Thomas Walker wins 51-41 shootout over St. Paul

EWING, Va. – It was a shootout with offensive explosions from both teams Friday, but Thomas Walker was able to hold on for a 51-41 win over visiting St. Paul.

With the win Thomas Walker is the Cumberland District football champions.

After tying Twin Springs for the title last year, the Pioneers won it outright in 2009. More importantly, Thomas Walker punched its ticket for the Region D, Division 1 football playoffs.

“I’m tickled to death with the win and back-to-back championships,” said Thomas Walker head coach Brian Lee. “I can’t say enough about the kids’ effort tonight. We’ve kept growing up every week this season and getting better.”

It was a huge night rushing the football for the Pioneers. They finished with 438 yards on the ground, led by sophomore Jared Brewer. He was the workhorse with 267 yards rushing and five touchdowns.

“I knew it was going to be close,” Brewer said. “We just played our hearts out. The line just did a great job of blocking and made good plays. I hit the hole hard, that’s all I did.”

A couple of early turnovers cost St. Paul. The Deacons lost two fumbles and the Pioneers quickly turned those into touchdowns. Brewer scored from 17 and 36 yards out. The next two possessions were three plays and a punt for the Deacons.

The Pioneers then scored on a couple of two-play drives. Rushing touchdowns from Corey Yeary and Brandon Moore and Thomas Walker led 25-0 with still over three minutes to play in the first quarter.

“There wasn’t much defense played,” Lee said. “There were some mistakes made but they are 16-, 17-year-old kids.

“Coming in, I thought it would be a shootout. I thought whoever had the football last might win. St. Paul can score at anytime. I was not comfortable at all during this game.”

St. Paul fought back. They scored on four of its final five possessions in the first half. The only problem was St. Paul couldn’t stop Thomas Walker. The Pioneers scored touchdowns the first seven times they had the ball in the first half. The only time they were stopped, they stopped themselves with a lost fumble. Thomas Walker led 45-28 when the halftime horn sounded.

The Pioneers took the second half kickoff and another two-play drive resulted in a TD. Brewer scored his fifth TD on a 47-yard scamper. It would be the last points by TW.

St. Paul was able to add a couple of touchdowns. Tyler Phillips connected with Matt Dupuie for a 20-yard TD. Denver Fritz scored on a 3-yard rush to cut the lead to 10.

After a TW fumble, St. Paul drove to the TW1 with just over two minutes remaining in the game. But on a 4th-and-goal they fumbled into the end zone and it was recovered by the Pioneers who ran out the clock for the win.

“What can I say?” SP coach Mark Palmer said. “This team just has so much heart and determination. There was no quit and I’m extremely proud of each and every one of them.”

St. Paul’s (6-4) season came to a close. Thomas Walker (6-3) will travel to face Lee High for their final regular season game on Friday.
St. Paul 0 28 13 0—41
T. Walker 25 20 6 0—51
Scoring Summary
TW—Brewer 17 run (Williams kick)
TW—Brewer 36 run (kick failed)
TW—Yeary 30 run (pass failed)
TW—Moore 55 run (run failed)
SP—Phillips 10 run (D. Hileman kick)
TW—Brewer 4 run (pass failed)
SP—Fritz 4 run (D. Hileman kick)
TW—Escobar 43 fumble return (pass failed)
TW—Brewer 40 pass from Scott (Yeary pass from Scott)
SP—T. Hileman 34 pass from Fritz (Fritz pass from D. Hileman)
SP—Edmonds 7 pass from Phillips (pass failed)
TW—Brewer 47 run (pass failed)
SP—Dupuie 20 pass from Phillips (D. Hileman kick)
SP—Fritz 3 run (run failed)