Timpson defeats Tolar: Live Texas high school football state championship updates recap

Terry Bussey, Bears blast Tolar, to win school's first UIL Class 2A Division I crown

Buck Ringgold, SBLive Sports | Dec 13, 2023

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - The stage is set for Timpson and Tolar to square off in the first 11-man Texas high school football championship game at AT&T Stadium.

The Wednesday night UIL Class 2A Division I showdown pits 5-star phenom Terry Bussey (Texas A&M commit), the nation's No. 1 rated athlete, and the Bears against Tolar team that enters the game with just one loss (Week 3 to Dallas Christian).

Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. (Central time). It's the third of 12 UIL state championships this week at AT&T Stadium from Wednesday to Saturday, three games per day. Gordon beat Westbrook in 1A Division I and Benjamin beat Oglesby in 1A Division II — both six-man football — to open the week Wednesday.

Terry Bussey sets 2 records in Texas high school football championship

All games are being televised regionally by Bally Sports Southwest.

SBLive is taking a closer look at each matchup and will be providing the latest on the ground for every UIL football championship.

Refresh this post for UIL 2A Division I championship score updates and game developments below.

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FINAL (LIVE): TIMPSON 49, TOLAR 7

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Timpson QB Terry Bussey scans the field in the first half of Timpson's first UIL state football championship appearance on Wednesday at AT&T Stadium. The Bears had fallen short in the semis each of the past three seasons / Photo by Tommy Hays

POSTGAME

-- Timpson generated 489 total offensive yards in the win. The Bears rushed for 178 yards and passed for 311 more. Tolar finished with 228 total yards (157 rushing, 71 passing).

-- Timpson LB Tyler Lane was named the Most Outstanding Player on defense. He recorded a game-high 17 total tackles, including 12 solo stops. He had two tackles for loss and a sack.

-- Timpson QB Terry Bussey was named the Most Outstanding Player on offense. He rushed for 155 yards on 10 carries and two TDs while completing 12-of-15 passes for 311 yards and four TDs.

-- Timpson claims the Class 2A Division I state championship with a dominating performance.

FOURTH QUARTER

-- Tolar turns the ball over on downs with 1:55 remaining.

-- Less than four minutes remaining.

-- Have a night, Amare Bruton. Came down with an interception at the Timpson 9 with 8:11 remaining.

-- Terry Bussey's four passing TDs tonight have him tied for second all-time in UIL Class 2A state title game history.

-- And Timpson just scored again. Terry Bussey with another TD pass, this going to Amare Bruton, who catches it near the Tolar 25 and outraces the secondary for a TD covering 36 yards (Timpson, 49-7 | 10:54 4th)

-- Timpson has 444 yards of total offense (169 rushing, 275 passing). Tolar has 173 total yards (118 rushing, 55 passing), and is also 3-of-14 on third-down conversions.

THIRD QUARTER

-- Amare Bruton ends the third quarter with a sack on fourth down. Timpson takes over again to start the fourth quarter with a decisive lead.

-- Terry Bussey has completed 11-of-12 passes for 275 yards and three TDs so far tonight for Timpson.

-- And Timpson goes 92 yards for another TD, and it's a pass from Terry Bussey to Dacorian Johnson, who catches it on the run for his second score on the night, this one covering 44 yards (Timpson, 42-7 | 2:00 3rd)

-- Tolar will punt the ball away right back to Timpson. Bears take over at their own 8 with less than three minutes to go in the third.

-- Timpson senior linebacker Tyler Lane is the team's top tackler so far, with 14 in all.

-- Terry Bussey now has two passing TDs and two rushing TDs for the Bears.

-- Terry Bussey. Keeper. Initially stopped but drags at least three Tolar defenders with him into the end zone for his second rushing TD on the night (Timpson, 35-7 | 4:22 3rd)

-- Tolar goes for it on fourth down at the Timpson 35, but a pass is tipped by Timpson's Amare Bruton and lands in the hands of the Bears' Nate Scourton, who runs it all the way back to the Tolar 6.

