Putting the pressure on Timpson’s quarterback is Wortham Bulldog #4 Ethan McCoslin. (Photo by Melissa Perez)
The Timpson Bears held a 20-7 lead at the half and they made that lead hold up in a scoreless second half to defeat the Wortham Bulldogs in the district opener Friday night at John Herbert Eakin Stadium.
The night was strange with several plays for negative yardage for both teams and the ejection of the entire chain crew late in the first half.
Bulldog receiver Jayce Black has been nearing the record book over the last few weeks and he got to within two receptions of breaking the mark for a bulldog receiver. He now has 68 catches in his high school career and the record is 70 and it is well within reach Friday night.
The Wortham offense took the opening kickoff and were forced to punt. Cole Shivers punted down the field and the it was bobbled and covered by Jayce Black and the Wortham offense returned to the field near the 50. On third and long, quarterback Zach Jones threw deep down the field and it was picked off by Jordan Osby. He returned it 75 yards for the games first points. The point after was good and the Bears led 7-0.
The Bulldogs answered that score promptly on their next possession. Stephon Ester had a ten yard carry and Black had a couple of catches to near midfield. Cole Shivers caught a deep pass at the Bear 11-yard line and three plays later, Jones pushed in from two yards out and the tied the score at 7-7.
Timpson regained the lead on their next possession at the end of the first quarter. Osby caught an 18-yard pass and John Grogan had a 16-yard catch to the Bulldog nine-yard line. On third and goal from the four, Osby scored his second touchdown and the point after gave the Bears a 14-7 lead.
Wortham fumbled at the Timpson 27 on their next possession that ended a ten play drive at the beginning of the second quarter. When the Bulldog offense had their second turnover on downs in the quarter, Timpson put the final points on the board. Trystan Fisher caught a 43-yard pass and put them in a position to score. With around 20 seconds remaining in the half, the entire chain crew was ejected for a verbal altercation with the Wortham side. Shykeem Washington scored on a four-yard touchdown run and held a 20-7 lead at the half.
The Bulldogs only made one serious threat to score in the second half. Shivers and Black caught a pass to the 41-yard line and Black had a 21-yard reception to the Timpson 11. The Bulldogs took four shots to the end zone and turned the ball over on downs.
The Wortham defense did not allow Timpson to even come close to the end zone in the second half in the scoreless frame.
Jayce Black caught eight passes for 94 yards and Cole Shivers had six for 78 yards. Jones completed 17 of 34 passes for 204 yards and he was intercepted once.
Wortham dropped to 0-1 in the district season and evened its season record at 3-3. They will return home to face the state ranked Tenaha Tigers behind the historic walls of Bulldog Stadium. Game time is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
