|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
||
|
|
| LONGVIEW - Trailing 20 to 0 in the last period of their game at Longview Thursday, the Gladewater Bears racked up two quick touchdowns, then began a drive for the third and tying marker.
The drive collapsed when Longview intercepted a pass hurled by John McMinn, Gladewater fullback, and ran it back 52 yards. The game ended moments later with the Lobos inside the Bear 20-yard line and the score: Longview 20, Gladewater 13. By their victory, the Lobos won clear the title to the District 11-2A Championship. They won six district games, lost none. Gladewater dropped into third place behind the Kilgore Bulldogs having won four and lost two. Kilgore had a five out of six record. Frequent penalties, some of them for unnecessary roughness by the beefy Longview players, who outweighs the Gladewater team 20 pounds per man, marred the game. A near-capacity crowd watched as the Lobos set up their first touchdown in the initial quarter, with tailback J.T. Jeffress going over for the touchdown. Tackle Forrest Grigg kicked the extra point. The Bears couldn't seem to get going during the first half of the game, and pretty soon Jeffress, running part of the way behind excellent interference, dashed 72 yards to score again. Grigg failed to kick the extra point, his first miss in 16 attempts. McMin kept tossing them, but his passing lacked the accuracy of previous games, and once he threw one into the arms of Jeffress with no Bear play near. The final Longview score came on a run by Dunaway with Grigg converting. After the half, the Bears still couldn't get their offense rolling, but their defense tightened. Three Lobo kicks in a row were blocked or partially blocked. Twice, Longview drove into Gladewater territory, but the Bears held. In the final period, Gladewater apparently hopelessly behind, got a break. The Lobos fumbled on their own 15, with Gladewater recovering. The Bears couldn't make it that time, but moments later received the Longview punt and crossed the goal line. Passes set up the score with McMinn plunging over with the ball. The conversion attempt failed. Gladewater got another scoring opportunity when Longview failed to gain after receiving the kickoff. Jeffress booted one that went almost straight up. The wind caught the ball and carried it behind the Longview back, where it was caught by a Gladewater player. Again, Gladewater needed two passing campaigns before antlers touchdown was racked up. Maurice Elliot caught McMinn's aerial behind the goal line for the score. Halfback Harold Merritt, erstwhile end, converted. Gladewater got its final chance just before the end of the game with the score: Longview 20, Gladewater 13. The Bears kicked off to the Lobos, who drove into Gladewater territory on a series of long runs. Then the Gladewater line stiffened and the ball went over. Starting on his own 25, McMinn connected for passes that advanced the ball to the Longview 40. It was first and 10 when Billy Jo Nelson, Longview back, intercepted a Gladewater pass and dashed to the Bears 15. The ball was there when the final whistle blew. The Bear sled Longview in first downs, 10 to 6, but a major reason for Gladewater's defeat could be found elsewhere in the statistics. Five Bear passes were intercepted. Longview led in the fumbling department, however, with three bobbles. The Lobos turned in an excellent job of downfield blocking. Several times, almost the entire Bear team was taken out while the enemy runner was piling up yardage. |