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| LONGVIEW - James (Amy) Rogers, just another substitute in the Longview backfield became a large part of the 1946 campaign, stormed out into full-fledged star-status here Thursday afternoon as he helped Coach Maco Stewart's Longview Lobos to a convincing 13-0 victory over Coach Bill Stages' Gladewater Bears before a Thanksgiving crowd of 5,500 in the final game of the season for both elevens.
As the capacity crowd basked in the brisk, sunny weather, the locals three a rock-ribbed defense that limited the visitors to a meager net gain of 72 yards, 62 through the air and just 10 on the ground while Rogers marked the Longview offensive attack that carried the Lobos to their 13th victory in the 14-year-old series between the two schools and marked the second shutout that has been recorded since the tens began played in 1933. Longview's win enabled the Lobos to remain in a tie for third place in the final District 11-AA standings with the Kilgore Bulldogs, who defeated the last place Henderson Lions by an identical 13-0 count Thursday. Although Gladewater held Longview to only 154 yards net, the Lobos annexed the decision in comparatively easy fashion, scoring a touchdown in the first period and another in the second, despite the fact that they never did get their offense to functioning in the last half. The Lobos recorded six first downs to four for the Bears, the first of which came just as the third period ended, while the visitors made only two scoring threats, both in the fourth quarter as a result of Longview fumbles. Rogers account for both Longview touchdowns, passing 11 yards to Don Barton for the initial tally and scoring the second himself when, on fourth down he faded a pass but failed to find a receiver and dashed 20 yards around left end behind perfect blocking to cross the goal line standing up. Fox Cashell, first year substitute back, added the extra point from placement after the second Longview touchdown. Co-captian Jimmy Pakenham started the Lobos on the road to their first touchdown in the opening stanza when he recovered Neal Jackson's fumble on the Gladewater 40-yard stripe. With Pakenahm and Johnny Rogerson ripping through and around the Gladewater line and aided by a 15-yard penalty against the Bears for roughing, the Lobos moved down to the 11-yard line. From a spread formation, Rogers whipped a lateral pass to Barton, who galloped the remaining distance unmolested for a touchdown behind sparkling blocking. Merles Free, Gladewater end, broke through to block Cashell's placement kick on the try or extra point, leaving the Lobos with a 6-0 lead at the close of the first quarter. The winners battered their way 51 yards for the second and final touchdown early in the second period. Rogerson negotiated half the distance when he faked a handoff to blocking back Kenneth Google, but kept the bell and scampered around right end for 25 yards before being pushed out of bounds on the Bears' 20-yard line. At that point Bradberry battled down Rogers' attempt screen pass and then the Longview aerial artist backed up to try another. He was rushed and couldn't find an open receiver, but decided to run and headed wide around left end, finally working his way clear down the east sideline. Little Robert Harris picked him up on the five and three a prodigious block on the last Gladewater defender at that point as Rogers crossed the goal line untouched. Although the Bears were unable to muster a sustained offensive punch, they displayed a magnificent aerial attack featuring Johnson and Charles Stewart, who between them riddled the Longview defense with passes, completing 11 out fo 20, although most of them were for short gains. Gladewater's most serious scoring gesture came late in the fourth quarter when the Bears recovered a fumble on the Longview 25 and moved down to the seven-yard stripe before the threat was turned back when Ed Roach, Longview wingman, pounced on a fumbled lateral pass. Don Menasco, bespectacled Longview center, and Pakenham, who played both in the backfield and line, enhanced their almost certain selection for all-district honors with sparkling performances. |