Turnovers plague Eagles in loss to Thompson
BIRMINGHAM – Top-ranked Thompson High School used a bevy of explosive plays and an opportunistic defense to run away from the Oak Mountain High School football team on Friday night at Heardmont Park, 49-21.
The high-flying Warriors (9-0, 6-0 in Class 7A, Region 3) jumped out to a quick 14-0 advantage three minutes into the contest, displaying their dynamic ability to execute both explosively and methodically. South Carolina verbal commitment Sam Reynolds took a quick pass from junior quarterback Conner Harrell 65 yards to pay dirt on Thompson’s first play from scrimmage and wide receiver Ryan Peppins capped a 10-play, 50-yard drive on the ensuing possession with a 4-yard touchdown reception. Harrell added his third scoring toss in the opening frame via a 72-yard catch-and-run from wide receiver J.B. Mitchell.
“The quarterback reads it and we got the front that dictated when to throw it out there [to the edges],” Thompson head coach Mark Freeman said, referring to Harrell’s use of the quick screen game. “They do a great job of eating the clock and put a lot of pressure on your defense and on you as far as possessions. You have to go in and take some chances.”
Despite the initial onslaught, Oak Mountain’s (6-2, 4-2) ball-control offense was devastatingly effective throughout the first half, producing multiple long drives that resulted in 217 total yards in the opening stanza. Cade George capped off a 10-play, first-quarter march with a 2-yard scoring plunge and Judah Tait found the end zone from 3 yards out on the following Eagles possession, narrowing the gap to 21-14 at the 5:25 mark of the second quarter.
“We told our guys that you have to survive the assault early and I thought we did that,” Oak Mountain head coach Cris Bell said.
Following a 13-yard touchdown scramble from Harrell, disaster struck for Oak Mountain on its next two possessions. Warriors’ defensive back Tony Mitchell pounced on an Eagles fumble on the ensuing drive and raced in the end zone from 31 yards. Oak Mountain grinded its way down the field once again following the Mitchell score and appeared on the cusp of stealing momentum before the half before coughing up yet another fumble that Thompson defensive lineman Gregory Green snatched out of the air and proceeded to rumble down the visitors sideline for an 80-yard touchdown. When the dust settled, Oak Mountain had six fumbles in the first half, losing two.
“The turnovers were critical, [but more so] because they were scoop-and-scores,” Bell said. “I like the way we competed in the second half.”
The second half moved at a more muted pace, with neither team crossing the pylon in the third quarter. Oak Mountain junior signal-caller Evan Smith dialed up his own number for a 28-yard touchdown scamper in the final quarter while Harrell added his fifth touchdown of the night the following series courtesy of a tear-drop fade to Peppins for a 34-yard touchdown down the visitors sideline to close out the scoring.
“Playing them is a different game. I really think that team will make a good run in the playoffs. They are well-coached and play hard,” Freeman said.
Harrell finished 9-of-12 passing for 235 yards and five total touchdowns. Nathan Crockett led the Warriors ground attack with 73 yards on eight carries. The trio of Tait (172 rushing yards), George (42 rushing yards) and Smith (62 rushing, 38 passing) led the way for an Eagles offense that finished with 339 total yards of offense.
Both teams cap region play next week with a pair of critical contests to determine playoff seeding. Thompson hosts Hoover to decide the region championship. Oak Mountain travels to Hewitt-Trussville to dictate the third and fourth seeds out of the region.
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