|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
| LONGVIEW - Forty-four seniors were honored prior to the start of Longview's game against Rockwall-Heath in the home finale for the regular season.
Forty-eight minutes later, after clicking in all three phases, those seniors and the Lobos earned another game at Lobo Stadium. With a shutdown night from the defense, a clicking offense and big plays in special teams, Longview knocked off Rockwall-Heath, 49-7, in a meeting of two teams that entered 4-1 in District 11-6A action. After scoring 49 unanswered points, Longview (8-1, 5-1) clinches the No. 1 seed in Division II in 11-6A, locking up a first-round home playoff game. Rockwall-Heath, meanwhile, drops to 6-3 on the season and 4-2 in district play. "It was huge for our kids to have the chance to play another game at Lobo Stadium," Longview head coach John King said. "We knew what was on the line and we took care of business." Longview's defense held Heath to 50 yards below its season average and 27 points below its points-per-game mark in the win. Heath finished with 201 rushing yards on the night after putting up 89 in the first quarter. Defensively, Jephaniah Lister picked off his second pass of the year and Ke'Andre Mauldin scooped up a fumble forced by Cameron Starling. Both turnovers led to Lobo touchdowns. In the kicking game, Kyle Johnson blocked a first-quarter field goal attempt and, to give Longview its first points of the night, Kevion Bush scooped and scored after Daydrian Wells blocked a punt from the Hawks. The defense forced three-straight three-and-outs in the second quarter. Offensively, Longview turned in its second-highest rushing total of the season with a total of 298 yards. Keilyn Williams led the way, rushing for 128 yards on 14 carries with a touchdown and was one of five rushers scoring on the ground for the Lobos. Jaquan Edwards had a 19-yard score, Haynes King recorded his first career rushing touchdown on a 16-yard keeper, A'Darius Carter capped a long drive with a one-yard punch in and Jkameron Riggins closed scoring on a 40-yard blast. Carter added his second overall touchdown on the night by hauling in a 63-yard pass from Jordan Lawson. Heath took the ball to start and went on a methodical, 6-play, 75-yard march to strike first and take a 7-0 lead. Johnson blocked a field goal but the Lobo offense turned it over on downs for a 7-0 lead after the first quarter. After a missed field goal, Wells blocked a punt and Bush scooped it for an 11-yard score and a 7-7 ballgame. Longview's defense forced a three-and-out. King then connected with Jaylin Brown for a 24-yard completion on third down to put the Sophomore over the 1,000-yard mark on the season before Williams put Longview ahead for good with a five-yard score. Lister picked off a pass and had a 30-yard return, setting up King's 16-yard touchdown just before halftime to put Longview ahead, 21-7. With Lawson under center, Longview converted four third downs to open the third quarter with a 15-play, 75-yard drive that chewed up 6:35 off the play clock. Carter made it 28-7 with a one-yard score. On third down on Longview's next possession, Lawson put up a deep ball and Carter hauled it in for a 63-yard touchdown. Edwards and Riggins then closed out the night with scoring runs to sure up the dominant 49-7 win. Longview closes the regular season at Mesquite on Friday while Rockwall-Heath plays host to Mesquite Horn. |