By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Given the chance to face off against the reigning Class 7A champions this spring, Thompson High School head football coach Mark Freeman didn’t think twice.

“We’re trying to build a program. We’re putting a lot on our kids because that will help them get used to playing against tough competition,” Freeman said. “You become the best by playing against the best.”

On May 21, Freeman, who came to THS from Spanish Fort High School, will take the Warriors to his old stomping grounds to face off against the McGill-Toolen Yellow Jackets. The spring game is set to kick off at 2 p.m. at McGill’s home stadium in Mobile’s Archbishop Lipscomb Athletic Complex.

In the spring of 2017, McGill will return the favor by traveling to Alabaster for its spring game.

When the Warriors face McGill, the Yellow Jackets will be about five months removed from their 14-12 victory over the Spain Park Jaguars in the Class 7A state championship game at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

While McGill will lose a few of its best players to graduation this year, it will return multiple players, including linebacker Carlton Martial and wide receiver Marlon Williams, who were named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s 2015 All-State list. The Yellow Jackets finished with a 13-1 record last season.

McGill’s coach, Caleb Ross, is no stranger to Alabaster. After serving as an assistant coach at Prattville High School for several seasons, he served as Thompson’s head coach for one season in 2011, compiling a 2-8 record, before departing at the end of the year.

After working as an assistant coach under Freeman at Spanish Fort in 2013, Ross took the head coaching job at McGill in 2014, leading them to a 4-6 record in his first season before last season’s breakout success.

Freeman is looking to create similar success at THS.

After leading the Warriors to a 5-5 record last season – which was much-improved from the team’s winless 2014 campaign – Freeman said he is working to create sustained success in Alabaster.

“We want to schedule quality competition, because that’s how you get better,” Freeman said.