Timpson Bears Over Tolar Rattlers 49-7

TIMPSON BEARS

Bears earn first State Championship

State Championship records fall to Bears

The Timpson Bears have won on the grandest stage for 2A football. They are now the reigning 2A Division I State Champions. This historic victory marks Timpson’s first state title. Not only did the Bears achieve victory, they did so in dominant fashion. Timpson made it look easy, earning a 49-7 win over the Tolar Rattlers.

“It’s fantastic,” said Timpson head coach Kerry Therwhanger. “It’s about memories for these kids, I’m just happy I could help them make some of those. They’ll remember this for the rest of their lives. This community will remember this for a long, long time, so I’m just happy for them. It means a lot to those kids. Getting there after last year especially, they could have let down, but they didn’t. They came back, worked all summer, and were ready to go.”

Prior to this year, Timpson had been eliminated from the playoffs in the semifinals three years in a row. Defeat in their fourth consecutive appearance to the semifinals would have been soul-crushing, but the Bears were not going to let that happen. Their defeat of Ganado earned them the right to play for the state title and to eventually claim it.

To the surprise of no one, senior quarterback Terry Bussey earned Offensive MVP Honors. His efforts were nothing short of phenomenal. Bussey went 12 of 15 for 311 yards and four touchdowns. Those four passing touchdowns put him in a tie for second place in the record for passing touchdowns in a 2A championship game. One of those touchdowns was a 97-yard touchdown to Dacorian Johnson. This is the longest passing/receiving touchdown in UIL championship history, any conference. Amazingly, Bussey also broke the record for the longest touchdown rush in 2A championship history with a 93-yard touchdown. He rushed 10 times for 155 yards and two touchdowns in the ground game.

“It’s amazing,” said Bussey. “It’s really a blessing, to go through what this team has been through and to have the resilience that we have had. It’s truly been a blessing to get here and to win it.”

Despite his superstar status, Bussey is as humble as they come. He took the time to compliment and highlight his teammates after their historic victory.

“I wouldn’t be doing what I have been doing without these guys. A lot of people say it’s a one-man team, but they are so wrong. We have a lot of guys, a lot of depth on this team that can hurt you any day, anytime. To have those guys on my side, has been a huge blessing.”

Opposite of Bussey’s Offensive MVP honor, was Tyler Lane who earned the Defensive MVP superlative. Lane was a true terror for the Rattler offense. He led the team with 12 solo tackles, five assists, two tackles for a loss, and one sack.

“I attribute it to a lot of hard work,” said Lane. “Dedication paying off after a lot of practice, watching film, and believing in my coaches and teammates.”

JaCaydan Adams was another bright spot for the Bears’ defense. His night ended with seven solo tackles, six assists, four solo tackles for a loss, and two tackle for a loss assists.

Offensively, Dacorian Johnson had a breakout game. His six receptions, 187 yards, and two touchdowns were all team highs in the receiving game. Johnson also put his name in the record books on the 97-yard touchdown reception. Bussey delivered the pass, but Johnson did the work. One might assume this was a go route, or maybe a fade, but no it was a simple slant. After catching the ball just a few yards from the line of scrimmage, Johnson went to work making Tolar defenders miss with his speed and agility.

Colton Carroll earned the honor of the first touchdown of the night, reeling in a 43-yard pass to put the Bears up 7-0. Amare Bruton was another threat the Rattlers had to account for. He collected two passes for 46 yards and a touchdown.

“When we finally got over the [semifinal] hump, it was all about playing together as a team,” said Bruton. “The last couple years we hit the same barrier, we didn’t finish that strong, but this year, with the adversity we faced, it only made us stronger. And we came out on top.”

After years of adversity and challenge after challenge, this is truly a well-deserved victory for the Bears.

Their determination and drive are attributes that should be rewarded, and what better reward than a state championship? Congratulations Bears, you did it!