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| MARSHALL - The Marshall High Mavericks, sparked by brilliant line play and the generalship of quarterback Bob Bartlett, ended their 1953 season like it began here Thursday, defeating the Longview Lobos, 26-13, in the homecoming battle.
The victory moved Marshall into fourth place in the district 4-AAA standings and ended the careers of 17 Maverick seniors. It was a great day for Marshall all 'round. The Maverick defense flashed the form which brought them a 0-0 tie with district champion Kilgore, and hte ground attack, led by halfback Mickey Mauldin and fullback Harry Ford, ripped through the gapping holes for yard after yard. Bartlett intercepted a flat pass by Lobo quarterback George Meyers two minutes deep in the game and raced 40 yards to score, giving Marshall a lead it would never relinquish, although Longview threatened seriously in the final quarter. Bushe Morgan missed the try for point and the Mavs held a 6-0 margin at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, guard Bill Perkins, playing his final game for Marshall, recovered a Lobo fumble on their 49. A 15-yard penalty for roughness moved the ball to the Lobo 31, and five plays later the Mavs had another score. Line smashes netted only two yards in three tries, but Bartlett found Morgan, who fought out two Lobo defenders to make a beautiful catch on the seven for a first down. On the next play, Barlett rammed his 155-pound frame over right tackle on an option play with four minutes to go in the first half. The intermission found Marshall leading, 13-0. Early in the second half, Bartlett was injured and it appeared for a time that the Lobos might pull the game out of the first. However, with Morgan, a regular halfback who had quarterbacking experience last year on the B team, guiding, the Mavericks managed to build up a 19-0 margin five minutes deep into the third stanza. Bob Lacy recovered a Lobo fumble on the Longview 27, and again a 15-yard penalty helped the Mavericks, giving them a first down on the Lobo 15. Mauldin lost four yards on an attempted end sweep, but got it back on an off-tackle slant. Morgan then found end Ronald Gunter in the clear with a touchdown heave, good for 15 yards. Morgan's try for point was blocked. Longview came back in the fourth quarter to scare some 4,000 homecoming fans with two quick touchdowns after the Marshall attack lacked its first half punch, despite a creditable job by Morgan as man under. Longview recovered a Maverick fumble on the Marshall seven, and on the first play, halfback Robert Bayliss rammed over right tackle and powered his way seven yards to score. Meyers' kick was wide and it was 19-6 with 11 minutes to play Another break was converted into seven points for the visitors. Taking over on the Marshall 33 after Harold Ratcliffe bobbled the snap on a fourth down punting attempt; the Lobos marched for a touchdown in eight plays. Three Meyers' passes gained all but four of the yards, with a 5-yard toss to end Tony Rothrock good for the touchdown. Meyers converted to make it 19-13 with seven minutes to play. Barlett came off the bench to lead the Mavs to the clinching touchdown. Mauldin returned the ensuing kickoff to the Maverick 43 and in eight plays the Mavs had a touchdown. Mauldin reeled off a 19-yard dash to the Lobo 37 and Ford churned his way 17 yards to the 11. Ford burst over left tackle, bulled over the linebacker and scored standing from seven yards out. Mauldin converted and Marshall led 26-13 with three minutes to play. Tackle Jack Cowley and guard D.A. Emerson turned in great defensive performances for the Mavericks, along with Louis Harris, Gunter, Bartlett and Merrill Witt. |