-- Terry Bussey appeared to pick off a pass on Tolar's next drive, but there's a flag on the field. Multiple flags, in fact; offsetting penalties, so replay the down.

-- Bruton's TD kickoff return covered 78 yards.

-- And just like that, Timpson grabs the momentum right back as Amare Bruton fields the ensuing kickoff and runs it all the way back for the TD PAT gives Bears their 21-point advantage right back (Timpson, 28-7 | 7:55 3rd)

-- Isaac Blessing in from a yard out. The Rattlers are on the scoreboard (Timpson, 21-7 | 8:10 3rd)

-- Tolar converts on a fourth down as quarterback Isaac Blessing successfully scrambles down to the Timpson 9.

-- Rattlers driving inside the Timpson 15. They get stuffed on a third-down running play, though, and that will bring up a fourth-down situation. Appears they will go for it.

-- Tolar opens the second half with a successful onside kick. Rattlers already near the Timpson 30.

SECOND QUARTER

-- Timpson comes up with a sack on the final play of the first half. Bears' defense has definitely come to play.

-- Terry Bussey at it again. This time, he breaks loose on a 93-yard TD keeper, which is the longest run from scrimmage in UIL 2A state title game history. Bears up by three TDs now (Timpson, 21-0 | 2:09 2nd)

-- Timpson makes another stop on third down. Tolar is going to punt it away for the fifth time tonight. Bears get the ball inside their own 10 with 3:18 left in the half.

-- Tolar forces Timpson to punt the ball away and the Rattlers get the ball just past midfield with 5:18 left in the half.

-- Tolar appeared to get a fumble after a Timpson receiver caught a pass and the ball was quickly knocked loose, but officials ruled it an incomplete pass, so the Bears retain possession.

-- Timpson forces Tolar to punt for a fourth time in this game. Bears will take over near their own 35 with exactly eight minutes left until halftime.

-- Following the punt, Timpson was backed up on the shadow of its own goal line. No problem for Terry Bussey and company, though, as he finds Dacorian Johnson on a slant and Johnson does the rest, taking it all the way to the house to complete a 97-yard TD (Timpson, 14-0 | 10:53 2nd)

-- Timpson forces Tolar to punt for the third time on three possessions after the Rattlers faced a fourth down inside the Bears' 45.

-- Timpson had 139 yards of total offense in the first quarter (88 passing, 51 rushing), while Tolar had 47 (36 rushing, 11 passing).

FIRST QUARTER

-- Tolar crosses midfield as the first quarter comes to an end.

-- Timpson faces a fourth-and-4 inside the Tolar 40 and the Bears are going for it. But Tolar's defense stops Terry Bussey on a keeper and the Rattlers hold serve.

-- Timpson quickly on the move again. Bears have the ball just past midfield.

-- But Timpson's defense comes through once more and forces Tolar to punt for the second time tonight. Bears take over just past their own 10-yard line with 4:17 to go in the quarter.

-- Tolar gets the ball just past midfield and into Timpson territory.

-- Timpson scores a touchdown on its opening series as Terry Bussey launches a deep pass to Colton Carroll, which goes for 43 yards. PAT is good (Timpson, 7-0 | 7:25 1st)

-- Timpson's first possession, QB Terry Bussey breaks loose on a run on third-and-short. Bears have a first down near their 40.

-- Tolar converted a first down on the opening series, but throws an incomplete pass on third-and-long near midfield and will punt it to the Bears.

-- Timpson wins the toss, defers to the second half. Tolar receives the opening kickoff.

PREGAME READING

-- Timpson broke through to the title stage after three consecutive years losing in the semifinals. Now? The Bears' attendance this week is school history. But its ultimate goal is to win it all. Editor Buck Ringgold explored that in a column earlier this season: