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THS quarterback Sawyer Pate escapes pressure during the Warriors’ spring game against the Clay-Chalkville Cougars at Warrior Stadium on May 17. (Reporter Photo/Neal Wagner)

By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The score may not have favored the Warriors during their spring scrimmage with the Clay-Chalkville Cougars for the second straight year, but the defending Class 7A runners-up didn’t walk out of Warrior Stadium empty handed on the night of May 17.

“We got a lot of good film from tonight. Anytime you play Clay, you’re going to play speedy athletes,” said THS head coach Mark Freeman after the Cougars recorded a 38-35 win in the scrimmage. “I’m proud of our guys, and it gives us something to build on this summer.”

The future at the quarterback position looked to be in good hands, as rising senior Sawyer Pate was responsible for all five of Thompson’s touchdowns, and completed 17 of 23 passing attempts for 333 yards.

Pate spread the ball out to eight different receivers on the night, his favorite of who was Tre Roberson, who ended the night with 102 yards and a pair of touchdowns on two receptions.

“I thought we did a lot of really good things to have had a lot of new guys out there on that field. The whole key to the game is getting off the field on third down, because if you don’t it turns into long possessions. That was the difference in the game,” Freeman said. “Offensively, we did a lot of good things. Sawyer has worked really hard, and I’m proud of him, and I’m proud of the way the receivers played. We’ve got to get better on O-line, but that’s something we can work on this summer.”

In the first half, Pate connected with Roberson, Michael Pettway and JB Mitchell on touchdown passes of 43, 39 and 28 yards, respectively. In the second half, Pate completed a 59-yard touchdown pass to Roberson and a 15-yard touchdown pass to Pettway.

Defensive leaders for Thompson were Jeremiah Alexander, who recorded four solo tackles and an assist, and Gavin Shipman, who tallied four solo tackles, two of which were for a loss.

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