Royals' Dane Thompkins runs over Seminole defense, scores 3 TDs in 36-25 win

After trading blows for most of the first half, The First Academy, led by two fourth-quarter touchdowns by senior running back Dane Thompkins, topped Seminole High 36-25 on the Royals' senior night and homecoming game. 

"We've got great leadership on this team," said TFA coach Jeff Conaway after the win. "I was just very pleased with the way the seniors hung in there. There were several opportunities where it felt like the game turned upside down and we couldn't generate first downs. We were struggling a little bit in some other areas, but it felt like we held on and fought through some adversity. We talk about this a lot, but football teaches life lessons, and life's all about change, life's all about adversity, and these boys are learning some real valuable lessons about hanging in there, trusting each other, being a great brotherhood, and ... that's what I'm most proud of."

After taking a 22-13 lead into the half, on the back of a pair of touchdown passes from Royals (7-1) senior quarterback Salomon Georges Jr. to his two favorite targets — Evan James and Demetrice McCray — and the first of Thompkins' trio of TDs, Seminole High (6-2) came out of the half swinging. 

In the third quarter, the Seminoles scored a field goal, returned an interception for a touchdown and forced a TFA safety to take a 25-22 lead heading into the fourth. 

That's when Thompkins sealed the win for The First Academy, scoring the go-ahead TD at the top of the quarter and another touchdown with 4:20 left to play to extend the Royals' lead. Athlete Evan James iced the game with an interception with 1:05 left to play. 

Conaway made light of the difficult third quarter but ultimately believes his team is capable of beating anyone if his players are locked in. 

"We've got a lot of unique guys on this team, and a lot of guys want to play with their food before they eat it," Conaway said. "I think we like ... to keep games close, we're merciful to our opponents at times. We keep them in the game. We had a huge crowd and I think our guys really wanted everybody to stay until that last minute of the fourth quarter, but once they got focused and once they got motivated, there's nothing this team can't do."

The Royals finished with 461 total yards on offense, with Thompkins accounting for 169 on his 19 carries. Through the air Georges Jr. threw for 269 yards on 13-of-20 passing, finding James eight times for 142 yards and McCray three times for 103 yards. On defense, lineman DJ Whiley recorded four sacks.