|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
||
|
|
| DALLAS - Longview and Hewitt Midway repeated history Saturday, minus the controversy.
Once again a postseason game between the two teams came down to a two-point conversion attempt, and once again it went the way of the Lobos, this time leading to a 14-13 decision in a Class 4A Division I area playoff at Kincaide Stadium. After Midway's Ahmad Dixon scored a 12-yard touchdown run with 3:45 remaining, Midway attempted a two-point conversion. Midway running back Marc Martinez got the ball, but Longview safety Darren Brown had good penetration on the play, charging into fullback Beau Blackshear, who bumped Martinez. Chris Weaver and Diop Johnson finished off the play, tackling Martinez for a one-yard loss. The play capped a huge game for Weaver. The senior linebacker had three tackles for losses, two sacks and a forced fumble, which Joe Brown returned 52 yards for a touchdown with 10:40 left in the second quarter - a critical play for the Lobos in the long run. "The penetration we had on the two-point conversion was big," Weaver said. "It's crazy. Who would have thought it would be a one-point game again and it would come down to a two-point conversion again?" In the 2008 Class 4A Division I Region II final, the Lobos edged Midway 43-42 in overtime at Texas Stadium in Irving when Longview quarterback Aaron Johnson scored a two-point conversion on the game's final play. Longview (11-1), ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press' Class 4A state poll, advances to a Region II semifinal against Carrollton Newman Smith (10-2) at 2 p.m. Saturday at Tiger Stadium in Corsicana. Midway ends its season with a 9-3 record. It was also the final game for Midway coach Kent Bachtel, who is retiring after compiling a 157-105-1 record at Midway in 23 seasons. Midway originally lined up to kick an extra point after Dixon's touchdown, but Longview jumped offside, cutting the distance to the goal in half. "If the penalty hadn't been called, we would have kicked," Bachtel said. "If you can't get 1 1/2 yards, you don't deserve to win the game. "This doesn't change my mind about retiring. Forty years of coaching is long enough." Longview still had the matter of running out the clock after the conversion stop, and the Lobos caught a break to do so. On the first play from scrimmage, a pass play was called. Johnson's attempt was deflected by a Midway defender, but receiver LaDarrin Robertson caught the deflection for a 27-yard gain to the Midway 49-yard line. After the catch, Tyler McCray had five consecutive rushing attempts for 21 yards to end the game. "The pass was to our tight end, but when it was deflected, something told me to stop and the ball fell into my hands," Robertson said. "Some may call it luck, but it's skill to catch the ball." Similar to last year's game, Midway outplayed Longview in the second half. Midway almost rallied back from a 14-0 halftime deficit and had 201 total yards on its three second-half drives. Martinez got Midway on the scoreboard with a 49-yard touchdown run with 9:52 left in the third quarter, capping an 81-yard drive. After forcing Longview to punt, Midway drove from its 12-yard line, but the drive ended when a Ryan Smith pass to Levi Norwood was deflected and intercepted by Addison McGee at the Longview 5-yard line, his sixth interception this season. Longview countered with a 55-yard drive, but the drive ended when fullback Dakota Anthony fumbled and Midway safety Shakiel Randolph recovered the ball at the Midway 31-yard line. This set up Dixon, a safety who has verbally committed to Baylor and who has rarely played offense this season. Midway outgained Longview 256-228. Robertson said there were offensive breakdowns his team will have to work on this week. Longview coach John King said play calling has to improve, accepting the blame for some of the calls himself. "The defense played well all day," King said. "We must play better on offense next week or we will get sent home." Longview scored first by grinding out a 15-play, 87-yard drive that took 7:57, ending with a McCray six-yard touchdown run. The drive was extended by three third-down conversions with Johnson throwing passes of at least 10 yards each to Carey Fortson, Blaine Tomlinson and Robertson. Longview's defense took over the rest of the half, starting with Brown's fumble return for a touchdown. "I was just able to get behind him (Martinez) and knock the ball out," Weaver said. Longview had five tackles for losses in the first half, two by Weaver, and finished with six tackles for losses for the game. The Lobos held Midway to 55 first-half yards. Midway's best scoring chance came in the final minute of the half, when Smith connected with Norwood for a 38-yard touchdown strike that was negated by a holding penalty. Smith rarely made mistakes, finishing 17-for-21 for 174 yards, including completions on his first eight pass attempts. Martinez finished with 72 yards on 10 rushes while Norwood had seven receptions for 58 yards. McCray led Longview with 54 yards on 15 carries. Johnson had 117 total yards, while Robertson had four receptions for 43 yards. |