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| TEXARKANA - In one of the most viciously played grid classics ever to be unfolded on a District 11-AA gridiron, the Longview Lobos outfought, outslugged and generally outplayed a rugged Texarkana eleven to remain among the state's undefeated, untied and unsecured upon elevens. The final verdict was 9-0, and 6,200 fans packed Grim Stadium to witness the slaughter.
The Tigers threatened to sew up the ball game early in the first quarter, when they recovered Don Menasco fumble on the Longview 31-yard stripe. Jimmy Burkhalter, ace half pack, picked up 15 yards in two carries to give the Orange and White a first down on the Lobo 16. Two plays later Buckhalter failed Burkhalter plunges carried the ball to the Longview 12, but Jim Sorsby fumbled and the winners recovered on the 14-yard line to stop the attack. A moment later, Joltin' Jimmy Pakenham - easily the most outstanding back on the field Friday night - kicked off the first of his sensational aerial-kicks and the Lobos were out of danger. Late in the period, Burkhalter intercepted a short aerial from Pakenham intended for Ed Roach. The speedy Tiger fullback raced from his own 21-yard line to the Lobo 47, where Don Menasco, Lobo candidate for all-state honors, lowered the boom and the time was called as they tried to revive Burkhalter. The Lobo attack, which stalled initially during the first half and start of the third quarter, suddenly exploded for the winning touchdown just three plays before the start of the third stanza. Pakenham set the stage for the score by picking from his own 31 to the Texarkana 19. Three tries at the Longview forward wall failed to slow - thanks to Algie Callahan, Jim Fuller, Bobby Anglin and Jimmy Eaves - and Burkhalter went back to defend. The pass from center was too high and Burkhalter had to leap in the air to keep the ball from going over his head. By that time, Buddy Terry and Ed Roach had surrounded him on the 11-yard marker and crushed him into the turf. It was first and ten for Longview on the Texarkana 11. Jack Serpas showed some smart quarterback-play executing a neat quarterback pass which picked up tow precious yards, then Rex Stuckey went through a hole open by Bobby McGaw for five. Pakenham was just a foot short of a first down on the one and a half yard line, then with the entire Texarkana line expecting Pakenham to rush for the yard, the snap went to Stuckey and eh sliced through an opening provided by Algie Callahan for the touchdown. Fox Cashell calmly booted the point, and Longview was out in front by a 7-0 score. The touchdown inspired the Lobos, their offensive machine, which had been performing in a hit-and-run fashion throughout most of the game, started picking up power. Fox Cashell kicked off, Burkhalter rushed beautifully to the Tiger 30 from his won 14. Ed Roach. Stopped Soraby on a wide end swap and then he dropped Jimmy Goff after he picked up two on a bootleg play. Texarkana's kick was taken by James Rogers on the Lobo 35 and he returned seven yards to the Green and White's 42. Barton broke loose for three yards, then Pakenham ripped the line to shreds with two slams over tackle which netted 15 yards. A fumble, which they recovered, halted the attack and Pakenham kicked to Sorsby who took the ball on his own three and raced back to the Tiger 19. An unnecessary roughness penalty on Longview brought Texarkana up to their 38, but they in turn were penalized 15 yards for holding. Menasco dropped Burkhalter for a 10-yard loss, sending the Tigers back to their own 16 and the Orange and White as forced to kick. Burkhalter's boot traveled to the mid-yard stripe and was returned nine yards by Bobby Harris. Three downs picked up nine yards, and then Pakenham got off a lazy spiral which halted on the Texarkana 3-yard line. Three cracks at the forward wall was stopped by Callahan, Menasco and Fuller after they netted four yards. On the next to last play of the game, Texarkana was penalized down to their one-yard line for holding. Then with three seconds remaining, Burkhalter went back to kick, but he was trapped in the end zone by Captain Buddy Terry and dropped for an automatic safety - the third racked up by the brilliant Terry this year. That made it 9-0 as the gun sounded. Never in the years this writer has been watching high school football, has he witnessed a more barbaric or more viciously-played ball game. Men were stretched out on the field almost continuously, as bone-rattling tackles, savage blocks and great line play dominated the contest. It is next to impossible to single out any boy in particular and say, "He was the star." The entire Longview line never played better. Texarkana forced them into it by fielding one of the best forward walls the Lobos will meet this year. ThE victory lies, we believe, in the terrific end play of Buddy Terry and Ed roach, and the sensational defensive line backing of Don Menasco. To skip over Anglin, Callahan - how that boy did play - Fuller, Eaves, Muston, Collier, McClain and the other lads who saw action up front, would be sheer neglect. Callahan in particular, played all-state ball Friday night. In the backfield, it was the same story. Pakenham's sensational kicking kept Longview in the ball game. His battering ram cracks at the line were beautiful. Barton, Stuckey, Rogers, Harris, Serpass and Cashell each contributed greatly to the final outcome of the ball game. |