Bears Take Conference Win over Rams in County Rivalry Matchup

Center Roughriders’ Stadium, Friday, October 19, 2018 – 

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On Friday, the Joaquin Rams lost a tough fought District 11 Class 2A-1 Varsity football game to the Timpson Bears by a 27-23 score. The game between the two Shelby County schools could very well be a big factor and figure into the conference’s playoff picture. Joaquin is 5-2 overall this season with a 1-2 conference mark. Timpson stands at 3-5 for the season and has a 2-2 league standing.

Joaquin scored first when Ian Shahan scored on an 8-yard touchdown run which capped a 69-yard Joaquin scoring drive with 9 minutes left in the first quarter. Jesus Bravo added an extra point kick to give the Rams a 7-0 lead.

Bears’ quarterback Jon Grogan found Cam Berry for a 12-yard touchdown completion with 3:19 left in the opening period. A Bears extra point kick tied the game at 7-7.

Early in the second quarter Jordan Osby found the endzone on a 13-yard touchdown run which gave Timpson a 14-7 lead with 9:19 left in the second quarter.

Joaquin scored next with a 34-yard Jesus Bravo field goal with 2 minutes remaining in the first half. This cut the Bear’s lead to 14-10.

The Bears had to punt the ball back to the Rams with just 1 minute left before the halftime intermission. Joaquin used only three plays to go 50 yards for the next score. Hunter Gates scored on a 12-yard touchdown run to cap a 50-yard scoring drive with just 38 seconds left in the first half. Joaquin took a narrow 17-14 lead into the locker room at the midway break.

The Bears started the second half with a 10-play 60-yard scoring drive capped by a 10-yard keeper for a touchdown by Jon Grogan with 7:38 left in the third period. The extra point attempt failed and Timpson led 20-17.

Joaquin missed a field goal with 3:28 left in the third stanza and Timpson held the narrow 17-14 lead throughout the rest of the third frame.

Osby scored on a 5-yard touchdown run which capped a 9-play Bears scoring drive with 7:32 left in the contest. Timpson led 27-17 after a successful extra point kick.

Ram Ian Shahan added his second touchdown run for the game’s final score with 5 minutes left in the game. Joaquin trailed Timpson 27-23.

Both teams exchange fumbles on each team’s next possession. Grogan was able to intercept a JHS pass at midfield with 2:03 left in the contest but THS returned the favor just moments later when Joaquin recovered a Bear’s fumble at the Joaquin 48-yard line with just 1:42 left in the game. Joaquin drove the ball down to the Bear’s 6-yard line but the Bears where able to break up a Ram’s pass attempt on the final play of the game.

Bears Head Football Coach Kerry Therwhanger said after the game, “Our team deserves this win. They stayed in this game and battled hard to win for our school. They fought their tails off and they deserve this win. We fought back hard after the turnovers and our defense bowed their necks and played tough to keep us in the game. We will enjoy the win over the weekend and work hard starting Monday to prepare for next week’s game.”

Timpson will travel to Linden-Kildare next Friday, October 26, 2018. Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m.

Joaquin will host Beckville next Friday, at 7:30 p.m.