Conner Harrell shines and leads Thompson to a 35-21 victory over Hewitt-Trussville

Photo Credit: al.com

TRUSSVILLE, ALABAMA—Thompson and Hewitt-Trussville are two of the top teams in Alabama year after year, and whenever they play each other, it is always an action packed game. Tonight was no different. Both teams came in undefeated, and each team has star players headed to big time SEC programs. But with all the elite recruits featured in this game, one player had a night to remember on national television in just his fifth varsity start: Thompson quarterback, Conner Harrell.

Harrell started to impress right from the start of the game, as he completed a 31-yard touchdown pass to Tre Roberson to put the Warriors up 7-0 (PAT good). Roberson, a 2021 wide receiver, is committed to Army West Point. Shortly after, however, Thompson was hit with a slight setback, as defensive tackle, Peter Woods, left the game due to injury, and didn’t return for the rest of the night. Woods is the 2nd ranked overall player in the Class of 2023. However, this did not stop the defense in stopping Hewitt-Trussville’s star running back, Armoni Goodwin, who is committed to Auburn.

Goodwin did find room to run on one play that drive, as he ran 41 yards to the Thompson 4-yard line. This would set up quarterback Cade Carruth to find Omari Kelly for a 12-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7 (PAT good). After the first quarter was finished, the score was even at 7.

Conner Harrell and the Thompson offense stepped on the gas at the start of the second quarter, as Harrell completed a 5-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Peppins to give the Warriors a 14-7 lead (PAT good). After Hewitt-Trussville turned the ball over to Thompson, Harrell found Peppins again for a long pass to put Thompson at the Hewitt-Trussville 15-yard line. The next play, running back, Jarrett Crockett ran up the middle for a 5-yard touchdown (PAT good).

Hewitt-Trussville wasn’t going to go away that easy, as Sean Jackson brought the kickoff return 51 yards to the Thompson 25-yard line. Armoni Goodwin then did what he does best, as he broke free to run 25 yard in the end zone to put the Huskies within one score (PAT good). On the kickoff, Hewitt-Trussville special teams kept the momentum going and recovered a fumble on the Thompson 36-yard line. The Huskies went for it when they were brought to 4th down, but the Thompson defense got the stop.

It was then time for Conner Harrell to get back to work, and he found Ryan Peppins wide open for a 66-yard touchdown to put Thompson up 28-14 (PAT good). "I saw him come open and I just let it go", Harrell said, "I didn't think about it too much." Hewitt-Trussville tried to put together an affective drive of their own on their next possession. Cade Carruth found tight end Matt Miller for a long pass to put the Huskies down on their own 40, and Sean Jackson had a long run on the next play to bring them to the Thompson 22 yard-line. However, when the Huskies were brought to 4th down again, Thompson linebacker, Jeremiah Alexander, came up with a sack to force a turnover on downs. Alexander, a Top 10 player in the Class of 2022 according to 247sports, is committed to Alabama.

Harrell found time for one more touchdown before halftime, as he found wide receiver and South Carolina commit, Sam Reynolds, wide open in front of the end zone for a 38 yard touchdown (PAT good). Thompson went into halftime up 35-14. "Going into the locker room, I was focused on finishing the game", Harrell said, "I knew the lead wasn't big enough."

At the start of the second half, Conner Harrell picked up where he left off, as he found Ryan Peppins for a long pass to put them at the Hewitt-Trussville 26-yard line. Harrell then made a big play with his legs, as he scrambled and ran for a 17-yard gain.

After a missed field goal attempt, Hewitt-Trussville got the ball back, and Armoni Goodwin went to work. He started with a long run to bring the offense to their own 35 yard-line. Cade Carruth then completed a pass to Omari Kelly for 21 yards. Goodwin then capped off the drive with an identical, 57-yard touchdown run, breaking multiple tackles to get in the end zone. The end of the third quarter ended with Thompson up 35-21.

Hewitt-Trussville needed a big fourth quarter. Cade Carruth found Omari Kelly for a first down at the Thompson 35-yard line. But Armoni Goodwin fumbled the football on the next play, and Thompson recovered. Hewitt-Trussville had one more chance to make an impact, and they worked to accomplish that with a long pass to the Thompson 32-yard line. However, Triston Woody intercepted a pass for Thompson at their own 31-yard line, and Jarrett Crockett had a long run to the Hewitt-Trussville 30-yard line to secure the win. When the clocks hit zero, Thompson came out with the win 35-21. "It felt great to fight off a really good team", Conner Harrell said, "It was a great showing from our defense."

Conner Harrell was the star of the game, throwing for 315 yards, and 4 touchdowns in just his 5th game as the starting quarterback for the Warriors. Thompson moves to 5-0, and remains one of the best teams in the country, The Warriors take on Mountain Brook at home next week on Friday, September 25th, at 8:00 PM ET (7:00 PM CT). "Mountain Brook is a very sound team and also the number one team in 6A", Harrell said, "so we have to be focused all week in preparation for them." Hewitt-Trussville picks up their first loss of the season, and falls to 4-1. The Huskies face off with Huffman next week on Friday, September 25th, at 8:00 PM ET (7:00 PM CT).