High school football rankings: Thompson finishes No. 1 in final Alabama MaxPreps Top 25

The high school football season in Alabama came to a close last week. Thompson was among the victors, beating Central (Phenix City) 38-22 in the Class 7A state championship game. The 16-point triumph helped propel the Warriors to the No. 1 ranking in the final MaxPreps Alabama Top 25.

Thompson (13-1) was led all year by MaxPreps Alabama Player of the Year Jeremiah Alexander, who beat up opposing offenses with 59 solo tackles, 93 total stops, 29 tackles for 90 yards in losses, 10 sacks, 27 quarterback hurries, a pair of defended passes and a fumble recovery. Alexander also returned an interception 50 yards for a score in a 35-10 semifinal win over Hoover to avenge Thompson's only loss of the season.

The Warriors scored 636 points on the year, an average of 45.4 points an outing, and scored 45 points or more nine times in 14 games. On defense, Mark Freeman's club held its opposition to 99 points, or just over seven points a contest. Alexander and company held 12 opponents to 10 points or less and shut out five foes.

AHSAA State ChampionsClass 7A — Thompson (Alabaster)
Class 6A — Clay-Chalkville (Pinson)
Class 5A — Pike Road
Class 4A — Vigor (Prichard)
Class 3A — Piedmont
Class 2A — Clarke County (Grove Hill)