Spartans travel to Thompson for region game Friday

The Mountain Brook Spartans, coming off an inspired performance in a 21-14 loss to No. 1 Hoover last Friday, travel to Alabaster to face Class 7A, Region 3 foe Thompson.

The Spartans (1-1, 0-1) will tangle with a Warriors team that suffered its first loss of the year at the hands of Spain Park to drop to 2-1, 0-1 in the region. The Warriors (2-1, 0-1) lost despite allowing only field goals in a 15-14 heartbreaker.

Against the Bucs, the Spartans battled back from a 14-0 deficit to score before the half on a 4-yard pass from Connor Adair to Harrison Pyburn.

It stayed 14-7 until Spartans linebacker Joe Donald forced a fumble that was scooped up by defensive back Zachary Carroll, who returned it 13 yards and the game-tying touchdown with 3:43 left in the third quarter.

But Adair was picked off in Mountain Brook territory and the Bucs drove it in for a score with 4:18 left and the Spartans couldn’t answer.

Thompson, winless last season, has been rejuvenated under coach Mark Freeman. Quarterback Walker Lott, a transfer from Briarwood Christian where he was a two-year starter, leads the Warriors. He is an excellent runner as well as a good passer. Running back Carlos Stephens is a big-play threat.

A Spartans win would hit a couple of milestones for their head coach. Chris Yeager has 99 career wins and 74 wins at Mountain Brook.

The Spartans hold a 12-4 advantage in the series, which is not the most-played rivalry but is one of the oldest. The Spartans beat Thompson 35-7 in Mountain Brook’s fourth-ever varsity game on Oct. 7, 1966, in a “home” game played at Shades Valley. That was the second win in the school's history (the first was over Glenn).

Kickoff on Friday at Larry Simmons Stadium is set for 7 p.m.