Timpson’s John H Eakin Stadium on Friday, October 18, 2024 –
The Shelbyville Dragons varsity football team was able to improve their overall record to 5-1, and advanced their District 11 2A-1 conference mark to 2-0, with a 58-57 road win over the Timpson Bears on Friday. The Bears stand at 3-3 for the season and 1-1 in District 11 action. The game was the Bears 2024 Homecoming and sophomore Jaleah Thomas was named as Timpson’s Queen. She was escorted by her father Jared Thomas before the game.
Shelbyville’s first possession was ended when junior defensive back Braylon Parker intercepted a Dragon’s pass attempt giving THS the ball at their own 19-yardline. At the ten-minute mark Dragons senior defensive back Tanor Doggett regained possession of the pigskin by recovery a Bear’s fumble near midfield.
Shelbyville went 47 yards in 9 plays and scored when senior quarterback DJ Barnes hit senior wideout Jon Jon Mathis for a 7-yard touchdown pass with 4:35 left in the opening period. An extra point kick by freshman kicker Edwin Vasquez gave SHS a 7-0 lead.
A little over a minute later, senior tailback JJ Garner went 58-yards for the Bear’s first score. An extra point kick conversion by sophomore Alexis Castillo tied the game at 7-7 with 3:23 remaining in the first stanza.
Barnes hit Parker for a 55-yard touchdown completion reception and another extra point kick gave SHS a 14-7 lead with 2:27 left in the first quarter.
Garner helped tie the game at 14-14 with a 55-yard scoring run with 1:58 left, after Castillo added another conversion kick.
The final score of the first period came when Barnes hit Mathis who caught a pass tipped by a Bears defender for a 2-yard touchdown with time expired. An extra point kick by Vasquez sent the Dragons into the second frame with a 21-14 point advantage.
The Bears started the second quarter with an 83-yard kick return for a touchdown which saw senior La’Jordan McCollister pitch the football to Parker who ran for the score. An extra point kick tied the game at 21-21 with 11:47 still left in the first half.
Sophomore receiver Hunter Harvey scored on a 12-yard touchdown run and an extra point conversion kick gave SHS a 28-21 lead with 10:44 left in the half. This score was the halftime score.
The Bears tied the game at 28-28 when they went 40 yards in nine plays and Garner scored on a 3-yard quarterback keeper to cap the drive. Castillo added another extra point kick.
Shelbyville retook the lead at 35-28 with a Barnes keeper run for an 11-yard score and a Vasquez conversion kick in the middle of the third quarter.
Bears sophomore running back Jeffrey Richardson scored a touchdown with 1:17 left in the third frame and Castillo tied the game at 35-35 with an extra point kick.
Parker scored another Bears touchdown on a 10-yard run early in the fourth quarter. A Castillo conversion kick gave the Bears a 42-35 lead. Shelbyville went up 43-42 with 6:16 left in the game when Barnes scored from three yards out on a run for a touchdown and Vasquez added the point after.
JJ Garner gave Timpson a 50-43 lead with a 17-yard touchdown and Parker added a 2-point conversion run with 5:25 left to play.
Dragon Tanor Doggett helped tie the game at 50-50 with a touchdown catch from Barnes with 4:22 left.
Parker added a 24-yard Bears touchdown with 2:50 left to play THS led 57-50 after a Castillo extra point kick.
Barnes scored an 11-yard rushing touchdown and a 2-point conversion run to his resume with just 18 seconds remaining to give Shelbyville the final 58-57 lead.
The Shelbyville Dragons will next host the San Augustine Wolves on Friday, October 25, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
The Wolves are 3-4 overall and 0-2 in District 11 2A1. They lost at home to Garrison on Friday by a 31-0 score.
Timpson will travel to Joaquin on Friday, October 25 for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Rams Stadium. Joaquin is 5-2, 2-0 after a 52-26 conference win on Friday at Hemphill.
