When John McGuire kicked the ball, necks craned toward the southeast endzone. An instant classic between Thompson and Clay-Chalkville heading toward a fitting end.

Thompson had jutted out to an early lead on Thursday behind its burgeoning star passer Trent Seaborn. Clay-Chalkville rallied behind Alabama 2024 commit Jaylen Mbakwe, its own elite athlete moonlighting as a quarterback.

When the Warriors took an 11-point second-half lead, the battle between two of the best schools in the state appeared to have a victor. But Mbakwe’s five rushing touchdowns powered the Panthers, forcing Thompson to score late, successfully retain an onside kick and attempt a last-second hope for overtime.

As the ball rotated and neared the uprights, both Thompson and Clay-Chalkville fans seated closest started to cheer, each thinking their desired outcome was moments away due to their parallel viewpoints. But the ball careened to McGuire’s left and a flurry of emotions spilled onto the field as the referees made the ruling: The kick was no good. Game over. Clay-Chalkville won, 36-33.

One of the most anticipated high school games of the season met expectations on ESPN2. Class 7A Thompson dropped to 4-1, while head coach Drew Gilmer helped his Class 6A Cougars improve to 6-0.

The Warriors playmaking delivered a two-touchdown lead in the first quarter. Seaborn executed a couple of third-down conversions and found Colben Landrew for a 17-yard touchdown. Clay-Chalkville’s defensive backs — who played without Mbakwe until late in the fourth quarter — were overmatched against Landrew and had trouble tackling Landrew’s 6-foot-4 frame.

The Panthers responded with speed and the ground game. Mbakwe executed designed quarterback runs and hit quick passes. Four-star uncommitted wideout Mario Craver shook off tackles and moved the chains. After Landrew’s touchdown, Mbakwe — who was celebrating his 18th birthday — carried it four straight times near the red zone for a score. And following a quick Thompson possession and punt, Mbakwe scored off another short-yardage run to give the visitors a halftime lead.

Thompson rallied in front of the home crowd. Seaborn continued to look sharp, throwing for a pair of touchdowns. Good playcalling set up a 69-yard touchdown to Kolby Hearn. The Warriors had used a wide receiver screen all night and gave the same look three times in a row. On the third try, Hearn faked a block and dashed upfield.

The game appeared firmly in Thompson’s control when five-star safety Anquon Fegans picked off Mbakwe (the second of the game for Mbakwe). Seaborn then found Landrew again, this time to give the Warriors an 11-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.

Chalkville answered with a touchdown minutes later, and when Thompson’s offense retook the field with 8:48 remaining, Thompson head coach Mark Freeman opted to switch quarterbacks.

“We had some packages with Zach (Sims) we wanted to run,” Freeman said postgame. “And then when the game got going like it was going, we felt if we went to that offense they would get down and play Cover-0 on us. … We really wanted better field position when we did that.”

The decision led to a three-and-out. And when Mbakwe got the ball back, he kept running. Clay-Chalkville scored and broke out a pass to left tackle and Oregon commit JacQawn McRoy for a two-point conversion. And after a Seaborn interception, Mbakwe had his fifth and final touchdown.

A three-play, 76-yard quick strike, ended by Seaborn to Hearn, made it interesting. But it was the Panthers’ night.

“It’s very fun,” Mbakwe said. “I’m finally going to party some more even though I’m tired. Eighteenth birthday, you only get to do this once so let’s go have fun.”

MVP: Jaylen Mbakwe. It was a birthday to remember for the defensive back prospect. He totaled 100 passing yards (10-for-13) and 168 rushing yards with five touchdowns.

By the numbers: Clay-Chalkville’s offense recorded 34 plays in the second half. The Panthers ran it 31 times, and one of the three passes was a trick play two-point conversion. The formations varied and Bravis Cave Jr. motioned in as an extra blocker and the battle in the trenches sparked a comeback.

Coachspeak: “That’s just a good football game. They’ve said it for years, those games come down to five, six, seven plays and you gotta tackle that quarterback. (Mbakwe) is a heck of a football player. They’re a good football team. … I’ve been telling you, we are a work in progress with this team. I think we closed the gap tonight in a couple areas.” — Thompson’s Freeman.

“(Physicality) gotta to be our identity,” Clay-Chalkville’s Gilmer said. “We have to be a physical football team and I thought we were tonight. If we can do that we got a chance to win every football game.”

What’s next? Both teams will continue region play with road games next week. Clay-Chalkville will travel to Huffman. Thompson is slated for Hewitt-Trussville with pole position in Class 7A, Region 3 at stake.

RELATED: See all the Week 6 high school football scores from Thursday night

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].