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| TYLER - In the big spotlight, Longview's defense stole the show.
For the second-straight week, the Lobos turned in a shutout night and the offense, after a rocky start, got it done in a 42-0 win over John Tyler in the GEICO ESPN High School Football Showcase on Friday night at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Rose Stadium. Longview moves to 3-0 on the season with the win heading into a showdown across state lines against West Monroe, La. John Tyler falls to 0-3 to start the season in the 96th meeting between the two teams, which was aired live on ESPN2. "Defense has played well all year long and had a great outing tonight," Longview head coach John King said. "We had a couple of plays but other than that, it was a great performance." It was the Lobo defense from the start, which ended with eight shutout quarters of play. Longview held John Tyler to 77 total yards and forced seven three-and-outs and 10 punts from the Lions. John Tyler finished with 46 rushing yards on 20 carries and had 31 through the air and was shut out for the first time since 2007, according to the Tyler Morning Telegraph. John Tyler finished 1-of-12 third-down conversions. Cedric Smith recovered a fumble while the defensive line duo of Sawyer Goram-Welch and Drew Beltran as well as linebacker Tyshawn Taylor turned in solid outings. Offensively, the numbers were big for the Lobos, who rolled up 357 rushing yards, but that was overshadowed by four turnovers and a season-high 12 penalties. The Lobos converted five of 12 third downs. After a punt to start, followed by a muffed punt, the Lobos were picked off on consecutive possessions before finding the end zone late in the second quarter, the first of four-straight scores for Longview. "Rocky start is putting it mildly, it was rocky the whole night," King said. "We wore them down. Our defense gave us a short field and luckily we were able to run the ball at times. "Offensively, we better find an identity other than being the turnover kings of East Texas." Ten ball carriers saw action for the Lobos, led by a 15-carry, 99-yard night from junior running back Kaden Meredith, who had touchdown runs of nine and 30 yards. Kevin Jones followed with 81 yards and a touchdown and the Lobos got scores from Xavier Jimmerson and CJ Hopkins. Longview quarterback Haynes King was picked off three times on 8-of-18 passing for 110 yards. King opened the scoring after a 0-0 first quarter with a 28-yard run. The Lobos converted a fourth down on the opening drive, which was stalled by a penalty, an overthrown ball to the endzone, a drop and a sack. John Tyler, aided by a Lobo penalty, converted a third down before being forced to punt. The kick was muffed the Lobo defense forced a quick three-and-out. John Tyler Kitan Crawford, a Texas commit, picked off King in the endzone on the next drive and the Lobo defense shut it down. King was picked for the second time by Isaiah Johnson, who started at quarterback for the Lions. Again, it was the Lobo defense that stood tall. Longview got in the end zone on the next possession on a 28-yard run from King on third down. After Smith's fumble recovery, Meredith had a nine-yard run and closed the first half with a 30-yard blast to put Longview ahead, 21-0. Hopkins, Jones and Jimmerson added second-half touchdowns while the Lobo defense held John Tyler to 12 total yards. |