Timpson chasing elusive title behind talented trio: 'We can literally do anything'

Howard, Garner join Texas A&M commit Terry Bussey in making offensive impact as Bears chase 2A Texas high school football state title

PINELAND, TEXAS - Earlier this season, Timpson senior standout Terry Bussey made his commitment to join a major Division I school.

He’s far from the only Bear to have a chance to play big-time college football. The Bears have two other stellar players - senior Vosky Howard and junior JJ Garner - who might also get that chance to play at the next level.

They showed off their skills again Friday night, combining for numerous touchdowns as Timpson - the top-ranked team in Class 2A Division I - remained undefeated after a 56-8 win at West Sabine.

Howard, who plays receiver, scored two touchdowns from Bussey, the team’s quarterback. Garner, who plays tailback and is the team’s leading rusher, had four TDs, two of those taking a direct snap from center.

Along with Bussey, the Texas A&M commit, Howard and Garner - who both primarily play linebacker on defense - give Timpson more playmakers in the Bears’ bid to finally make it to a state title game after falling short in the semifinals each of the past three seasons.

“It feels great; we can literally do everything, anybody can get the ball at any moment and turn 3 yards into 20,” Garner said. “It’s just amazing playing with the people I grew up with my whole life, so knowing everybody and knowing what they can do is just amazing.”

MAKING THE MOST OF IT

Though they didn’t have the ball for much of the opening quarter, the Bears made the most of what they had, scoring touchdowns on each of their first two plays from scrimmage.

The Bears swarmed the Tigers on the game’s opening series, producing a three-and-out and forcing a punt. Bussey fielded the punt near midfield and broke a long run before being brought down at the Tigers’ 5.

On the ensuing play from scrimmage, with Timpson utilizing a run-pass option, Bussey chose to pass. He threw a strike over the middle to Howard for the team’s first TD.

West Sabine then put together a sustained drive, getting a pair of first downs and working the clock in an attempt to keep the Bears’ paws off the ball. But on a fourth-down attempt inside the Timpson 35, a pass was knocked away by the Bears’ Dacorian Johnson.

That’s where the Bears set up shop, at their own 33. On their second play from scrimmage, they found the end zone once again, as Bussey threw a pass in the left flat to Garner, who zoomed down the sideline for the 67-yard TD.

Despite running two plays in the game’s first 9:43, the Bears owned a 14-0 advantage.

Top 25 Texas high school football rankings: Is Duncanville invincible? (10/9/2023)

DIRECT IMPACT

Timpson broke the game wide open with four unanswered TDs in the second quarter in building a 42-0 advantage.

Two of those were from Garner taking a direct snap, though still lined up in a halfback position, each covering 66 yards. On his first direct-snap TD, Bussey threw a lead block, springing Garner loose as Timpson extended its lead to 21-0.

Then on his second direct-snap TD, Garner reversed his field and found room along the left side, going in for another 66-yard TD as Timpson made it 35-0 with 2:31 left until halftime.

“(My favorite of the two direct-snap TDs) was the second because I had to cut back, so yes, (my favorite was) the second.” Garner said.

Garner added it was the first two TDs this season scoring off the direct snap while not lined up at quarterback. That is part of a series of wrinkles that the Bears have added this season to further take advantage of their playmakers.

“It’s like new play calls and like just having fun,” Howard said. “Running routes is really fun. Just random things like adding new stuff, like instead of blocking more, (Timpson coach Kerry Therwhanger) gives us a little more freedom to do what we like to do, so it’s really just great having freedom with it.”

Timpson’s final first-half TD came when the Bears faced fourth-and-long inside its 40 with time running out before halftime.

But Bussey threw a short route to Howard, who used his speed to outrace potential defenders, going in for a 62-yard score with seven seconds left in the half, as Timpson took a sizable 42-0 lead at the break.

Garner had the Bears’ final TD on a 19-yard sprint up the middle in the fourth quarter, as the clock ran continuously in the second half.

Texas high school football Top 25 scoreboard (10/13/2023)

MORE TO WATCH

Bussey did get into the act himself of finding the end zone, fielding a short punt in the second quarter and taking it approximately 45 yards to the house, sidestepping a potential tackler along the way.

He then started the second half by firing a TD pass to senior Tyler Lane, making it 49-0, Bears.

But the Bears are far from a one-man show. That was evident in the team’s first two games, as Timpson scored 98 combined points as Bussey was out with an injury.

And Howard and Garner were quick to point out the Bears are more than a “Big Three,” citing several other players who have done their part all season.

“We’ve got one of the best middle linebackers, he’s underrated in Tyler Lane,” Howard said. “I think he has 70 tackles within six games, that’s amazing and he’s really underrated. Really, just everybody; even our JV players have stepped up.”

Garner mentioned a few other players who have proven their worth to the team.

“We’ve got a lot of dawgs on the team and a lot of them are underrated like (number) 3 (senior defensive back Amare Bruton), 14 (Lane); we’ve got a lot of underrated players,” Garner said. “Also 4 (senior defensive back) Devin (Tutt) caught a pick (Friday) and turnt it up.”

Bruton swatted away a pass attempt on a fourth-and-short after West Sabine drove inside the Timpson 35 in the first quarter. That set up Garner’s first TD.

Tutt later picked off a pass which resulted in the Bears’ final first-half score.

“(There’s) not much difference (in this season’s team compared to last year’s squad),” Garner said. “Our line needs to step up more, but we’ve really got the same team from last year; we lost just two seniors last year, that’s it.”

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

-- Buck Ringgold | buck@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveTX