Four-time reigning Class 7A power Thompson will host national power IMG Academy as part of its 2023 football slate.

The Warriors released their schedule Friday afternoon. It includes a home game with IMG on Thursday, Aug. 31.

“I think it’s the next step in a national schedule,” Thompson athletic director Vincent Pitts said. “We’ve been kind of growing that over the last few years, and I think this is a great opportunity for our kids, our community and football fans across the country. We want to continue to keep some names of that caliber on the schedule.”

A year ago, Thompson traveled to Georgia to play Buford to open the season and lost to Trent Dilfer and Lipscomb Academy, Tenn., at home in Week 2. The Warriors were originally scheduled to play Lipscomb again this year but had to look at other options due to scheduling conflicts. Reigning Class 6A champ Saraland announced this week it was hosting Lipscomb to open its 2023 season.

“We are excited to welcome IMG to Alabaster,” Thompson head coach Mark Freeman said. “This will certainly be a challenging game for our program but an exciting time for our program nationally. I am excited for our community and for our program to compete against IMG and continue competing at a high level nationally.”

Thompson will take on Opelika in Montgomery on Aug. 25 in the AHSAA’s Kickoff Classic to open the season before hosting IMG the next week. Kickoff for the IMG game is set for 7 p.m.

The Warriors return All-state defensive back Anquon Fegans, four-star DB Caleb Harris and freshman quarterback Trent Seaborn, last year’s Class 7A title game MVP. IMG’s roster includes recent Pike Road running back transfer Anthony Rogers as well as the nation’s No. 1 senior defensive back in Ellis Robinson IV (Georgia commit) and No. 2 senior defensive lineman David Stone.

IMG played at Central-Phenix City in 2022, winning 41-26. IMG also beat Auburn 27-17 in 2021.

Thompson’s schedule also includes home games with Vestavia Hills (Sept. 8) and Clay-Chalkville (Sept. 29) and road trips to Hewitt-Trussville (Oct. 6) and Hoover (Oct. 27).

Hoover releases 2023 schedule

Class 7A power Hoover also released its 2023 schedule this week.

The Bucs will open against state runner-up Auburn at home Aug. 25. Those two teams opened the 2022 season in Montgomery with Auburn winning 17-14.

Hoover will then host Oak Grove, Miss., on Sept. 1. The Bucs will host Class 6A runner-up Mountain Brook on Sept. 29. They also have home games against Region 3 rivals Hewitt-Trussville (Sept. 22) and Thompson (Sept. 27).