Falcons outlast Bulldogs in season opener
Magnolia had a potential goahead 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 eight-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 one-yard touchdown by Collin Marshall.
The Bulldogs stopped the twopoint 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 seven-yard loss as Magnolia took over at its own 33.