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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The loss to Hoover seems like long ago. 

Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson not only rebounded from its only loss of the season in rolling through the AHSAA Class 7A playoffs, they also avenged that loss in dominant fashion in the semifinals before capping their season Wednesday night with a 38-22 victory over Phenix city (Ala.) Central in the state championship game.

Thompson (13-1) has now won three consecutive state titles - the first team to ever do it at the Class 7A level. 

"I don't have the words," head coach Mark Freeman said when asked of the senior class, which steadied the 2021 team. "I'm so blessed to coach these guys."

The offense did damage with multiple quarterbacks, as starter and North Carolina commitment Conner Harrell missed multiple drives with an apparent ankle injury. It didn't matter, though, as sophomore Zach Sims capped a pair of scoring drives after being thrust into action. 

Harrell returned and picked up where he left off, especially in his connection with fellow senior and Utah commit Ryan Peppins. The dynamic, yet diminutive pass catcher made plays down the field and worked well underneath and after the catch, finding the end zone just before halftime. He capped the evening with a 73-yard catch-and-run up the seam as part of an MVP performance. 

"I keep telling everybody, in my opinion, he's the best wide receiver in the state," Freeman said. "He's a guy who could do everything on the field that you'd want him to do."

As it has all year, the Thompson defense made its presence felt all evening long. It held Central quarterback Caleb Nix to 14-of-33 passing and forced two turnovers in each half. Star front seven players Jeremiah Alexander, an Alabama commit, and Peter Woods, each ended first-half drives with emphatic sacks. 

On the most promising Red Devil drive, when there was a little pressure on the Thompson defense in the third quarter with the score 24-8, Nix was intercepted by Trevor Hardy, a Memphis commit. Alabama pledge Trequon Fegans snagged an interception of his own in the fourth quarter

"It was the preparation," Alexander said. "It started on Sunday, we got back in with the coaches ... they just installed the job we had to do all week. And we did our job tonight. It was the coaches that put us in position to do what we did."

Peppins led the Warriors with a Class 7A title game record 203 yards receiving on seven catches. Harrell threw for 271 yards and three total touchdowns (one rushing) while running back Justin Pegeus added 54 yards rushing and a receiving score.

For Central (13-1), junior wide receiver Karmello English put the ball in the end zone on a pretty back-pylon fade from Nix in the third quarter. The Red Devil defense shut out Thompson in the third quarter and the offense outscored Thompson in the second half, as Nix scored two more times, including one as a runner. 

(Feature photo by Jason Caldwell)

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