The Thompson High School Warriors capture their third consecutive 7A football state championship.

Photography by Neal Wagner

On December 1st, the Thompson High School Warriors nabbed their third straight AHSAA 7A football state championship—becoming the first team to ever accomplish that feat. While the final score was Thompson Warriors 38 to Central-Phenix City Red Devils 22, the Warriors turned in a dominating performance in the championship game at Protective Stadium, maintaining a multiple-touchdown lead throughout the game.

After a regular season loss to rival Hoover High School, the Warriors beat Hoover in convincing fashion 35-10 in their 7A semifinal rematch to advance to the championship. In the final game, Thompson quarterback Conner Harrell, a 2020 High School Football America Academic All-American, completed 10 of 16 passes for 271 yards with two touchdowns and also rushed for one touchdown. The University of North Carolina recruit completed seven of those passes to Ryan Peppins for 203 yards and two touchdowns. Thompson finished the one-loss season ranked number 15 in the High School Football America 100 national rankings.