Two dominant signal callers in Jordan Shambley and Trent Seaborn are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Hillcrest Patriots will head out on the road to face off against the Thompson Warriors at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
Hillcrest had to skate by with only a one-point margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the 40-point drubbing they dealt Tuscaloosa County on Friday. The Patriots really took it to the Wildcats for the full four quarters, racking up a 67-27 win. That looming 67-27 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Patriots yet this season.
Kahden Smith
| 10/03/25 vs Tuscaloosa County | 171 |
| 09/12/25 @ Vestavia Hills | 21 |
| 09/05/25 @ Hoover | 148 |
| 08/29/25 vs Sparkman | 142 |
| 08/22/25 @ Florence | 44 |
| + 3 more games |
Hillcrest's success was spearheaded by the efforts of Jacobi Harris, who gained 151 total yards, and Kahden Smith, who picked up 171 receiving yards and a pair of TDs. That's the most receiving yards Smith has posted since back in October of 2024.
Meanwhile, Thompson faced Hewitt-Trussville in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Friday. The Warriors blew past the Huskies 34-12. The result was nothing new for the Warriors, who have now won five contests by 22 points or more so far this season.
Thompson's receiving core played a big role in the win, headlined by Trey Knight and Pryce Lewis. Knight picked up 86 receiving yards and one touchdown while Lewis picked up 70 receiving yards and one score.
Thompson's run defense was locked in: Hewitt-Trussville could only muster three yards per carry. The team can thank Chauncy Alo for the heroic effort on defense: he. Sadly, that's becoming something of a trend for Thompson; they were averaging 4.5yards per carry per game earlier this season, but in their last three games they've fallen to only 4.1 per game.
Thompson's defense didn't let the opposing QB, get away unscathed either: they got into the backfield for four sacks. That dominant display was truly a team effort as four different players picked up one apiece. Damonte Tabb got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
Thompson has been performing well recently as they've won four of their last five matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 5-2 record this season. Those victories came thanks in part to their defensive effort, having only surrendered 8.6 points on average over those games. As for Hillcrest, their record now sits at 5-2.
Hillcrest might still be hurting after the 45-20 defeat they got from Thompson when the teams last played back in October of 2024. Can the Patriots avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
