It’s not easy to go 16-0, but Timpson made it look so
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#14 Tyler Lane heads to the end zone against Garrison, just one stop on the road to the big show. Taylor Bragg | The Light and Champion -
They came from 3 hours away, Bear Fans are strong fans as they take front row center to watch the boys win the title for the first time. Taylor Bragg | The Light and Champion
Ganado falls in the Semi to send Timpson to Dallas
For the past three years, the Timpson Bears have competed in the state semifinals only to find themselves on the outside looking in at the state championship game. The Bears have been consistently dominant but have simply been unable to clear that last hurdle. Their appearance this season marks the fourth straight year in the semifinals. Coach Kerry Therwhanger made an additional appearance in the 2015-2016 season with his former team, the Lovelady Lions, who defeated the Shelbyville Dragons in the quarterfinals to earn a semifinal entry. Lovelady was defeated by Refugio cutting Therwhanger’s season just short of the state championship game.
“We just need to get over the hump,” said Therwhanger in a statement given prior to the semifinals game. “Region IV has had our number, so we’ll see what happens.”
Therwhanger and the Bears have overcome the final obstacle standing between themselves and a chance at a state title. Timpson is state bound after defeating the Ganado Indians 35-21 on Thursday, December 7.
Ganado gave the Bears a scare after going up 21-7 early in the second quarter. Rather than giving in to the fear of a fourth semifinals loss, the Bears put their heads down and went to work. Senior quarterback Terry Bussey trimmed the lead with a pass to sophomore Dacorian Johnson. Johnson caught the nine-yard pass and crossed the goal line with a defender hanging on in a futile attempt to stop the underclassman.
Down by seven, Timpson took charge in the second half. Bussey connected with classmate Shaheed Cross on a pass to the back of the endzone. Cross caught the ball completely uncontested and knotted the score up at 21-21. Ganado was able to move the ball down the field until their drive stalled out on the two-yard line. The Bears defense held the Indians to a field goal attempt that would prove unsuccessful.
Bussey then led his team down the field and ran the ball in himself from the 12-yard line. This gave the Bears their first lead of the game to start the fourth quarter. Bussey would score once more during the fourth quarter to bring the final score to 35-21, Bears.
Timpson played an excellent game defensively. After allowing three touchdowns in the first quarter, the Bears got to work and shutdown all further attempts by the Indians to put points on the board. Timpson scored 28 points unanswered following the rough first quarter.
Bussey’s night ended with 21 completions on 26 attempts with 204 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He also carried the ball 24 times for 158 yards and three touchdowns. Amari Bruton caught nine passes for 101 yards, Johnson reeled in seven passes for 31 yards and a touchdown, and Shaheed Cross had two receptions for 38 yards and a touchdown.
Timpson will now face the Tolar Rattlers to determine who will represent 2A Division I as the 23-24 State Champion.