John Herbert Eakin Stadium at Timpson High School on Friday, November 3, 2023 –
The Timpson Bears finished their 2023 regular season football schedule with an unblemished 10-0 record by taking a 35-26 District 11 2A-1 win over the visiting Garrison Bulldogs (9-1). Both teams entered the game with a 9-0 season record and they were 5-0 in the conference. The annual rivalry is dubbed the “Battle of the Attoyac River” named after the waterway that separates the two towns and the neighboring counties they are in. The win marked Timpson’s fourth consecutive district championship.
The game was defensive early and neither team scored during the entirety of the first quarter. Early in the second period Timpson got on the scoreboard when senior quarterback Terry Bussey broke free for a 52-yard touchdown run. Bears senior kicker Tyler Lane nailed an extra point and Timpson led 7-0.
Garrison scored next when senior runningback Javien Black capped a 72-yard Bulldogs scoring drive by rushing for a 22-yard touchdown with 7:37 minutes left in the second quarter. Freshman JT Reagan kicked the extra point to tie the game at 7-7. The ensuing kickoff saw senior kick returner Amare Bruton give the Bears excellent field position when he returned the GHS kick 41 yards to Garrison’s 27-yardline. Bussey then hit sophomore receiver Dacorian Johnson for a 16-yard reception and two plays later, junior runningback JJ Garner found the endzone for a 4-yard touchdown. Another Lane extra point gave THS a 14-7 lead with 7:11 left in the second stanza.
With just 44 seconds left before halftime Bulldogs senior quarterback Brayden Davidson scored on a 3-yard run which capped a 70-yard scoring drive and pulled the Bulldogs to within a single point of Timpson. The Bulldogs extra point sailed wide. When the halftime buzzer sounded Timpson carried a narrow 14-13 point lead into the lockerroom at the midway break.
At the 8:53 mark of the third quarter Johnson scored on a 1-yard run on first and goal and gave THS a 21-13 lead after another Lane extra point. Garrison answered when Davidson hit senior receiver Omarion Rasberry for a 43-yard touchdown reception. A 2-point conversion try failed and GHS trailed Timpson 21-19 with 3:27 left in the third frame.
In the fourth quarter Bussey scored on a 9-yard run with 7:46 left in the contest. Lane added the extra point kick to extend Timpson’s lead to 28-19.
A sack which ended the Bulldog’s next drive and a miscued punt gave THS good field position and they drove the football down to the Garrison 1-yardline. Bussey scored on a keeper run with just 1:20 left in the contest. Another extra point kick gave the Bears a 35-19 advantage.
Garrison was able to score at the buzzer when Davidson hit Black on a 54-yard strike for a score. Reagan added an extra point and the game ended with Timpson gaining the 35-26 title win. The Bears will next head to Lufkin Panthers Stadium on Friday, November 10, 2023 for a 7 p.m. kickoff with the Corrigan-Camden Bulldogs in the Texas UIL Bi-District Round of the UIL Playoffs. The Bulldogs are 3-7, 2-3 in District 12 2A-1. They are the fourth-place representative of their conference after falling 55-12 to Centerville on Friday.
