ARLINGTON -- Timpson was the undefeated, No.1-ranked 2A team in the state heading into Wednesday state title game. Yet they found themselves underdogs against Tolar because they were hampered by injuries, namely star running back JJ Garner. 

A Terry Bussey legacy game seemed the only way Timpson could win a nail-biter. They got one. But Timpson cruised 49-7 over Tolar because the supporting cast played lights out.

Bussey earned the game's Offensive MVP honors, as lethal through the air (12-for-15, 311, 4 TDs) as he was on the ground (10 carries, 155 yards, 2 TDs). He broke two Class 2A state championship records with a 97-yard touchdown pass and 93-yard touchdown run. But he was far from the only standout.

Sophomore wide receiver Dacorian Johnson had a breakout performance on the biggest stage. Johnson was on the same page with Bussey, his cousin, catching six passes for 187 yards and two scores. The most explosive one came on the 97-yard score. 

"I had a lot of adrenaline," Johnson said. "I knew we had to come out and get on top."

Timpson's defense was faster and more violent than Tolar from the opening kickoff. Sophomore cornerback Chris Nickleberry was tested early and often and answered the bell every time, breaking up four passes. Senior linebacker Tyler Lane took home Defensive MVP honors with 17 total tackles, the most crucial coming on Tolar's second drive when they converted a fake punt only for the second chance to fizzle out. 

It was a three-phase win for Timpson. Tolar stole a possession on the second half's opening kick with an onside and scored to make it 21-7. Then, senior Amari Bruton took the opening kickoff back for a touchdown to quell any momentum from Tolar's lone score.

"It feels like a dream," Lane said. "A lot of people would kill to be here. Us being here and finally winning, having a state championship to bring back to this town, it's amazing."

The first state championship in program history could only come from a total team win.