When LSU coach Ed Orgeron arrived at Thompson High School’s football stadium on Friday night, he went straight for Tua Tagovailoa.

What a power move by the former defensive end.

Coach ‘O’ chatted it up with Alabama’s superstar quarterback long enough for ESPN’s cameras to find the conversation, and then Orgeron positioned himself directly in Tagovailoa’s field of vision for the rest of the first half.

Tagovailoa and Alabama play Orgeron’s LSU next Saturday in the SEC’s biggest game of the season. The head games have already started.

Give the off-week victory to Coach ‘O.’

Of all the high school games in the country on Friday night, Orgeron chose the one featuring two Alabama quarterback commitments on the field, and Alabama’s superstar quarterback on the sideline. He was there to be on national television in enemy territory. He was there to steal the recruits, and steal the scene, too.

And he was there to send a message: LSU is coming.

Those were Orgeron’s bold words after LSU’s 24-10 loss to Alabama last season, and his appearance at the biggest high school football game of the year in Alabama the week before this year’s Alabama-LSU rivalry game was a continuation of that statement.

Orgeron went into this season with his job security a topic of conversation. He’s now the leader in the clubhouse for national coach of the year, and growing into a cult hero in Louisiana.

He might not beat Alabama next Saturday in Baton Rouge, but he trolled the entire state of Alabama leading up to the game. In an SEC dominated by Nick Saban, you take your victories where you can get them.

Orgeron won more national airtime than any SEC coach in the country on Friday night, and he did it in Saban’s backyard. Auburn coach Gus Malzahn made an appearance during warmups, but left long before Orgeron arrived. Where was Saban?

Why go to a game when most of the recruits on the field are already committed to your team?

Saban missed a classic, but Tua and Alabama linebacker Christian Miller were there to take notes for their coach.

It felt like half the state of Alabama was there, too. You know it’s a big high school football game when the line of cars to get into the stadium is more than a mile long at kickoff.

When the parking lot filled up, Alabaster police officers instructed drivers stuck in the long snaking stream of traffic to just park their cars on the road. Some parked two miles away and walked.

It was worth the trouble.

Thompson featured Alabama quarterback commitment Taulia Tagovailoa, and Hewitt-Trussville was led by Alabama quarterback commit Paul Tyson. Taulia is Tua’s younger brother, and Tyson is the great-grandson of Alabama coach Paul Bryant. Thompson won 63-49 after trailing 28-0 to begin the game.

The two teams combined for 1,155 yards of total offense. Tyson passed for three touchdowns and rushed for another. Tagovailoa passed for two scores, and rushed for two.

Amazingly, Thompson didn’t score its first points until 4:45 was left in the second quarter. The go-ahead touchdown was a 59-yard pass from Tagovailoa to receiver Michael Pettway with 1:40 left in the game. Hewitt-Trussville receiver Ja’Varrius Johnson, an Auburn commitment, had nine catches for 229 yards, and a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

What a glorious night of high school football.

And Orgeron was right there in the middle of it. It’s no secret that he’s is trying to flip the commitment of Taulia Tagovailoa. If he pulls that off, they might rename Tiger Stadium after him.

He positioned himself next to Thompson’s goal post for most of the second half. When Thompson running back Shadrick Byrd rushed for a two-yard score to give his team its first lead, Orgeron was close enough to the end-zone celebration to give everyone a high-five and pass out business cards.

I tried to ask Orgeron why he chose Thompson vs. Hewitt above all other prep games on Friday, but he wasn’t there to talk. Just to be seen, and let Alabama know his Tigers are ready for the Tide.

Joseph Goodman is a columnist for the Alabama Media Group. He’s on Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr.