Last week, Clemson safety commitment Ray Thornton helped his team bring home the ultimate hardware for the first time in a while.
Thornton and Central High School (Phenix City, Ala.) defeated Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.), 52-7, in the Alabama Class 7A state championship game to win the school’s first state title since 1993.
“It was a huge accomplishment,” Thornton told TCI. “We set our minds to get past the hump and achieve it.”
With the win, Central finished the season with a 14-0 record, clinching its first undefeated campaign since 1944.
Thornton had his moment to shine in the state championship victory, as he intercepted a pass from Alabama quarterback commit Taulia Tagovailoa – the brother of Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa – and returned the interception 68 yards to set up a field goal early in the third quarter.