“We’re always hungry and we always want interceptions,” said junior free safety Cody Chapman. “Our safeties coach, any time a safety gets a pick he buys us a double cheeseburger. That’s what we want, before the game we’re always thinking, ‘let me get a burger for lunch.’"
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It didn’t seem like Tompkins secondary could have a better game after intercepting Fort Bend Travis four times in the bi-district round.
But the Falcons defensive backs weren’t satisfied and were out for more against Jersey Village (11-1) in the Class 6A, Division I area round at Pridgeon Stadium.
“We’re always hungry and we always want interceptions,” said junior free safety Cody Chapman. “Our safeties coach, any time a safety gets a pick he buys us a double cheeseburger. That’s what we want, before the game we’re always thinking, ‘let me get a burger for lunch.’"
There will be plenty of burgers to go around the safety meeting room next week, as Tompkins (11-1) came away with six interceptions, four of which came from players that play safety.
Chapman came away with two interceptions, as Tompkins came out 42-14 winners and advanced to the regional semifinal for the second straight season.
“It’s just these guys getting better at what they do every week,” said Tompkins head coach Todd McVey. “I had a conversation with Cody and was telling him all week long, ‘play fast, play fast play fast. Be over the top.’
“It was fun to see, because his first pick I was the first one that ran out there and I hurt my leg jumping up and getting up high with him, but it was work it,” McVey continued. “They’re a good group of kids, they’ve really worked hard and they take pride in what they do. They know behind them there isn’t anyone. They do a great job back there and I’m really proud of those guys.”
Jersey Village struck first in the game, taking the opening drive 75 yards and getting a touchdown on an 8-yard pass from Adam Tran to Quinci Jones.
Tompkins went scoreless in the first quarter, but from the second quarter on, the Falcons owned the game.
The Falcons got on the board early in the second quarter with an eight yard run from Caleb Blocker. After Tyler Collins came away with Tompkins first interception of the game, Blocker capped off another Tompkins drive with a 4-yard run to give the Falcons their first lead of the game.
Tompkins came away with two more interceptions in the second quarter, courtesy of Chapman and Maliik Edwards, and Cole Francis threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Colin Marshall as time expired in the half to give the team a two score lead heading into halftime.
It was a ground and pound game all night for Tompkins and Blocker led the way, with 197 rushing yards on 22 carries while Caleb Komolafe had 104 yards on 12 carries.
“It’s just what was working tonight,” Blocker said. “We had to just run and keep pounding it. They couldn’t stop it so we just ran through them, every single play you have to finish your run and keep going.”
Komalafe increased the Tompkins lead in the third quarter on a 13-yard touchdown run and Samuel Kalu came away with an interception before Jersey Village finally answered back with a 37-yard pass from Tran to Josh Nunez.
Tompkins put the game beyond doubt in the fourth quarter, as Komolafe ran in another touchdown from 22-yards out, Wyatt Young scored on a 3-yard touchdown run and Chapman and Tymon came away with interceptions.
“What I liked the most about tonight was everyone on the field did their jobs and everyone on the sideline did their jobs,” McVey said. “It was a complete team effort and the coaching staff did a great job. I’m really proud of the kids response after we went down early and their overall effort.”
The Falcons move on to the regional semifinal round where for the second straight season they will take on North Shore. The two will meet 1 p.m. Friday at Galena Park ISD Stadium.
“We just have to keep doing the same things and focusing on us,” Blocker said. “We have to keep our mental ready. People will take but you have to stay locked in, it’s like coach (McVey) says, don’t bite and keep pushing and keep running.”
Tompkins 42, Jersey Village 14
Tompkins |
0 |
21 |
7 |
14 |
-- |
42 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Jersey Village |
7 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
-- |
14 |
First quarter
Jersey Village: Adam Tran 8 pass to Quinci Jones (Antonio Blanco kick) 7:16
Second quarter
Tompkins: Caleb Blocker 9 run (Mario Garcia kick) 11:55
Tompkins: Blocker 4 run (Garcia kick) 8:22
Tompkins: Cole Francis 22 pass to Colin Marshall (Garcia kick) 0:00
Third quarter
Tompkins: Caleb Kololafe 13 run (Garcia kick) 8:10
Jersey Village: Tran 37 pass to Josh Nunez (Blanco kick) 1:55
Fourth quarter
Tompkins: Komolafe 22 run (Garcia kick) 9:57
Tompkins: Wyatt Young 3 run (Garcia kick) 2:36
Team stats
Tompkins |
Jersey Village |
|
First downs |
20 |
18 |
Yards rushing |
46-354 |
25-87 |
Yards passing |
39 |
259 |
Passes |
3-7-1-0 |
15-32-2-6 |
Punts |
3-31 |
1-31 |
Fumbles-lost |
1-0 |
0-0 |
Penalty-yards |
5-53 |
2-21 |
Individual Statistics
Rushing – Jersey Village: Rashon Estes, 21-63; Isaac Podraza, 3-20; Adam Tran, 1-4; Tompkins: Caleb Blocker, 22-197-2; Caleb Komolafe, 12-104-2; Wyatt Young, 8-48-1; Colin Marshall, 1-3; Cole Francis, 3-2
Passing – Jersey Village: Adam Tran, 15-31-259-2-5; Arbrie Carter, 0-1-0-0-1; Tompkins: Cole Francis, 3-7-39-1-0
Receiving – Jersey Village: Quinci Jones, 7-120-1; Josh Nunez, 2-71-1; Arbie Carter, 4-45; Isaac Podraza, 1-17; Brandon Phan, 1-6; Tompkins: Colin Marshall, 1-22-1; Josh McMillan, 2-17