The defining play in Wednesday’s Class 7A state championship game was installed on Central-Phenix City’s first day of practice.

With his team clinging to a one-point lead and facing a third-and-3 early in the fourth quarter, Andrew Alford hit Auburn wide receiver commit Cam Coleman on a quick pass designed to pick up a key first down.

The Auburn commit not only got the first down but slipped between two tacklers and raced 73 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown. The top-ranked Red Devils held on to beat Thompson 21-19 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

“They had been playing two-man coverage all night, trying to force us to run,” Central-Phenix City coach Patrick Nix said. “Everyone tries to double Cam. We basically went back to our bread and butter. It was a double slant that we literally installed Day 1. We happened to catch them on maybe the one time all night they played true man, and they paid for it. Special players make special plays.”

The win capped a 13-0 season for Central-Phenix City and gave the school its third state title and second since 2018. It also ended Thompson’s four-year run as 7A state champs.

“These guys weren’t there when the streak started,” Nix said. “This is about the 2023 team. We didn’t talk about streaks or this or that. It was about us doing what we’ve done all year. It really goes all the way back to the Monday after Thanksgiving last year. They decided on that Monday that we were going for this thing.”

Coleman, Central’s 5-star stud, finished with five receptions for 143 yards and was named the game’s most valuable player. His score came with nine minutes left and gave the Red Devils a 21-13 lead.

“The corner was playing about five yards off,” he said of the pivotal play. “I broke it down in front across his face, caught the ball and looked up field. I saw green grass and just started running. All glory to God.”

The game wasn’t over, however. Thompson (11-2) cut the lead to 21-19 on Trent Seaborn’s 36-yard TD pass to Colben Landrew. The two also hooked up for an 18-yard touchdown earlier in the half. The try for two and the tie failed and left the Central lead at 21-19 with 7:02 left.

The Warriors, playing in their sixth straight Class 7A title game, had one more shot. They held Central and forced a punt with 4:51 left in the game. Fueled by Deuce Oliver’s 12-yard reception, Thompson drove to a fourth-and-9 at the Central-Phenix City 26. However, John McGuire’s potential go-ahead field goal was wide with 2:46 left.

The Red Devils ran out the clock.

“Games like this come down to four, five or six plays,” Thompson head coach Mark Freeman. “We got a few of them. They got a few, but we didn’t capitalize enough. Still, I couldn’t be any more proud of this team if we were sitting here as the winner. It’s a grind to get here. We played a good football team tonight that was well coached, and we had a chance to win.”

Star of the game: Coleman made three receptions in the first quarter and then was mostly quiet until making his big play in the fourth quarter.

“He’s an elite player,” Freeman said. “We knew that going in. … You have to tackle him. It’s not like tackling an ordinary guy. We knew we couldn’t give up big plays and, for the most part, we did a good job. We knew we couldn’t get in a road race with them.”

This post will be updated