John H Eakin Field on Friday, October 11, 2024 –
The Timpson Bears varsity football team improved their season record to 3-2 when they beat the visiting Hemphill Hornets by a 35-22 point score on Friday. The game was the District 11 2A-1 opener for both teams. Before the game the Bears retired former Bears student Terry Bussey’s #10 Jersey and recognized his contributions to the school. Bussey led the team as quarterback last year to the 2023 Class 2A Championship Title and now plays at Texas A&M University.
The Bears were able to get on the scoreboard first Friday when junior Braylon Parker intercepted a Hornet’s pass and he returned it 80 yards for a touchdown. Sophomore kicker Alexis Castillo added an extra point kick and Timpson held a 7-0 lead with 6:20 minutes left in the first quarter.
Hemphill gained their first lead when senior Josh Garrett scored on a 2-yard run and the Hornets added a 2-point conversion run by senior Trystan Thomas which gave HHS an 8-7 point advantage with 2:27 left in the opening period.
Junior Bear Sean Matts scored a on a 16-yard touchdown run with 6:37 left in the second quarter but Hemphill’s Jarrell Williams blocked the Bears extra point kick attempt. Timpson led 13-8.
Hornet senior Trevon McDaniel scored on a 6-yard touchdown run with just 44 seconds left in the first half. The Hornets 2 point conversion attempt failed and Hemphill held a 14-13 lead.
The Bears scored with 13 seconds left in the second frame when Parker hit senior receiver La’Jordan McCallister for a 30-yard scoring strike. Sophomore Alexis Castillo added an extra point kick and the Bears held a 20-14 advantage going into the halftime intermission.
Each team possessed the ball twice in the third period but neither team was able to score.
With 11:22 remaining in the fourth quarter, Hemphill suffered a bad snap over their punter’s head and Timpson took over at the Hornet’s 1-yardline. Parker was able to score on a keeper run on the next play and he also converted a 2-point conversion run which gave THS a 28-14 lead. The Bears later got a 36-yard touchdown run from sophomore Jeffrey Richardson. Another extra point conversion by Castillo gave the Bears a 35-14 lead with 7:59 minutes left in the game.
Hemphill wasted no time answering when Trevin McDaniel returned the ensuing kickoff 93-yards for a touchdown., a 2-point conversion cut Timpson’s lead to 35-22 with 7:44 left in the game. This proved to be the final score of the contest.
The Bears will next host the Shelbyville Dragons on Friday, October 18 at 7:30 p.m., at Eakin Stadium. The Dragons are 5-1, 1-0 in District 11 2A-1, after beating visiting Garrison by a 43-42 score on Friday.
