Thompson coach Mark Freeman knows how to win, and he proved it again Friday when his Warriors escaped with a 35-34 victory over Central-Phenix City.
The Warriors nearly snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, but delivered a decisive defensive play in the final minute to seal the victory.
“We’re glad to get out of here with a win tonight,” he told Alabama Public TV’s Chris Blackshear after Friday’s win.
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The Warriors have now advanced to the Class 7A championship game eight straight times. The Warriors have won five of the last six 7A titles and can make it six of the last seven by beating Opelika on Dec. 3 in Birmingham.
You’re not supposed to be able to enjoy this kind of success, not in the big-boy world of Class 7A football.
Thompson coach Mark Freeman calls a time-out during the high school football AHSAA 7A round one playoff game in Alabaster, Ala., Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Jason Homan | preps@al.com)Jason Homan
It helps that Taulia Tagovailoa arrived from Hawaii to trigger the Thompson offense before signing with Alabama and setting records at Maryland.
It helps that junior quarterback Trent Seaborn became a starter as an eighth grader and has become one of the nation’s most efficient high school signal-callers.
It helps that Freeman receives consistent and unwavering support from his administration.
It helps that the Warriors enjoy some of the state’s very best facilities, from a gorgeous stadium to an indoor practice facility.
But it’s also worth noting what Freeman inherited when he arrived in 2014.
Thompson was coming off an 0-10 season, continuing a streak of eight straight losing seasons. The Warriors hadn’t won a playoff game since 2006.
Things are much different today. Eight straight trips to the championship round will do that.
It’s always a November to remember for Freeman and Co.
Here’s a few more storylines that emerged from the third round of Alabama’s 2025 high school football playoffs:
1) Maplesville is stingy
Alabama high school football has produced some incredible defenses, starting with the 1988 Vigor defense that allowed just 44 points, the 1990 Courtland defense that surrendered 41 points, and the 1994 Clay County defense that gave up just 22 points.
We might want to add the 2025 Maplesville defense to the list of the best ever – if the Red Devils can keep it going.
Maplesville (13-0) now has 10 – yes, 10! – shutouts this season after Friday’s 42-0 victory over Southern Choctaw. The Red Devils haven’t allowed a point since a 52-14 victory over Holtville in late September.
Maplesville will get a true test next week against Leroy after the Bears beat McKenzie 60-38 in their quarterfinal.
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5A Playoffs: Vigor vs Central-Clay County Football
2) Get ready for rematch(es)
Next week’s semifinals feature two marquee matchups that are rematches from regulars-season games – Vigor vs. Williamson in Class 5A and St. Michael vs. Jackson in Class 4A.
As a reminder, Williamson defeated Vigor 22-14 in overtime on Oct. 17, and St. Michael defeated Jackson 49-39 on Oct. 3.
In Class 6A, Clay-Chalkville returns to Muscle Shoals for the second straight season. Muscle Shoals defeated the Cougars 31-21 in last year’s 6A second round.
3) Alive and kicking
Scottsboro (9-4) is the only remaining team with less than 10 wins after Cole Raeuchle kicked a 27-yard field goal with 1:25 remaining in Thursday’s 16-14 victory over Fairview.
Scottsboro advanced the state semifinals for the first time since 1997, and it will be the first time the Wildcats have ever hosted a semifinal game.
Jeremy Pruitt on the sidelines as Plainview plays Madison Academy Friday, October. 25, 202 in Madison, Ala. (Eric Schultz/preps@al.com)Eric Schultz | preps@al.com4) College can wait
Plainview (13-0) – known as a basketball powerhouse – is seeking its first state championship game appearance since 1991 after beating Good Hope on Thursday night.
Dale Pruitt is in his third stint as Plainview’s football coach, and his defensive coordinator is his son, Jeremy.
Jeremy Pruitt served as defensive coordinator for Nick Saban at Alabama before becoming the head coach at Tennessee. We won’t get into the controversy that to his Knoxville exit.
He returned to his hometown — he’s a Plainview graduate, after all – and returned to his roots.
Just last month, the NCAA ruled Jeremy Pruitt can join the coaching staff at Jacksonville State.
But that will have to wait until Plainview’s championship chase concludes.
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Vigor at Williamson football
5) Chasing history
Eleven of the remaining schools have never won an AHSAA state football title – Pisgah, Coosa Christian, Southside-Selma, Bayside Academy, Plainview, St. Michael, Scottsboro, Moody, Muscle Shoals, Williamson and Opelika.
Williamson won back-to-back state titles in 1962 and 1963 in the AIAA, the segregation era league for the state’s all-black high schools.
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Class AA Championship: Abbeville Christian Academy vs. South Choctaw Academy
6) He lost?
Abbeville Christian earned a 50-28 victory over South Choctaw Academy in the AISA Class AA championship game.
The Generals also handed South Choctaw Academy coach Stacy Luker his first championship round loss.
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Luker led Sweet Water to five AHSAA Class 1A titles from 2004-2010, won an AHSAA Class 2A title at Clarke County in 2021, and led South Choctaw Academy to the AISA Class 2A title in 2024. That made him 7-for-7 in championship games as a head coach in Alabama.
Until this week.
Hate to see such an historic streak end.
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