The Magnolia football team had a potential go-ahead touchdown pass in the air in the fourth quarter. Tompkins linebacker Bryce Shaink had other plans.
Shaink read the play and leaped in front of the receiver at the goal line for a game-altering interception, starting a blitz of turnovers for the Tompkins defense. Maliik Edwards added interceptions on consecutive possessions as the Falcons prevailed 18-6 on Saturday at Legacy Stadium.
“He just scrambled out and I saw Sean Dubose get good pressure,” Shaink said. “That’s a key moment. I’m just going to do my job. I’m going to get the ball and that’s what happened. I took it as far as I could and I’m glad we got that stop.”
It was a clash of 10-win district champions from 2020, both with ample defensive talent returning. The score reflected it, as Tompkins led 12-0 at halftime and could never pull away by more than two scores.
Stymied much of the first half, Magnolia finally got some momentum and completed a 66-yard drive, with a 29-yard pass from Ross Choate to Mac Postel Jr. and a third-down catch by Marcus Childs setting up an 8-yard touchdown run by Deonald Butler. The Bulldogs missed the point-after attempt but pulled within 12-6 with three minutes, 47 seconds left in the third quarter.
Magnolia appeared poised to take the lead in the fourth, sparked by a 48-yard reception from Dustin Lindvall. But after two runs produced little, Shaink pounced on a third-down pass to abruptly halt the drive.
The Falcons were not finished, as Edwards hauled in an overthrown pass on Magnolia’s next drive and returned it to the four, setting up a 1-yard touchdown by Collin Marshall.
The Bulldogs stopped the two-point attempt and once again drove inside the red zone on the strength of Butler’s reception. But Edwards timed his leap on a fade pattern for his second pick, this one in the end zone.
“My teammates, they’re going to get in the way and force them to make bad throws,” Edwards said. “I just capitalized on the quarterback’s mistakes. I saw the ball come out and I caught it.”
Tompkins defeated Magnolia for the second consecutive season opener, including a 24-21 win last year in which the Bulldogs rallied from a 24-0 halftime deficit. Falcons coach Todd McVey said his team was better prepared for the charge this time, particularly on defense.
“They did an outstanding job playing the ball and doing something with it,” McVey said. “I’m very proud of their efforts and the way they responded. Both offense and defense were in some tough situations but they both responded well. It was good to see.”
Tompkins controlled the pace in the first half, driving into Magnolia territory four times while allowing three first downs. But the Bulldogs kept the game within reach, stopping two of the drives.
William Alexander read an option attempt on fourth-down, stopping the play for a 7-yard loss as Magnolia took over at its own 33.
But the Falcons cashed in on their next possession, covering 71 yards in nine plays with the help of a 33-yard reception by Joshua McMillan, who had more than 100 yards in the first half.
Marshall finished the drive with a 4-yard touchdown, but Magnolia’s Dylan Hayes blocked the point-after kick to keep the score 6-0. A senior, Marshall scored his first two varsity touchdowns.
“The offensive line was blocking everybody up,” Marshall said. “I had a clear read, the receivers we focused on being blocking receivers and I think that’s what we really did tonight to move the ball efficiently.”
Tompkins advanced to the Magnolia 20 on its following drive before Alexander recovered a fumble. The Bulldogs could not work away the rest of the half, however, and Cole Francis found McMillan with a perfect deep ball for a 31-yard touchdown. The two-point pass failed, leaving the score 12-0 at halftime.
Tompkins held Magnolia to 58 yards in the first half, with Evan Tymon, Daniel Aigbogun and Maliik Edwards among the many playmakers. The Falcons’ defense ultimately had the final say in the outcome.
“It’s a wild season opener, that’s for sure, but it made us tougher,” Shaink said. “We needed that. A wake-up call never hurts. I think this was one of them. It’s going to make us better in the long run. We’re going to look back at this game and say we needed it.”
Tompkins will face another 2020 district champion next week, facing Clear Springs on Friday at Challenger Columbia Stadium. Magnolia hits the road the same night, traveling to play former district rival Brenham. The Bulldogs rebounded well last year, defeating the Cubs 35-10 and not losing until the area round of the playoffs.
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3 late interceptions seal victory for Tompkins over Magnolia - Houston Chronicle
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