Terry Bussey dances Timpson into Texas high school state championship game

After three straight UIL semifinal losses, comeback win over Ganado puts Bears one step closer to glory

Terry Bussey and Timpson are dancing on through to the Arlington for Texas high school state championship week. 

And thanks in large part to the prolific 5-star Texas A&M commit, the semifinal round monkey is off the Bears' collective back. 

Bussey, the nation's top-rated athlete, accounted for five touchdowns as Timpson turned a halftime deficit into 35-21 win over Ganado in the UIL Class 2A Division I state semifinals on Thursday night at Stephen F. Austin in Nagacdoches.

The win puts the Bears (15-0) one win away from an elusive Texas state championship. Timpson made the last three state semifinals and fell shy of reaching the title each time. 

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Timpson faces Tolar in the 2A Division I title game on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at AT&T Stadium. Tolar toppled Stratford 35-7 to reach the stage.

Bussey, the 5-foot-11 do-it-all offensive dynamo, was as masterful with the season on the line as he's been for years for the Bears. He accounted for 366 yards of offense —242 rushing, 124 passing (10-for-14) — and four of his five touchdowns were converted with his feet. 

Ganado led 21-7 in the second quarter after quarterback Ullman was a part of three touchdowns — a 37-yard pass to Austen Pena, a one-yard TD run and a 5-yard connection with Hayden Cain.

With just over three minutes left in the half, Bussey found Dacorien Johnson for a 14-yard touchdown reception to pull within a score.

After halftime, Bussey took over. First, he hit Shahed Cross for an 8-yard TD pass early in the third quarter, then added TD runs of 12 and 7 yards to help the Bears pull away.

Bussey's final touchdown run came with 5:13 to go, a seven-yard scamper to give the Bears their winning lead.

Watch the replay of the game live on the NFHS Network (subscription required).

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-- Andy Buhler | andy@scorebooklive.com | @sblivetx

Lead photo by Dustin Nguyen.