BIRMINGHAM – As the clock ticked down in Protective Stadium, Trent Seaborn, Darion Moseley, Ami Moala and a host of Thompson Warriors embraced their teammates and loved ones on the sideline celebrating a job well done.
With their team up by 45 points and just minutes remaining, their annual goal of a state championship was complete. It's a familiar scene at the Class 7A title game, but this year brought an extra sense of déjà vu.
In 2024, Thompson dropped regular season games to Grayson, Clay-Chalkville and Hoover by just one possession before reeling off five-straight wins to clinch a state championship. 2025 brought losses to the same three teams by one possession each.
While some on the outside doubted if the Warriors could overcome such heartbreak, inside the locker room, they knew they had been here before.
"We had the same kind of mindset," Seaborn said. "We knew we were going to go through adversity, but we also knew that God had our back, and we knew that after each loss, it was all part of God's plan. We just trusted Him. We kept our heads on straight. We actually probably bonded closer together as brothers."
One year after using those three losses as motivation, Thompson rode another five-game win streak all the way to a blue map. The capper was a 48-10 win over the Opelika Bulldogs on Wednesday, Dec. 2 in the Class 7A state championship, securing their sixth title in the past seven years and seventh in program history.
Even though for some, it was their third state title of their careers, it didn't change their pride in having returned to the mountaintop once more.
"I just can't be more proud of these guys the way they battle adversity and going through a really, really, really hard playoff run as well," Seaborn said. "I mean, we played three really good teams and this team last night. So, to finally finish off the season like that, it's just truly bliss."
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