SECTIONS
By Bob Kowalski
Mansfield Record
An opportunistic Timberview football team cashed in on turnovers and good field position to erase an early two-score deficit and roll past Richland, 59-24, Friday night at Vernon Newsom Stadium.
The Wolves (8-0, 6-0 5-5A DI), ranked No. 2 in Texas Football’s Class 5A state rankings, clinched the district title, largely behind the offensive output of quarterback Cameron Bates and running back Jarvis Reed, who each scored three touchdowns.
Timberview scored five second-half touchdowns and dominated time of possession in the game that was delayed 15 minutes at the start because of lightning in the area.
Richland (8-1, 5-1) limited Timberview to a field goal on its first possession, but had few answers for the Wolves’ offense after that.
After falling behind 14-3 with 6 ½ minutes left in the first half, Timberview scored the final three touchdowns before halftime, taking advantage of excellent field position on each drive.
The Wolves started a drive at their 35-yard line after an onside kick attempt and offsides penalty against Richland’s kicking team. A 24-yard run to the outside by Javeon Madison put the Wolves in Richland territory, and they scored two plays later when Bates surged up the middle and outraced the secondary to the end zone on a 36-yard TD run that cut Richland’s lead to 14-10.
Timberview forced a three-and-out, and Richland’s punt into the wind netted zero yards, giving the Wolves the ball at the Royals’ 33-yard line. Zuric Humes passed to Titus Evans on first down for a TD, putting Timberview back in the lead, 16-14, with 3:20 left in the half.
On the following kickoff, Timberview’s Chance Riddick-Woods recovered a fumble at Richland’s 20-yard line. Five plays later, Bates froze the defense with a handoff fake, then shot through the line for a 16-yard touchdown and 23-14 Timberview lead with just over a minute left in the first half.
On the opening kickoff of the second half, Timberview’s Demaury Moore recovered the ball at the Royals’ 31-yard line when Richland failed to field the short kick. Three plays later, Reed went 11 yards for a touchdown and a 30-14 Timberview lead.
On the next kickoff, Moore stepped up again, recovering a fumble at Richland’s 24-yard line to set up a short drive capped by Reed’s 1-yard run for a 37-14 lead with almost 10 ½ minutes to play in the third quarter.
After forcing a three-and-out, Timberview drove 51 yards in seven plays, scoring on a 16-yard run by Reed. A bad snap on the extra-point attempt resulted in a 2-point conversion run by Bates for a 45-14 edge with almost 7 minutes remaining in the third.
The Wolves answered a Richland field goal with another quick drive, getting a 40-yard run by Bates, who received excellent downfield blocking as he cut to the outside and scored for a 52-17 lead with 3 minutes left in the third quarter.
Timberview’s next drive again started at midfield and resulted in a 42-yard TD pass from Humes to Tyler Madison for a 59-17 lead.
Richland finished the scoring with 25 seconds left in the game on an 18-yard TD catch by Xavier Johnson.
Elsewhere in the Mansfield ISD on Friday, Lake Ridge (2-4, 3-6 11-6A) lost to Waxahachie, 39-31; and Legacy (1-5, 3-6 11-6A) lost to Cedar Hill, 41-0. Summit (5-4, 4-2 2-5A) downed Joshua, 49-10. On Thursday, Mansfield (7-2, 4-2 11-6A) blanked Dallas Skyline, 37-0, to clinch a playoff berth.
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