TITLE AT STAKE AS LONGVIEW TAKES ON KATY
HOUSTON - Longview's road to the Class 5A, Division I Texas Bowl Championship reached the Astrodome Friday as the Lobos worked out on the field for about an hour and a half.

"It's a great feeling: this football team's worked awful hard to get to this point," said Longview head coach Robert Bero. "Now that we're here, we need to take advantage of it."

The No. 1-ranked Lobos (14-0) meet the Katy Tigers (13-1) today at 12:07 p.m. with each vying for the second title in the history of their respective football programs. It's been 60 years since Longview was crowned state champions on Christmas Day 1937, while Katy won a Class A championship in 1959.

The Tigers did make the 1994 Division I finals, losing to Plano, 26-7. Today's game will be the first-ever meeting between Longview and Katy on the football field.

"We've got to keep their offense off the field as much as possible," Bero said. "I think that's the No. 1 key to the game. Our defense is going to have to play big and not let them ball-control us."

The Tigers, behind a massive offensive line which averages 260 pounds, have accounted for 3,494 yards on the ground. Running backs Bronston Carroll and Rjan Green, who alternate at the position, have each rushed for 1,000 yards.

"We're going to be outweighed again like we have been most of the time this season," Bero added. "But I still think we play in one of the most physical districts (12-5A) in the state. Hopefully, that's prepared us for this game."

The Lobos have gone up against three straight primarily running offenses in Plano East, Killeen Ellison and Duncanville, each with one or a pair of 1,000-yard rushers.

In last week's 36-21 semifinal win over Duncanville, Longview took the Panther completely out of their wishbone-like attack. They held them to 170 yards rushing.

Protecting the football will also be a factor. The Lobos benefited from six Duncanville turnovers, while Katy turned its game against San Antonio Taft from a close contest into a rout with one key interception.

As a team, the Lobos have picked off 15 passes and recovered 24 fumbles. The Tigers have forced 20 fumbles and intercepted 17 passes.

"You have a great team, ability-wise, but the basic, fundamental rule of taking cares of the football sometimes escape a player's mind," said Katy coach Mike Johnston. "The excitement of the playoffs makes kids lose the focus of taking care of the ball. There's no doubt it's a big factor."

And the game's not getting any bigger than today.