MOBILE, Ala.— The McGill-Toolen passing game was the not-too secret weapon Friday night and the all-too conspicuous winning formula as the Yellow Jackets’ stung the Toros 24-3 in their interclass opener. The 2016 battle between defending 2015 champions, Class 6A Spanish Fort and 7A McT showed that past is not always prologue—especially after graduation.

Except for Matt Quinn’s 21-yard, third-quarter field goal, the Toros were kept out of the end zone at Archbishop Oscar Lipscomb Field.

Jacket quarterback Bubba Thompson connected for two touchdowns while his defense, led by Carlton Martial disrupted the Toros’ reconfigured offensive attack. An Auburn baseball commit, Thompson led McGill to the USA National 7-on-7 title this summer. The D-I shortstop’s arm tossed a 37-yard TD arc to Larry Rembert and a one-yard flick to USC commit Marlon Williams.

Charles Green kicked a 30-yard field goal to put the Yellow Jackets up 3-0 in the first quarter. McGill-Toolen led 17-0 at the half.

By then, SFHS starting safety Chase White was out with an injury and starting Toros’ quarterback Wyatt Wilkinson left early in the third quarter. Trae Barry and Rhett Files took over at QB to finish the game.

The loss reset Spanish Fort’s 15-0 AHSAA 6A title-run win streak set last year. The Jackets went 13-1 en route to their AHSAA 7A title and now have 10-straight wins since a non-region loss to 6A Mattie T. Blount last year.

Both teams open their region runs next. Spanish Fort will host Eastern Shore neighbor and arch-rival Daphne on The Hill at Toros Stadium Aug. 26 in Class 6A, Region 1 play.

The Jackets will host Class 7A, Region 1 and cross-town rival Davidson at The Lip. Davidson will bring a 1-0 overall record after taking a 35-28 interclass win at Daphne’s Jubilee Stadium in their opening game.