Four-time defending champion Thompson flexed its offensive muscle against Chelsea, scoring at will on the way to a 45-0 victory.

Class 7A top-ranked Thompson (4-0, 3-0) also used a smothering defense to stymie Chelsea (2-3, 1-2), which was without star running back Emerson Russell, who suffered a sprained ankle late in the win over Oak Mountain last week. Russell had run for 658 yards and 11 touchdowns in the first four games.

The Warriors scored on its first two offensive plays, a 29-yard TD pass from Trent Seaborn to Pryce Lewis and a bruising 4-yard run by AJ Green after Vini Pires blocked a punt. Thompson needed two plays to earn its next score, ending with a 31-yard run by Michael Dujon.

Thompson had 179 yards and 45 points at the half while holding Chelsea to 41 yards. The Warriors ended with 263 yards with Chelsea getting 50 as the second half was played with a running clock.

Kaleb Harris ran back an interception 25 yards for a score, Green added a 54-yard rushing TD, John McGuire booted a 47-yard field goal and Peyton Lewis returned an interception 26 yards to end the scoring with 24 seconds left in the half.

Thompson starting quarterback Trent Seaborn was 2-for-2 while Green scored ran twice, both for touchdowns, and Dujon added 40 yards on four carries.

Thompson plays Class 6A second-ranked Clay-Chalkville in a nationally televised game on Thursday while Chelsea travels to Pelham.