AUBURN – It wasn’t the outcome they’d hoped for, but a pair of Alabama commitments reflected on their time with the Thompson football program and their future with the Crimson Tide after a 52-7 loss to Central-Phenix City in the Class 7A title game on Wednesday night at Jordan-Hare Stadium in the Super 7 championships.
“I’m going to take everything I learned here and take this experience today and remember this feeling and use it to help me push myself during the offseason,” Thompson offensive lineman Amari Kight said.
Thompson quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, younger brother of Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa, echoed similar sentiments.
“We are going to go in there head-first and we are going to continue to work hard and I know they are going to get two fine young men and we are going to show respect, love and honor and we are still going to be us,” Tagovailoa said. “Amari is still going to be Amari, and I am still going to Lia and whatever our future holds we are just going to attack it.”
Remaining teammates is something the close friends are looking forward to.
“Definitely having Lia come with me (to Alabama) is a blessing and just knowing he will be there with me and someone I know that takes a lot of presure off,” Kight said.
Led by its hard-hitting defense, Central-Phenix City built up a 21-0 halftime advantage. Thompson made it to the red zone once in the first half with roughly a minute remaining. The Red Devils sacked Tagovailoa four times. He finished with negative 11 yards rushing, 44 yards passing and an interception.
Reach Joey Chandler at joey.chandler@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0223.
