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| IRVING - Dexter Daniels has returned kickoffs and punts, hauled in passes and had several opportunities to carry them football this season, son the Longview senior knew he was in for a busy day Saturday when the Lobos faced Duncanville in a Class 5A, Division I state semifinal game at Texas Stadium.
Facing a team that had attempted a total of 14 passes in three previous playoff games, Daniels didnt figure to be a major factor from his cornerback spot. He figured wrong, and by turning in a career day he helped the Lobos return to the state championship game for the first time in 60 years. Daniels had his usual big game on offense - rushing for 41 yards on just four carries while catching three passes for 87 yards and a touchdown - but his defensive exploits helped turn the game around for the Lobos. The 5-9, 166-pound senior intercepted three passes to give him a three-high five thefts on the year. The multiple interception game was the second of the year for Daniels, who had a pair of picks against Nacogdoches in week eight of the regular season. "Dexter is a talented player," Longview head coach Robert Bero said. "He has really tried to pick up the slack for Fred (Talley) since Fred has been hurt. He has really done a great job for us." Daniels entered Saturday's game with a team-high 28 receptions for 499 yards and two touchdowns. He also leads the team with an 18.0 average on 17 punt returns, while returning 11 kickoffs for an average of 26.2 yards. He was two interceptions behind teammates Lee Jackson and Shawn Byrdsong entering the game, but he moved into a tie with a pair of first half picks. He broke the tie - and Duncanville's back - with his third interception of the contest in the second half. "I was just focused in on the ball," Daniels said. "Being a corner, we watch film all week. Some things they (Duncanville) did we expected, and some we didn't. Basically I just focused in on the ball and tried to be where the ball was." Daniels made his mark early on offense when he turned a short screen pass from Jay Hurst into a 42-yard play to set up the Lobos' first touchdown. His first interception came on the second play of Duncanville's next possession when he picked off a Jeremy Hurd pass at the Longview 45 to set up another touchdown. Interception number two came after a tipped pass on Duncanville's next drive, and Daniels capped his huge first half by stopping Nick Howard short of the first down on a fourth-and-six at the Lobo 38. The open-field solo tackle killed a potential scoring drive for Duncanville and led to a 33-yard field goal by David Monsivias to give Longview a 22-7 lead at the half. The 15-point deficit forced Duncanville, a team featuring a pair of 1,500-yard rushers, to put the ball in the air 17 times in the second - and 27 times in the game. "We know it we could stop eh option they would have to resort to the pass," Daniels said. "When they had to start throwing he ball we knew we had them where we wanted them. We have the best secondary in the state with Lee Jackson, Shawn Byrdsong and Brian Davis." Daniels' hard work on defense was rewarded with another chance to touch the ball on offense early in the second half, and this time the Lobo senior found the end zone. Daniels took a swing pass from Hurst and sprinted 45 yards down the Longview sideline for the score to put the Lobos on top 29-13 with 6:34 to play in the third quarter. He iced the game with his third interception at the 7:45 mark of the fourth quarter, sending the Lobos to the title game next week. "We just need to work hard this week and put our faith in God like we have all year," Daniels said. "We know if we work hard, and pray hard and do what the Lord tells us to do we will be OK." |