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| LONGVIEW - The Texarkana Tigers stayed in the thick of the running for the District 8-AAAA championship by riding the right arm of quarterback George McKinney to a 32-6 triumph over the Longview Lobos here Friday night.
McKinney turned in a sensational offensive performance as he personally scored one touchdown, kicked two extra points and passed to end Rex Rey for three other scores on tosses of 45, 27 and 35 yards. McKinney's touchdown came early in the third quarter when he failed to find a recovered on an attempted pass and broke up the middle, cut for the sidelines and raced 32 yards into the end zone. Texarkana's other touchdown was scored by fullback Larry Bower, who plunged over from four yards out early in the second period. Longview's only touchdown came in the third quarter on a 66-yard drive with fullback Pete Burks plowing over right tackle from the two. Longview might have made it a closer battle all the way but for the fact that two touchdown bids in the first half went astray.They had a fine scoring opportunity in the first quarter when they blocked a Texarkana kick on visitors' 28-yard line but lost the ball on a fumble on Texarkana's 11 two plays later. Again just before the half Dub Thomas returned a punt 42 yards to the Tigers' three-yard line and almost shook loose for a touchdown but time ran out on the Lobos before they could score. Texarkana made the most of every Longview mistake as the Lobos fumbled six times and the Tigers recovered no less than five of them, two of which led to touchdowns by the Tigers while an intercepted pass helped the winners to another score. Sophomore Bob (Applejack) Abney, getting his first starting assignment of the season for Longview at quarterback in the absence of Bill Bolger, who was sideline by influenza, and James Wood, who is lost for the Lobos for the remainder of the season with a broken leg, turned in a highly capable performance. He completed eight of 15 passes for a gain of 100 yards and directed the offense of the Lobos exceptionally well. Longview collected 11 first downs to 10 for Texarkana, gained 152 yards rushing to 134 for the Tigers and had a total net gain of 252 yards to 292 for the winners. In the final analysis it was the accuracy of McKinney on his long passes that spelled the difference for Texarkana. The Tigers connected for only six completions in 15 aerials attempts but three of them are by McKinney for touchdowns. The Tigers lost no time in breaking into the scoring column when tackle George Monroe recovered a fumble Longview's 45-yard line on the fourth play of the game. On the first play after the recovery, McKinney whipped a 35-yard pass over the secondary to Ray, who took the ball in the clear on the 10 and raced untouched into the end zone. McKinney kicked the extra point to put the Tigers in front, 7-0. Later in the opening quarter the Lobos threatened when they blocked McKinney's attempted punt. McKinney fumbled a high snap from center and tackle Gene Pierce broke through to block the kick, which was recovered by tackle Ed Buckner on Texarkana's 28-yard line. A pass from Abney to Thomas was good for 12 yards and a first down but on the next play Texarkana stemmed the threat when McKinney recovered a Longview fumble on his own 11-yard line. The Tigers marched 53 yards for their second touchdown early in the second quarter. Bower picked up two first down on runs of 27 and 10 yards during the drive and went over left tackle from the four to score. McKinney's placement kick on the try for extra point was wide. Texarkana had still another scoring chance a few minutes later when center Jerry Lineberger recovered a fumble on Longview's 28, but this time the defense of the Lobos was equal to the occasion and they took over on their own 21 after four running plays by the Tigers' netted only seven yards. From there Longview smashed its way into the shadow of Texarkana's goal, but once again the fates were against them. With Thomas ripping off a 14-yard gain and Brusk romping for 30 more, the Lobos slashed to Texarkana's 10 only to have Abney's fourth down pass fall incomplete in the end zone. Longview came within an eye-lash of scoring just before the end of the half. With 10 seconds remaining before the intermission McKinney punted and Thomas returned it 42 yards to the Texarkana three, almost getting away into the end zone before he was tripped just at the last second. Two plays, however, cost the Lobos seven yards just as the half ended. The last half was all Texarkana's as the Tigers drove 69 yards for their third touchdown with the kickoff. A pass from McKinney to Ray was good for 35 yards, after which Bower hit tackle for three. On the next play, McKinney faded to pass, failed to find a receiver and broke up the middle to race 32 yards into the end zone. A pass from McKinney to Tetters on the try for extra point was incomplete, putting Texarkana in front, 19-0. The Lobos took the ensuing kickoff and drove 66 yards for their only touchdown. Two passes by Abney to Thomas for 19 yards and King for 22 helped the locals reach the Texarkana two, from where Burks rammed over left tackle to score. Gillock's kick on the try for extra point was wide, leaving the Tigers in front at the end of the period, 19-6. Texarkana converted a fumble and an intercepted pass into two more touchdowns early in the fourth quarter. Lineberger recovered a Longview bobble on the Lobos' 27-yard stripe and on the next play McKinney fired a 27-yard pass to Ray for a score. The Texarkana quarterback booted the conversion. Three plays later Charles Osborne intercepted a pass for the Tigers and returned it 15 yards to Longview's 35. McKinney immediately faded back and passed 35 yards to Ray on the goal line for a touchdown. Buckner blocked McKinney's kick on the try for extra point. |