special teams followed up shortly afterward when Jafari Pegues blocked a Hoover field-goal attempt. After forcing a three-and-out, the Warriors offense struck. CJ Cowley broke free for a 37-yard touchdown run with 22 seconds remaining in the opening quarter, pushing the lead to 14-0.
Hoover managed a couple of sustained drives that ate clock in the second quarter, but Thompson’s defense kept the Buccaneers off the scoreboard. A late Warrior drive stalled after a penalty, and the teams went to halftime with Thompson leading 14-0.
The Warriors opened the second half with more points. Kicker Ethan Maxwell drilled a 40-yard field goal at the 8:37 mark of the third quarter to make it 17-0. Hoover answered immediately on special teams as Andrew Renfroe returned the ensuing kickoff approximately 89 yards for a touchdown, cutting the deficit to 17-7 with 8:37 left in the third quarter.
Thompson responded right away. Cowley powered in from 2 yards out at the 5:58 mark of the third quarter, restoring a three-score lead at 24-7. The Warriors carried that advantage into the fourth quarter. Early in the final quarter, Thompson faced a potential punt, but an illegal substitution penalty on Hoover created a more manageable fourth-and-7. Seaborn converted, completing three straight passes—including one to Darion Moseley and another to Dedric Kimbrough—before finding Cowley for a 9-yard touchdown pass with 7:53 remaining. The score made it 31-7 and gave Cowley his third touchdown of the night.
Hoover’s only offensive touchdown came late. Urijah Crawford dashed in from 7 yards out with 1:55 left, capping a lengthy drive that consumed significant clock and making the final score 31-14.
Cowley was the clear offensive star in his return to the Met. The senior had seven carries for 76 yards and two scores, and added two receptions for 54 yards and another touchdown. “It was great to play against my former teammates and friends,” Cowley said. “I still love those guys. Overall, I just did my job.”
Thompson coach Mark Freeman praised the transfer’s versatility: “He is a solid running back. He can run over you and around you. Plus, he can catch the football. He gives us an added weapon.”
Freeman noted Hoover’s defensive approach forced the Warriors to lean on the ground game early. “They were daring us to run the football. We responded as we needed to. The run opened up the passing game for us.”
Seaborn had just 51 passing yards and no scores before halftime but settled in after the break. Freeman added of the overall performance: “Our kids responded in the second half to play Thompson Warrior football. Hoover played a good game, but our kids keep finding a way. The defense played a great game. Seaborn finished the game 19-of-25 passing for 195 yards and a touchdown. He was sacked twice.
”Hoover coach Chip English was blunt in his assessment: “We didn’t have enough tonight. It is very frustrating. Defensively, we played a great game in the first half. Offensively, we got the ball inside the red zone twice and didn’t score. We have got to find a way to get some big plays.”
The Buccaneers (3-4, 1-3) also had a blocked field-goal attempt of their own by Jovon Pullman. The victory avenged last season’s 33-30 heartbreaker at the same venue, when Hoover’s James Bryant drilled a 55-yard field goal as time expired. It also moved Thompson further clear in the region race while extending a winning streak that dates to that 2025 loss to the Bucs.
Thompson has now won 11 straight and remains the clear frontrunner in one of Alabama’s toughest regions. Defensively, McCorvey’s early pick-six set a physical tone. The Warriors repeatedly forced three-and-outs, limited explosive plays, and kept Hoover’s offense mostly in check until the final minutes. Cam Pritchett and Wesley Gover each had 9 total tackles.
Special teams contributed on both sides of the blocked kicks and the long return. Thompson will look to keep rolling next week with a Thursday night trip to Hewitt-Trussville. Hoover heads to Vestavia Hills on Friday in search of a bounce-back win. For one night at the Met, though, the Warriors—and especially Cowley in his homecoming performance—were clearly the better team, turning a heated rivalry into a statement 31-14 victory.
