|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
||
|
|
| LONGVIEW - Coach Lee Mitchell's Gladewater Bears kept alive their championship hopes in the District 4-AAA race by defeating the Longview Lobos, 20 to 0, as husky Neal Williams, an leading candidate for all-state backfield honors, performance engineered the Bruins to their fourth victory over Longview in the past five seasons.
Williams literally riddled the Lobos' defense with sling-shot passes and even took to the air almost with impunity as the Bears were occasionally backed deep into their own territory. He scored two of Gladewater's touchdowns after setting them both up with his passes - and pass for the other as well, booting two extra point from placement to score all of the Bears' points. Williams fired 33 passes and completed 17 of them for a gain of (??) while his receivers brought in several aerials that the Gladewater quarterback fired straight into their arms. This was Gladewater's second victory in conference play against one defeat and left the Bears tied with Texarkana for second place in the championship running, one game behind pace-setting Marshall. The game marked the first time in the 20 game series between the two teams that Longview failed to score against Gladewater. The Lobos made three scoring threats in the contest - all in the first half - but only one of them really serious and the Bears intercepted a pass to halt the drive. Gladewater collected 17 first downs to 10 for Longview and collected a total net gain of 216 yards to 130 for the Lobos. The Lobos eventually matched Gladewater's rushing yardage, gaining 45 to Gladewater's 48, but the Bears were vastly superior though the air. The brilliant linebacker of 180-pound David Lloyd had much to do with keeping Longview's attack in check throughout most of the night. The first quarter was scoreless, with Stewart recovering a fumble on Longview's 39-yard line early in the second period to lead to Gladewater's first marker. Williams passed a 35-yard pass to Julian for a first down on Longview's four and two plays later Williams slanted over center for a touchdown. Williams converted from placement to put the Bears in front, 7 to 0. The winners drove 57 yards for their second touchdown late in the second period with Williams tossing passes after almost monotonous regularity. A 15-yard pass from Williams to Julian reached Longview's two-yard stripe just as time was running out. Williams picked up one yard at left tackle with eight seconds left in the half. Jerry Don Lancaster was stopped cold at right guard by George Myers. At that point Jimmy Watson, Gladewater guard, pulled one of the season's neatest tricks. He fell to the ground - either actually hurt or pretending an injury - and stopped the clock. A few seconds later he raced off the field after a replacement had been sent in for him, but that gave the Bears just enough time for one more play and this time Williams cracked left tackle for a touchdown. Williams again converted to put Gladeater in front at the half, 14 to 0. An intercepted pass gave the Bears their last touchdown in the fourth quarter. Marc Stewart hauled down Jack Parker's pass and returned it to Longviews' 11 and two plays later Williams passed to Rance Carr in the end zone. Williams' kick on the try for extra point was wide to the left. |