No. 5 Argyle slips past Timberview late

By Bob Kowalski

Mansfield Record

Timberview’s defense put up a staunch effort against the fifth-ranked team in the state, but a long touchdown pass with less than a minute left lifted Argyle to a 24-14 victory Friday night at Vernon Newsom Stadium.

Timberview (1-2, 0-1 3-5A DII) took its first lead of the game when linebacker Sean Larry picked up an Argyle fumble at the Eagles’ 19-yard line and ran for a touchdown. Emma Young’s extra-point kick gave the Wolves a 14-10 lead with 7:14 to play in the fourth quarter.

The Wolves’ defense stepped up on the next drive when Nathan Tilmon intercepted an Argyle pass in the end zone and returned it to Timberview’s 10-yard line, giving the Wolves possession with 5:50 left in the game.

Timberview turned to their running backs, with Jaylon Woods and Taylor Hanson carrying the ball on five consecutive plays. But Argyle (2-1, 1-0, No. 5 in Texas Football’s Class 5A Division II rankings) stopped Hanson one yard short on third down, forcing a punt.

Argyle took possession at its own 28-yard line with 2 ½ minutes to play, trailing 14-10. Quarterback Maguire Gasperson found big tight end Braden Bach for a clutch four-yard reception to give the Eagles a first down and keep the drive alive.

A pass interference call moved the ball into Timberview territory at the 47-yard line, then another pass interference call put the Eagles at Timberview’s 23 with just over a minute left. A sack pushed Argyle back five more yards, but Gasperson threw a perfect pass to Chase Bagley at the goal line with 47 seconds left to give the Eagles a 17-14 lead.

A 35-yard interception return for a touchdown by Argyle’s Maliek Bracy capped the scoring at 24-14.

The teams failed to score in the first half, with the best scoring opportunity for Argyle coming with just over 9 minutes left before halftime when they drove to Timberview’s 13-yard line before turning the ball over on downs.

Argyle had another chance to start the second half when the Eagles recovered a fumbled kick return at Timberview’s 34-yard line. A sack by Timberview’s Chance Collins on fourth down stopped that drive.

Timberview then went three-and-out, punting to Argyle’s 8-yard line. On the next play, Larry tackled Argyle running back Watson Bell for a 7-yard loss, pushing the Eagles to their own 1-yard line. Two plays later, Argyle punted from its own end zone, but a roughing the kicker penalty against Timberview gave the Eagles a first down at the 22-yard line before the drive stalled again.

The Eagles gained excellent field position on their next drive when Timberview failed to get a punt off, setting up Argyle at the Wolves’ 9-yard line. Bell carried into the pile, then bounced outside for clear sailing into the end zone and a 7-0 Argyle lead.

Bracy intercepted a pass on the next drive, and Argyle converted a field goal for a 10-0 lead with 1:08 to play in the third.

Timberview scored its first TD on the next drive, going 67 yards. Quarterback Anthony Desanto kept the drive going with a clutch 9-yard pass to Kobe Gooden on fourth-and-eight. Woods gave the Wolves a first-and-goal with an 11-yard carry to the 10, and two plays later, Hanson scored from the 2-yard line for Timberview’s first score and a 10-7 Argyle advantage.

That set the stage for Larry’s fumble return and late-game scoring.

In other games Friday night, Mansfield (3-0) held off Arlington Martin, 63-53, at R.L. Anderson Stadium; and Lake Ridge(1-2) fell at Richardson, 34-0. On Thursday night, Legacy (0-3) was defeated by South Grand Prairie, 39-20. Summit (0-2) had a bye.

Next week, Mansfield plays host to Waco Midway at 7 p.m. Thursday at Newsom; Lake Ridge is at home against North Forney at 7 p.m. Friday at R.L. Anderson Stadium; Legacy faces Rockwall Heath at 7 p.m. Friday at Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium; Summit meets Burleson at 7 p.m. Friday at Newsom; and Timberview faces Colleyville Heritage at 7 p.m. Friday at Mustang-Panther Stadium.

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