By Zack Steele, For the Tribune
TRUSSVILLE – In a battle of Region 3 unbeatens, defending state champion Thompson made quick work of Hewitt-Trussville 40-14.
The Warriors were both physical and surgical at the same time, dominating the line of scrimmage as well as picking apart the Hewitt secondary.
Offensively, Hewitt couldn’t manage enough of a running attack and couldn’t protect quarterback Peyton Floyd enough to maintain any consistency on offense.
“We didn’t play well tonight. They were more physical than us and had kids that made plays. It wasn’t our best effort tonight,” said Hewitt head coach Josh Floyd.
Thompson would open the scoring in the first quarter with a 13 play, 66 yard drive. Running back AJ Greene would carry most of the load for Thompson,and he would score from 1 yard out.
After a Hewitt punt, the Warriors would waste little time scoring again, as Michael Dijon would take it in from the 6, and it was quickly 14-0 Thompson late in the first quarter.
Hewitt would answer with an 80 yard drive of their own, thanks to Floyd’s ability to escape and a couple of great catches by Donovan Price. Floyd would punch it in from 1 yard out on 4th down. Tripp Ward added the PAT, cutting the lead to 14-7.
Thompson would score quickly with an 80 yard catch and run by Kolby Hearn and Thompson would lead 21-7.
After a Hewitt punt, Thompson was on the move again, but the Hewitt defense would force a long field goal by John McGuire. The 47 yard boot stretched the Thompson lead to 24-7.
Hewitt would drive the ball inside the Thomson 5 late in the half, but and unblocked Warrior defender would strip Floyd on a zone read play, and Hewitt would miss a golden opportunity to cut the lead to 10 before the half. The turnover deflated the Husky sideline, and Hewitt would never recover.
The half ended with Thompson holding a 24-7 lead.
Thompson would take the opening kickoff and drive to the Hewitt 31 yard line. McGuire would add another long field goal, and Thompson led 27-7.
The Huskies would again drive 80 yards to paydirt, with Floyd finding Jacqson Melton for a 4 yard score. Ward’s PAT closed the gap somewhat to 27-14.
Thompson would put the game away on a third and 15 from the Hewitt 33. Thompson quarterback Trent Seaborn found Kolby Hearn on an 8 yard drag route and Hearn would make two Huskies miss tackles, and race to the end zone. The two point conversion failed, but Thompson was in control with a 33-14 lead.
Thompson would add a final touchdown with 4 minutes, and Hewitt would be stopped again in the red zone, where the Huskies would come up empty 3 times.
Hewitt falls to 5-2 and 3-1 in the region. They take on Vestavia on the road next Friday night to decide in all likelihood the number 2 seed in the region.