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| GLADEWATER - Another football season was history Friday, and the proud hopes of the Gladewater Bears were in the dust.
They were a team that had almost everything but luck. The jinx that haunted Gladewater in its clash with Dallas tech arose against Thursday and put down the Bears, 13 to 0, in one of the crucial games of the year. The winners not only of the game but of the runner-up spot in District 11-AA was Longview High School. As in the Tech game, the Bears shoved their opposition all over mid-field but failed near the goal line. And as they did against Tech, Gladewater's errors kept them from recording any scores. Gladewater and Longview started the game with three conference victories and two defeats apiece. The Lobos ended it with four victories and a tie with second place Kilgore. Gladewater's conference record thus became three up, three down. Three weeks ago, boasting six victories and only one defeat in all competition, the Bears had hoped for a conference championship and their best season in many years. Disaster struck the home team in the second period of Thursday's game before a homecoming crowd of 3,000 in Bear Stadium. Gladewater had met Longview on even terms during the first quarter and was trying a line play when the bobble occurred. Edgar Howard fumbled. The Lobos recovered on the Gladewater 47, and Clark, rangy quarterback who made both touchdowns, began to function. Alternating with Jeffries, halfback, Clark stormed through the Gladewater line for three successive first downs that placed the ball on the 8. The Bear defense stiffened momentarily. Then Clark toted it across the goal line on his fourth try, and Johnston kicked the extra point. Longview got its second big break minutes later. Unable to gain after the next kick off, Gladewater picked up good yardage with a quick-kick. Coach Stages' boys apparently were infatuated with the results. The Lobos made a couple of stabs then punted to the Bears' 10. McMinn returned the ball to the 14 where Gladewater, on second down, tried another quick kick. This one was blocked, Longview recovered. Clark tried a touchdown pass, but Garland Christmas knocked it down. The Lobo quarterback faded for another pass, but finding no receivers, decided to run. On a wide end sweep, he scored standing up. The conversion attempt was blocked. The half was called just in time to halt another Lobo threat when Adams intercepted McMinn's pass and was blocked out of bounds on the Gladewater 25. Howard and Major Conley sparked the Gladewater attack. Statistics showed it had been a much closer game than the scoreboard indicated. Gladewater gained 152 yards rushing to 162 for Longview; the Bears completed six out of 22 passes for 22 yards, while Longview made three good out of six for only 16 yards. Gladewater trailed 9 to 10 on first downs but led on fumbles 1 to 0; on penalties, 70 yards to 15 yards, and on passes which were intercepted, 2 to 0.
The Play-By-Play
Longview - Clark smashed through center for 10 yards and a first and 10. After two line plays, Clark hit right guard for 13 yards and a first down on the Gladewater 49. Hearn was spilled behind the line of scrimmage, Clark passed to Hearn for 15 yards. The Lobos failed to gain with line plays and passes, and Gladewater took the ball on its own 25. Gladewater - The Bears punted to Adams on the Longview 33 as the period ended with the score: Gladewater 0, Longview 0. Second Period: The Lobos scored twice in the second period. Longview - Gladewater spilled Longview plays behind the line of scrimmage as the quarter began, forcing Clark to punt. The ball went out of bounds on the Bears' 31. Gladewater - After two line plays, Howard rounded left end for 25 yards, carrying the ball to midfield. He fumbled on the next play and Longview recovered. Longview - Jeffries and Clark, taking the ball on the Gladewater 45, plunged 12 yards in three tries. Jeffries made four through the line. On a fake, Clark handed the ball to Jeffries who made a first down on the 19. Clark was smothered by Brock and Lawrence, but Jeffries hit center for 9, Clark was stopped on the 8 but it was first and goal. Clark went over in four plays, and Johnston converted, making the score: Longview 7, Gladewater 0. Gladewater - The kickoff was out of bounds on the Gladewater 17, the Bears automatically taking it on their 35. Longview - The Lobos failed to make a first down by inches and Clark punted to McMinn, who returned the ball four yards to the Gladewater 14. Gladewater - After one line play, Gladewater tried another quick kick which was blocked by Concham. Longview recovered on the 12. Longview - Clark's pass was knocked down by Christmas. Fading for another pass, Clark decided to run. He toured left end for a touchdown. Brock blocked the attempted conversion and the score was: Longview 13, Gladewater 0. Gladewater - Christmas returned the kickoff from his 24 to his 25. Adams intercepted a Gladewater pass on the next play and was knocked out of bounds on the Bears' 25 as the half ended with the score: Longview 13, Gladewater 0. Third Period: Adams returned Gladewater's kickoff from his 17 to his 32. Clark's punt was partially blocked on his own 47. Gladewater - The Bears tried two passes but they were blocked down. A pass to Howard was intercepted by Jeffries on the Longview 38. Longview - Johnston, Jeffries and Adams could not penetrate the Gladewater line, and Johnson punted to McMinn who returned the ball to the Gladewater 40. Gladewater - Conley made a first down in two stabs at the line. Conley crashed through for a 14 yard gain and another first down on the Longview 31. After three passes Knots failed to make the necessary yardage and the ball went over. Longview - Johnston hit left end for 14 yards, but the ball was called back and the Lobos were penalized five yards. Hearn hit center for 22 yards and first down. After three plays Johnston kicked out of bounds on the Gladewater 21. Gladewater - On third down, Conley punted out of bounds on the Longview 37. Longview - Jeffries and Johnston hit the line for short gains as the third period ended with the score: Longview 13, Gladewater 0 Fourth Period: Longview - It was third down for Longview as the period opened. Garrett stopped Jeffries, Johnston punted to the Gladewater 39. Gladewater - Knotts caught one for 12 yards and a first down. Two passes were no good, and Conley skirted left end for nine yards. Conley made it a first down over right tackle, passes and line plays failed and McMinn kicked out of bounds on the Longview 23. Longview - Jeffries hit right guard for 14 yards, Gladewater stalled the Lobo offense and Longview quick kicked out of bounds on the Gladewater 21. Gladewater - McMinn passed to Knotts, but the play lost one yard. McMinn gheaved a long one to Conley, good for 37 yards. On fourth down, Knotts punted to Adams, who carried to his own 20. Longview - the Lobos made it a first down on their 31, Gladewater held and Johnston kicked to the Bears' 46. Gladewater - McMinn on an attempted pass was smothered for a five yard loss. McMinn kicked to the Longview 28. Longview - Jeffries passed to Adams for five yards as the game ended with the score: Longview 13, Gladewater 0. |