Timpson holds off Joaquin 25-22

Throughout the 2022 season, Timpson has appeared nigh unstoppable. However, the Joaquin Rams made the Bears work to maintain their undefeated status Friday night by a score of 25-22.

For all intents and purposes, this game will serve as the 2A-1 District 11 Championship. Both teams entered this game with zero district losses, and throughout the game, there was never a clear answer as to who would come out on top.

Joaquin received the opening kickoff and marched down the field methodically. Their nickel-and-dime approach paid off at the 7:35 mark on a 12-yard touchdown rush by Andre Brown. Following the touchdown, Joaquin’s defense stepped up in a big way. Their efforts were rewarded with a three-and-out punt to give their offense another chance to control the clock.

Joaquin entered this game with an effective strategy. How do you stop one of the most high-powered offenses in the state? By keeping the ball out of their possession. The Rams’ second possession couldn’t have gone much better for them. Despite starting on their own one-yard line, Joaquin capped off their drive with a touchdown. Four yards here, five there. They marched the ball down the field one bite-sized piece of yardage at a time, and all the while, time whittled away in the first half.

Finally, with 6:46 left in the half, Malik Stotts broke loose for a 21-yard touchdown rush. Now the Bears found themselves trailing 14-0. To this point, Timpson was in unfamiliar territou ry, but that would all change when junior quarterback Terry Bussey broke loose for a 56-yard touchdown.

With 4:11 left in the second quarter, Joaquin’s methodical approach began to work against them. Timpson was set to receive the kickoff to open the second half. This meant that the Rams needed to get into the endzone before halftime to maintain a comfortable lead. Unfortunately for Joaquin, time was no longer on their side. Timpson’s defense held the line and time expired with the score resting at 14-7.

Things got chippy in the third quarter following a late hit on Bussey. Timpson would ultimately cap off their opening drive of the second half with a 44-yard bomb from Bussey to Geovonie Bryant on a fade route. Joaquin maintained their lead by blocking the point after kick leaving the score at 14-13.

Timpson managed to regain possession of the football by stopping the Rams’ offense. The Bears finally entered the driver’s seat at the 3:15 mark in the third quarter. Bussey crossed the goal line from two yards out for his second score of the night. With Timpson leading 19-14, Joaquin was feeling the pressure. This could explain their reasoning for going to the air on a deep pass that ended up being intercepted by Bussey.

Bussey crossed the goal line once more from the 8-yard line to give the Bears a 2514 lead. Joaquin did manage to get the ball to pay dirt on a three-yard touchdown rush by Joaquin quarterback Gauge Jordan with 39 seconds remaining in the game. This led to an onside kick attempt by the Rams for one last shot at the win. Timpson’s “hands team” would field the kick cleanly and end the game with an improved record of 8-0.

“That’s one of the best games we’ve played, especially up front, all year long,” said Timpson head coach Kerry Therwhanger.

“[The Rams] were whipping our tail in that first half, no bones about it, but our coaches made an adjustment there in the second half and we got some stops. We knew that we could move the football if we could just get a hold of it. Hats off to Joaquin, but I’m really proud of our guys, that win will go a long way down the road for us.”

“I’m really proud of the way we played up front tonight,” said Joaquin head coach Wade Lawson. “I think we really got after them. The third quarter hurt us and fourth and long hurt us. We couldn’t get off the field. They made some plays. It is what it is when you’re playing really good teams, those things happen . . . We don’t want to just play football for a while, we want an opportunity to play for it all. Now, we have a long road to haul to get there. There are a lot of good teams in our region, and we’ve got to stay healthy. If we can do that and make the decision that we’re going to get better every day, then the sky’s the limit for this team.”

Timpson hosts Shelbyville this week, and Joaquin takes on West Sabine on the road. Both varsity games have been moved to Thursday this week, both with 7:00 kickoff times.