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Thompson’s Austin Davis (1) fights for yardage during the Warriors’ 20-0 loss to Hoover on Oct. 21. (Reporter Photo/Neal Wagner)

By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The Thompson Warriors were unable to overcome costly turnovers on Oct. 21, as they fell to the visiting Hoover Buccaneers 20-0 at Larry Simmons Stadium.

With the loss, Thompson (5-4, 3-4 in Class 7A Region 3) extended its drought against Hoover (8-1, 6-0), which it has never beaten.

After Hoover’s Jayden Jordan intercepted a pass from Thompson quarterback Caleb Ragland at the THS 23-yard line, the Bucs jumped out to a 3-0 lead when Barrett Pickering nailed a 40-yard field goal with 6:29 in the first quarter.

After Thompson’s defense kept Hoover off the scoreboard for the remainder of the first quarter, a Thompson drive to the Hoover 19-yard line stalled when Hoover’s Chase Brown recovered a Ragland fumble.

“We feel like we had a great game plan that we felt like was the only way we were going to win it. But we fumbled the ball on the 19-yard line when it’s a 3-to-nothing game,” said THS head coach Mark Freeman. “We’re just not ready yet to get out there and run our stuff like we need to.

After the Bucs carried a 3-0 lead into halftime, the visiting team needed only three plays into the third quarter to find the end zone, as Hoover quarterback Garrett Farquhar connected with Shedrick Jackson on a 64-yard touchdown pass to put the Bucs up 10-0.

Pickering added to Hoover’s lead with a 26-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter, and Will Singleton put an end to a Warrior drive with 1:18 remaining in the game when he recorded a pick-six to bring the final score to 20-0.

“The defense has carried us, the coaches did a great job of getting the kids ready and we prepared,” Freeman added. “I’m proud of our kids. At the end of the year, we feel like our kids got better, and that’s all we can do.”

Ragland completed eight of 18 passing attempts for 66 yards. Thompson’s lead rusher was Shadrick Byrd, who racked up 102 yards on 32 carries, and Sam Holmes led the Warriors on receptions, reeling in five passes for 41 yards.

Defensive leaders for the Warriors were Nick Mobley, who recorded six solo tackles, and Don Buckhannon, who recorded four solo tackles and an assist.

The Warriors will have a short week before they host undefeated 6A foe Hillcrest Tuscaloosa on Thursday, Oct. 27.

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