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| LONGVIEW - Forest scored first but not as frequently as well drilled Longview here Saturday night as the Lobos powered to a 25-12 victory in the season opener for both teams, play dbefore a capacity crowd of 6,800.
The Lobos, employing trap plays inside the Lion ends with crushing success, rushed from behind in the second quarter on the brilliant performances of halfback Tony Rothrock and fullback Dub Thomas. Rothroch and Thomas each scored twice and accounted for most of the Lobos' rushing total of 294 yards. Forest, after moving 62 yards to score on their first offensive series, spent most of the remainder of the game on defense. After that flurry the Lions were forced to rely offensively on the passing of its 6'6 quarterback, Marion Fallwell. But the hard charging Lobo line made even his efforts futile. The first quarter belonged almost completely to Forest. The Lions consumed less than five minutes and nine plays to move the opening kickoff back 62 yards for the game's first score. The touchdown play came on a 36-yard pass play that baffled the defense. Fallwell faked perfectly twice and then dropped back to pass. He found end Joel Wyatt, Class 4A's number one pass receive red of 1954, all alone nearly fifteen yards behind the last Longview defender. He lobbed a high shot to Wyatt who took the ball at the eight and jogged over for the score. Aaron Dykes blocked Fallwell's conversion attempt. The Lions couldn't muster another offensive threat in the first half after that, but managed to hold Longview to a single first down, that on a penalty, until a Lion fumble was recovered by the Lobos' Rothrock at the Forest 24 late in the first quarter. Thomas followed fine blocking for thirteen yards and an apparent touchdown four plays later but a backfield in the motion penalty rubbed it out. Rothrock notched the score a moment later, however, baffling past a wave of Lions from the 15. Rothrock bobbled a pass from center to foil the conversion attempt. The score came on the first play of the second quarter. The Lobos took over again minutes later at the Longview 43 following a 22-yard Lion punt. A 41-yard burst by Pete Burks carried to the Forest one-foot line where Thomas banged over two plays later. Murvil Byrd's perfect placement gave the Lobos a 13-6 lead. Forest dug in to throw back a Longview threat indie the one-yard line late in the second period. Fallwell recovered a fumble by Rothrock on a punt return midway in the third period to launch Forest's second touchdown drive from the Lobo thirty-four. Two first downs moved the ball to the 11 and Fallwell scored from there, rolling out to the right to pass and then circling right end for the touchdown. A bad pass from center thwarted the extra point attempt. Longview widened the margin minutes later, however, after recovering an attempted onside kick by the Lions at the Forest 47. Rothrock picked his way 34 yards for the score behind fine blocking. Byrd's conversion attempt was partially blocked. Then the Lobos added the clincher midway in the fourth as Thomas ripped off right tackle and cruised 66 yards to score. Bill Bolger failed in an attempt to run across the extra point. |