1 of 23
Photo courtesy of Shawn Bowles
Hewitt-Trussville Football 2020
Hewitt-Trussville takes the field during a Class 7A second round playoff game between Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster.
2 of 23
Photo courtesy of Shawn Bowles
Hewitt-Trussville Football 2020
Thompson QB Conner Harrell (15) during a Class 7A second round playoff game between Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster.
3 of 23
Photo courtesy of Shawn Bowles
Hewitt-Trussville Football 2020
Hewitt-Trussville WR Omari Kelly (3) during a Class 7A second round playoff game between Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster.
4 of 23
Photo courtesy of Shawn Bowles
Hewitt-Trussville Football 2020
Hewitt-Trussville RB Sean Jackson (33) during a Class 7A second round playoff game between Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster.
5 of 23
Photo courtesy of Shawn Bowles
Hewitt-Trussville Football 2020
Hewitt-Trussville WR Omari Kelly (3) catches a touchdown pass from Hewitt-Trussville QB Cade Ott Carruth (16) during a Class 7A second round playoff game between Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster.
6 of 23
Photo courtesy of Shawn Bowles
Hewitt-Trussville Football 2020
Thompson Band Member during a Class 7A second round playoff game between Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster.
7 of 23
Photo courtesy of Shawn Bowles
Hewitt-Trussville Football 2020
Thompson ATH Sam Reynolds (1) catches a touchdown pass during a Class 7A second round playoff game between Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster.
8 of 23
Photo courtesy of Shawn Bowles
Hewitt-Trussville Football 2020
Thompson ATH Sam Reynolds (1) celebrates a touchdown during a Class 7A second round playoff game between Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster.
9 of 23
Photo courtesy of Shawn Bowles
Hewitt-Trussville Football 2020
Thompson RB Nathan Crockett (26) during a Class 7A second round playoff game between Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster.
10 of 23
Photo courtesy of Shawn Bowles
Hewitt-Trussville Football 2020
Hewitt-Trussville RB Sean Jackson (33) scores a touchdown during a Class 7A second round playoff game between Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster.
11 of 23
Photo courtesy of Shawn Bowles
Hewitt-Trussville Football 2020
Hewitt-Trussville DB Connor Thomas (21) makes a tackle at the goal line during a Class 7A second round playoff game between Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster.
12 of 23
Photo courtesy of Shawn Bowles
Hewitt-Trussville Football 2020
Hewitt-Trussville RB Sean Jackson (33) during a Class 7A second round playoff game between Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster.
13 of 23
Photo courtesy of Shawn Bowles
Hewitt-Trussville Football 2020
Thompson Band during a Class 7A second round playoff game between Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster.
14 of 23
Photo courtesy of Shawn Bowles
Hewitt-Trussville Football 2020
Hewitt-Trussville RB Sean Jackson (33) fumbles during a Class 7A second round playoff game between Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster.
15 of 23
Photo courtesy of Shawn Bowles
Hewitt-Trussville Football 2020
Hewitt-Trussville RB Armoni Goodwin (2) during a Class 7A second round playoff game between Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster.
16 of 23
Photo courtesy of Shawn Bowles
Hewitt-Trussville Football 2020
Hewitt-Trussville QB Cade Ott Carruth (16) gets hit by Thompson DB Brandon Holifield (14) during a Class 7A second round playoff game between Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster.
17 of 23
Photo courtesy of Shawn Bowles
Hewitt-Trussville Football 2020
Hewitt-Trussville QB Cade Ott Carruth (16) scrambles during a Class 7A second round playoff game between Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster.
18 of 23
Photo courtesy of Shawn Bowles
Hewitt-Trussville Football 2020
Hewitt-Trussville RB Sean Jackson (33) walks to mid-field for the coin toss during a Class 7A second round playoff game between Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster.
19 of 23
Photo courtesy of Shawn Bowles
Hewitt-Trussville Football 2020
Thompson Triston Woody (13) catches a touchdown pass during a Class 7A second round playoff game between Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster.
20 of 23
Photo courtesy of Shawn Bowles
Hewitt-Trussville Football 2020
Thompson Band performs during a Class 7A second round playoff game between Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster.
21 of 23
Photo courtesy of Shawn Bowles
Hewitt-Trussville Football 2020
Thompson Cheerleader during a Class 7A second round playoff game between Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster.
22 of 23
Photo courtesy of Shawn Bowles
Hewitt-Trussville Football 2020
Hewitt-Trussville RB Armoni Goodwin (2) during a Class 7A second round playoff game between Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster.
23 of 23
Photo courtesy of Shawn Bowles
Hewitt-Trussville Football 2020
Thompson Junior ROTC during a Class 7A second round playoff game between Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster.
ALABASTER -- Hewitt-Trussville High School was hoping for a little late-season magic once again against Thompson. Last October, a six-win Hewitt knocked off an undefeated Thompson team in the regular season finale. However, the defending state champs refused to let their win streak fade Friday night, recording their 16th-straight victory, 42-16, over the Huskies in the Class 7A quarterfinals at Warrior Stadium.
"This is not the way we wanted to end it, but I love this group of kids. They are great kids and put a lot of effort in," said Hewitt-Trussville head coach Josh Floyd. "We're going to miss this senior class. They're a special group. These guys have put a lot into this program and have had a great career here."
The game was bottled up around midfield through the first quarter until Thompson got on the board with 2:37 left in the opening quarter on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Conner Harrell to J.B. Mitchell. Thompson got the ball back late in the first and Harrell made quick work of the field. He capped a seven-play, 83-yard drive with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Peppins on the second play of the second quarter.
Hewitt-Trussville found its first points on a 28-yard Ethan Wilson field goal, but a missed tackle around the 20-yard line on the ensuing kickoff allowed Peppins to breakaway for a 76-yard kick return and 21-3 Warriors lead.
Sean Jackson helped the Huskies answer, breaking a 22-yard run to get in the red zone. Two plays later, Cade Carruth hit Omari Kelly along the sideline in the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown to make it 21-10.
After that though, it was all Thompson.
"They made a lot of plays and we didn't early on. We still had a chance in the second half, but… There's not much more to say. They outplayed us. You can't make as many mistakes as we did and still beat a good football team," Floyd said.
Hewitt-Trussville started the second half inside Thompson territory trailing by 11, but Jackson was stripped inside the 30 and Jeremiah Alexander recovered for the Warriors.
Harrell put together an eight-play, three-minute drive to strengthen Thompson's lead on a 13-yard touchdown pass to Mitchell. He also threw a touchdown pass to Sam Reynolds late in the third to go up 35-10. The junior quarterback completed 14-of-21 passes for 173 yards and four TDs.
Hewitt struggled to get its offense moving in the second half. Carruth, who finished with 200 yards on 12-of-27 passing, was 4-of-15 in the final 24 minutes. After Jarrett Crockett scored a fourth-quarter touchdown for Thompson to cap his night with 115 yards rushing, Carruth moved Hewitt down field for a quick score.
A 31-yard pass to Carter Hollis set up a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jackson with 6:25 to play. The two-point try failed. After Thompson worked the clock down, Carruth aired it out on a 40-yard connection to Trey Washington in the final minute before being intercepted to end the game.
Jackson (76) and Armori Goodwin (83) combined for 159 rushing yards for Hewitt. Thompson's Harrell added 91 yards rushing to go over 250 yards total offense on the night.
Hewitt-Trussville closes the season 9-3, while Thompson (12-0) will meet Hoover (11-1) next week in the Class 7A semifinals.
Click here to view and purchase photos from the game.
