By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The Thompson High School Warriors football team will face out-of-state competition at a neutral site for the first time ever to begin the 2016 football season, and will face a string of strong competition throughout the season.

Thompson recently released its 2016 football schedule, which includes a marquee matchup between the Warriors and the Amos P. Godby High School out of Tallahassee, Fla., at Mobile’s 33,471-seat Ladd Peebles Stadium on Aug. 26 to start the season.

According to Alabama high school football records, the game will be Thompson’s first at a neutral site and its first against an out-of-state team.

The Godby Cougars finished the 2015 season with a 3-6 overall record, but had no problem putting points on the board. The Cougars scored an average of 31 points per contest last season.

“They won a state championship a few years ago,” THS head football coach Mark Freeman said. “We want to try to schedule quality opponents and not just stay local. We are trying to play at a level that will get our kids more recognition.

“Our people here in Alabaster have got to understand we are trying to build a championship program,” Freeman said.

After the season-opening matchup, the Warriors, who finished last season with a 5-5 overall record, will travel to Tuscaloosa County on Sept. 2 for their first region matchup of the year. The Tuscaloosa County Wildcats finished the 2015 season with no wins.

From there, Thompson will again hit the road to travel to region foe Mountain Brook, which the Warriors defeated 21-14 in 2015.

The Warriors’ first home game will be held on Sept. 16 against the Oak Mountain Eagles. Thompson will look for revenge against the Oak Mountain after the Eagles mounted a last-second, 37-41 come-from-behind victory over the Warriors last season.

On Sept. 23, the Warriors will travel to longtime rival Pelham, where Thompson will look to extend its win streak to three-straight in the series.

Thompson will return home on Sept. 30 and on Oct. 7, where it will face the Vestavia Hills Rebels and the Spain Park Jaguars, respectively. The Warriors fell to Vestavia last year 23-13, and was edged 15-14 by the 7A runner-up Jaguars.

The Warriors will travel to Class 7A newcomer Huffman on Oct. 14, and will return home to face Hoover in their final region test the following Friday.

Thompson’s final game of the regular season will be at home against Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa.

The following is Thompson’s 2016 football schedule:

-Aug. 26: Amos P. Godby – Ladd Peebles Stadium

-Sept. 2: Tuscaloosa County – Away

-Sept. 9: Mountain Brook – Away

-Sept. 16: Oak Mountain – Home

-Sept. 23: Pelham – Away

-Sept. 30: Vestavia Hills – Home

-Oct. 7 – Spain Park – Home

-Oct. 14 – Huffman – Away

-Oct. 21 – Hoover – Home

-Oct. 27 – Hillcrest – Home