Timpson ends remarkable run with 'truly amazing' Texas state football title triumph

Terry Bussey, Bears make big plays in all three phases in dominating UIL Class 2A Division I title win

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - After finally reaching the state title game following three consecutive years of coming up frustratingly short, Timpson was determined to seize the moment.

Behind a record-setting performance from senior quarterback Terry Bussey and outstanding plays from the defense and special teams, the Bears dominated Tolar, 49-7, in Wednesday’s Class 2A Division I title game at AT&T Stadium to cap a perfect 16-0 season.

“To finally get here and win it is truly amazing,” said Bussey, the Texas A&M commit who was named the game’s Most Outstanding Player on offense. “It means a lot bringing it back for this community.

“Everybody up there (in the stands) are just as excited as we are, and it’s truly a blessing.”

Timpson finally broke through to play in the final week of the season after falling in the state semifinals each of the past three seasons. The Bears were more than determined to prove they weren’t just satisfied to be here.

They set the tone on the game’s opening possession, going 83 yards in six plays, capped by a 43-yard touchdown pass from Bussey to receiver Colton Carroll.

The Bears then broke the game open with a pair of record-setting plays in the second quarter - a 97-yard TD pass from Bussey to receiver Dacorian Johnson, which set a record for both the longest passing and longest receiving TD in a 2A Division I title game - and a 93-yard keeper for a TD by Bussey, which was the longest rushing TD in a 2A Division I title contest.

Terry Bussey sets 2 records in Texas high school football championship

But while Timpson’s offense provided more astounding numbers and highlight-reel plays to build its 21-0 halftime lead, the defense’s performance was just as integral to winning on Wednesday.

The Bears forced Tolar to punt on each of its first five possessions, while holding the Rattlers to 86 total yards.

“We’ve got a strong defense, a fast defense, a lot of guys, a lot of go-getters on that defense,” Bussey said. “We were able to do that to stop their running game and then to hold them in the passing game, too, is truly a blessing.

“A lot of people think that it’s the offense that wins us the games, but that defense we’ve got is really our backbone.”

Tolar finally broke through on the scoreboard after recovering the onside kick to start the second half. But right after the Rattlers scored their TD, the Bears had an answer.

Senior Amare Bruton fielded the ensuing kickoff, found a lane and was able to take it in from 78 yards out, shifting momentum back to Timpson for good with a 28-7 lead.

“Coming straight out of halftime with the little adversity we had right there with the missed onside kick and they went down and scored, at that moment I was like, ‘It’s time, it’s time for us to get it back,’” Bruton said.

“I really thought (they would try another onside kick); they had the momentum right back (but the Rattlers went ahead and kicked it deep). … I was hoping they would kick it to me right there, and as soon as it hit the hands, it was like smooth sailing.”

Bruton didn’t stop there, as he tipped a fourth-down pass, with teammate Nate Scourton making an interception and taking it all the way to the Tolar 6 before Bussey ran it on the next play. Bruton also intercepted a pass and caught Bussey’s fourth and final TD pass, a 36-yarder a minute into the final quarter which ended the scoring.

Timpson defeats Tolar: Live score, updates of Texas high school football state championship (12/13/2023)

Bussey ended the night completing 12-of-15 passes for 311 yards and four TDs while adding 155 yards on 10 carries and two scores.

Three Bears finished with double-digit tackles, led by 17 from senior linebacker Tyler Lane, who was named the Most Outstanding Player on defense. He also had 12 solo stops, two tackles for loss and a sack.

“We just read our keys, and just came out here, don’t stop in the hole and just make a play,” Lane said.

“The defense, we’ve just been able to get stops when we needed or when we needed to get stops, we’ll get them,” Lane said. “Sometimes we won’t, sometimes we will, but we’ve usually been consistent.”

Finally, Timpson was able to enjoy the ending to the season after agonizing what might have or what could have been.

“It feels like a dream; there’s too many words I can’t say or comprehend, but it’s amazing,” Lane said.

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

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All photos by Tommy Hays.

Photo by Tommy Hays