Tompkins defeats Mayde Creek, 28-0

By George Slaughter

Tompkins brought its defense to its District 19-6A matchup with Mayde Creek Thursday, and it stepped up to shut out the Rams, 28-0 at Rhodes Stadium.

The win improves the Falcons to 6-1 overall and 2-1 in District 19-6A. The Rams fall to 5-1 overall and 1-1 in district. It proved a gutsy comeback for Tompkins following last week’s emotional 35-30 loss to Katy.

Tompkins scored on its first two possessions to take command of the game. The first touchdown came on a 10-yard pass from junior quarterback Jalen Milroe row to senior wide receiver Gabe Atkin with 8:01 remaining in the first quarter.

“It’s just going to practice every day, doing our job,” Atkin said.

After forcing a Mayde Creek three-and-out, Tompkins scored again on a 12-yard run by senior running back R.J. Smith.

“We knew going into the week we had to come back, and not focus on last week,” Smith said. “We just went to work in practice, did our job, and came out tonight.”

The Falcons took that 14-0 lead into halftime, but the game was closer than the score indicated. Tompkins coach Todd McVey described the game as a boxing match, though not literally. It was a gut check sort of game for both teams.

Tompkins scored on a one-yard run by Smith with 4:50 in the third quarter. The drive was set up by an interception by Tompkins senior defensive back Pryce Powell at the Mayde Creek 23.

“We knew we had to come out with high energy,” Powell said. “We were doing our jobs but didn’t have our energy like we had last week.”

That energy, what McVey described as “energy from within,” was a topic of the Falcons’ halftime discussion.

“I’m proud of them, coming out in the second half, with their energy coming from within, and not from outside,” McVey said. “We want to go 1-0 every week.”

Thursday’s game was the first time this season that the Rams didn’t score any points.

“We talked about that all week,” McVey said. “We think we’ve got a good defense.”

Tompkins’s last touchdown came on the first play of the fourth quarter, when Milroe hit senior running back Garret Mack for a 30-yard touchdown pass.

Tompkins returns to action next week against Morton Ranch. Kickoff is at 11 a.m. next Saturday at Legacy Stadium. Mayde Creek returns to action next week against Taylor. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. Friday at at Rhodes Stadium. The game is Mayde Creek’s homecoming game.