Timberview falls in first round of playoffs

By Bob Kowalski

Mansfield Record

Timberview’s football season ended in the first round of the Class 5A Division I state playoffs with a 21-18 loss to Frisco Wakeland at Vernon Newsom Stadium on Friday night.

The Wolves (9-2) cut the lead to 21-18 with five minutes left in the game on a 10-play, five-minute drive that began at their own 28-yard line. Running back Jaylon Woods did most of the heavy lifting, carrying eight times for 39 yards, pushing his way into the end zone from one yard out to make the score 21-16.

On the two-point conversion attempt, quarterback Zuric Humes, chased out of the pocket, rolled far to his right and fired a pass between three defenders and into the hands of Cameron Bates to bring Timberview within a field goal.

But the Wolves were unable to get the ball back as Wakeland quarterback Brennan Myer drove his team to the Timberview 6-yard line and closed out the game.

Timberview took a 7-0 lead on its opening drive of the game, which ended on a 53-yard touchdown run by Tyler Madison, who shot straight through the middle of the line and outran the secondary for the early lead with 3 ½ minutes gone. Woods rushed for 113 yards in the first half and 169 for the game.

The Wolverines (9-2), the third-place team from District 7-5A DII, answered quickly. On their second snap, Myer threw a 77-yard TD pass to Donovan Woolen to tie the game at 7-7 only a minute after Timberview’s score.

The Wolves regained the lead on their next drive when Emma Young kicked a 32-yard field goal for a 10-7 edge with just under four minutes left in the first quarter.

Wakeland’s next drive extended into the second quarter, when Myer again connected with Woolen, this time from 7 yards out for a 14-10 lead that the Wolverines held at halftime.

Timberview’s defense held on Wakeland’s next drive when Landon Blair intercepted a pass at the Timberview 15-yard line and returned it to the 32. But three plays later, Wakeland’s Campbell Martin returned the favor, intercepting a Timberview pass to give the Wolverines the ball at the Wolves’ 44-yard line. Wakeland was unable to score and the half ended with the Wolverines holding a four-point lead.

Timberview was hampered by penalties (nine in the first half, 14 in the game), including a holding call that negated an 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Madison early in the fourth quarter.