Timpson earns fourth consecutive semifinal entry

The Timpson Bears are headed to the state semifinals for the fourth year in a row after defeating their long-time rival Garrison. In a week filled with upsets, the Bulldogs were unable to overcome their underdog status. This marks the second time these two rivals have met this year and the second time that Timpson has walked away with the victory. The Bears defeated the Bulldogs 35-26 during the final district game of the season, and again 3523 in the state quarterfinals last Friday.

The 2023 Battle of the Attoyac redo was held at Homer Bryce Stadium on Stephen F. Austin’s campus. Division 2A is small school football, but the crowd that packed the collegiate stadium was anything but small. Timpson’s supporters filled the home-side bleachers from top to bottom. Both teams were well represented in the stands.

Garrison received the opening kick but was unable to capitalize on the possession. Timpson standout Terry Bussey was the first player to cross the goal line for either team putting the Bears ahead 7-0 on a 36-yard touchdown run.

Early in the second quarter, the Bulldogs marched down the field and forced the ball into the endzone on a fourth and one quarterback keeper. The two teams remained deadlocked at seven until Bussey snagged an interception on the Garrison sideline to swing momentum into the Bears’ favor.

Just before halftime, Bussey sent a ball downfield to Shaheed Cross for a 53-yard touchdown locking the score at 14-7 heading into the locker room.

Last week, J.J. Garner returned from an injury to boost the Bears both offensively and defensively. His six touchdowns played no small part in Timpson’s mighty success against Honey Grove.

Unfortunately, late in the second quarter, Garner took a low hit and was carried from the field with an apparent left leg injury.

The Bears entered the second half with possession of the football and a seven-point lead. In an uncharacteristic slipup, Timpson turned the ball over on a fumble, giving Garrison a chance to even the score. The Bears’ defense refused to give up the lead, and the Bulldogs would ultimately have to settle for a field goal.

Bussey made his way into the endzone three more times before the end of the fourth quarter for a total of four rushing touchdowns and one passing.

“I’m just so proud of these guys, they battled their butts off,” said Timpson coach Kerry Therwhanger. “That’s a really good football team over there [in Garrison]. To be able to handle them twice in one season, especially with J.J. [Garner] going down in both games, is a big deal. [Bussey] kind of put us on his back and said ‘we aren’t going to lose’. Defensively, to hold those guys as big and physical as they are to what we did is just a testament to our team and my defensive staff.”

One of the upsets mentioned in passing at the top of this article holds big implications for the Bears’ next contest. Thursday night, the Ganado Indians shocked the state with a 41-12 beating of the Refugio Bobcats. Refugio and Ganado hail from the same district just as Timpson and Garrison do. Refugio defeated Ganado by a 30-7 margin during the last game of the regular season to give the Bobcats a district title.

Instead of the expected semifinal rematch between Timpson and Refugio, fans will now be treated to a showdown between the Bears and Ganado.

On the other side of the bracket, defending state champion Hawley was also ejected from title contention. This loss along with Refugio’s defeat ensures that neither team from last year’s championship will be making a return.

This will mark Timpson’s fourth consecutive appearance to the semifinals; however, they have been unable to cash their ticket to the championship game to this point. The Bears are hungry for that next step.

Timpson and Ganado will square off on Thursday, December 7 at 7:00 p.m. in Woodforest Bank Stadium in Shenandoah, just north of Houston in the Conroe Independent school District, to determine who will compete for a state championship in Arlington.