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| KILGORE - Rated as two to three touchdown underdogs, the amazing Longview Lobos wrote another blazing story to their gridiron history in the muck and mire of R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium as they came from behind in the final five minutes of play to edge past the Kilgore Bulldogs in a stunning upset before a crowd of 7,000 fans here Friday night, 14-13.
The indomitable Lobos threatened twice early in the game but came up without scoring, took a 7 to 0 lead at the half and fell behind 13-7 in the third quarter when the Bulldogs struck for two quick touchdowns, but then when adversity was the greatest they took took it 42 yards for the winning touchdown to shock the big crowd in Kilgore in the biting October night. The Longview eleven rode the impressive passing arm and golden shoes of quarterback Bobby Randel. The win was one of its sweetest victory in many years as the Lobos copped to their first win over Kilgore since 1951. Randel directed Longview's passing attack with uncanny accuracy. The quarterback passed for one touchdown, set up the other with a pass to little Tony Rothrock that gave the Lobos a first down on Kilgore's 19-yard stripe and kicked the two extra points that actually provided the margin of victory. The sharp running of Rothrock and Sophomore fullback Dub Thomas was outstanding while their supporting cast included Pat Sisk, Roy Taylor and Horace (The Horse) Johnson. The Longview line turned in a magnificent performance that featured some fierce blocking and repeatedly tore yawning holes in the Kilgore forward wall through which the Lobos' simpering little back ripped off gain after gain. Tackles Joe Collier, Murvil Byrd and Jim Reed played prominent roles in the Longview line, along with center John Zeigler and ends Chuck Brown and John Boyd. The hard-charging Longview line did a remarkable job of bottling up big Larry Hickman, 205-pound Kilgore fullback, while halfbacks Buddy Humphrey and Forrest Johnson bore the brunt of Kilgore's running attack. Longview's first touchdown came only seconds before the end of the half on a nine-yard pass from Randel to Boyd, while Thomas scored the winning marker when he blasted over from the two-yard stripe. In between Longview's two touchdowns, Kilgore tallied a pair on Humphrey's 19-yard blast over tackle and an 11-yard plunge by Johnson. Hickman booted the extra point after Kilgore's second touchdown, but missed his first try when a fumble on the snap from center spoiled his attempted kick and he tried unsuccessfully to run the ball over and in the end that was the margin by which the Bulldogs missed a tie. The win was Longview's second in as many District 4-AAA starts and allowed the Lobos to retain a share of the conference lead along with undefeated and untied Lufkin. The defeat was Kilgore's first in the district race after two straight wins. The Lobso lost no time in launching a scoring threat early in the game after kicking off to the Bulldogs. Kilgore picked up a first down afar taking the kickoff, but on the sixth play from scrimmage, Joe Collier recovered Hickman's fumble for Longview on Kilgore's 33-yard stripe. Rothrock and Thomas collaborated to get a first down for the Lobos on Kilgore's 19, only to see the Bulldogs throw up a stout defense that held for downs on their won 13-yard stripe and stymie Longview's first scoring bid. A fumble halted another drive by the Lobos early in the second quarter when they blasted from their own 39-yard line to Kilgor'es 28 with a first down. At that point, however, Chuck Walker, 190-pound Kilgore guard, pounced on a Longview fumble to avert a second threat by the Lobos. Longview successfully outraced the clock for a touchdown just before the end of the half by slashing 62 yards in nine plays. Taking possession not heir own 38 after Hickman's punt, Johnson picked up two yards over guard and Rothrock added another tackle. Randel fired a 10-yard pass to Brown and then hit Rothrock for 13 more to reach Kilgore's 35. Thomas ripped off 12 yards over tackle and added six at guard. From a spread formation, Randel pitched out to Thomas for a four-yard loss at left end, but with 20 seconds left to play Randel passed nine yards to Boyd from the nine for a touchdown. Rothrock held and Randel booted the extra point to give Longview a 7 to 0 lead at the half. The Lobos dominated play in the first half as they rolled up 11 first downs to four for Kilgore as Randel mixed his running plays with passes expertly. The Longview quarterback connected for five completions in six attempts and completed six out of his first steven aerials in the game. A fumble got the Lobos in trouble on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter when end John Wheat recovered a loose ball for Kilgore and Longview's 19-yard line. On the first play after the bulldogs recovered the fumble, Humphrey raced over right tackle, cut back to his left and scampered into the end zone. When the snap from center was fumbled on the try for conversion, Hickman picked up the ball and tried to skirt right end with it, but was downed on the five to leave Longview with a 7 to 6 edge. A few minutes later, the Bulldogs struck for another touchdown to go ahead. They took over on Kilgore's 46-yard line after Randel's high, short punt went out of bounds at that point and drove to pay dirt in just 10 plays with Johnson driving over left guard from the 11 to score. This time Hickman converted from placement to give the Bulldogs a 13 to 7 lead as the fourth quarter began. The fired up Lobos weren't through by any means,h however, and roared back in a dogged exhibition that had the Bulldogs reeling. Taking the ball on Kilgore's 42-yard line after Hickman's punt, Longview used 12 plays to strike for the winning touchdown. Rothrock lost a yard at left end, but Randel tossed to Reed, who had shifted to end, for nine yards and Thomas added a first down on Kilgore's 30. Rothrock got a yard on an end sweep and then snared a pass from Randel for a first down on the 19-yard line. The little halfback added seven yards more at guard and Thomas made it another first down on the Kilgore eight. Thomas hit tackle for four and Taylor gained two more yards at guard to reach the two and on the next play Thomas blasted over right guard with tremendous force and his drive almost carried him completely out of the end zone to tie the score at 13 to 13. Rothrock again held and Randel calmly kicked the extra point that completed the upset. The Bulldogs still tried to comeback for another touchdown after that but the Lobos, playing inspired football right to the final whistle, stopped one drive when Zeigler recovered a fumble and then in the fading minutes of the contest they held the Bulldogs for downs, took over the ball and ran out the clock. |