What Tide Connections Said About 7A Title Game

Wednesday was a busy night in Tuscaloosa, what with the Republican debate on the UA campus and with Bryant-Denny Stadium hosting 7A football action. There was no debate on the 7A state champion, though. That's he Central Phenix City Red Devils, whose graduates include Steve Shannon and Jeremiah Castille, among other celebrities. The Red Devils beat four-time defending champion Thompson 21-19 are coached by former Auburn quarterback Patrick Nix, who also coached current Bama start Kool-Aid McKinstry at Pinson Valley.

Photo Courtesy of Andrew Bone via Twitter.

Central features a pair of Alabama Crimson Tide commitments from the 2024 class.

Defensive lineman Isaia Faga made six tackles with a sack and said of the win and breaking the Warrior streak, "It feels amazing. We trusted our coaching, we played with love. Nobody in this country can touch us and that's how I feel."

Playing in his future home stadium made things even more special for Faga. "I am honestly just very thankful and blessed," he said. "Great support system at the house for me to be able to do that."

Get our free mobile app

Asked about how the Central defensive line won the game in the trenches, Faga replied, "It came down to our coaches installing it in us and we did what we

were coached."

Ninth grade Thompson quarterback Trent Seaborn rarely loses, but on this cold Wednesday night at Bryant-Denny, he did. Seaborn is coached by noted quarterback developer Mark Freeman, his head coach at Thompson. In the off-season, Seaborn is tutored by Galu Tagovailoa, who knows a few things about quarterbacking and has taught those things to his sons Tua of the Dollphins and Taulia of the Terrapins [who will face Auburn in Nashville's Music City Bowl].

Seaborn was surprised at the loss to Central, but looked at it like this: "I want to thank God, I wouldn't be here without Him. I want to thank all our teammates and coaches. All we had to do was take advantage of the game."

Cam Coleman shines as Central-Phenix City takes down Thompson - YouTube

After trailing 14-3 at the half, Seaborn rallied the troops and Thompson missed a 46-yard field goal for the lead with 2:46 to go.

Seaborn said, "We have the mentality to never give up and coaches tell us to be flexible and adjust."

Seaborn completed 21-of-34 passes for 205 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception in the loss. He and his family are big Alabama fans and he holds a verbal offer from Nick Saban. He can't get a written offer for two more years.

Though Seaborn is listed as a freshman, he has been held back twice in school [redshirted, basically] and is old for his age at 16. He will likely have the opportunity to graduate early, reclassifying to the class of '26. That remains to be seen, but he is VERY talented and would be a plum in Alabama's class no matter what year he signs.

Another Tide commitment in the game was Central safety Rydarrius "Red" Morgan, who made two solo stops in the win for the Red Devils.

Alabama's Second Spring Scrimmage 2022

The Alabama Crimson Tide was back in action on Saturday in Bryant-Denny Stadium for its second scrimmage of the spring season. Alabama will return to Bryant-Denny for the spring finale on Saturday, April 16.