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| TYLER - Only a first quarter safety and a third quarter touchdown prevented the John Tyler-Longview District 8-AAAA football contest from being nothing more than a cold booting standoff.
Both teams appeared sluggish and failed to get a sustained drive started before a scant 2,000 fans in Rose Stadium Friday night. The 8-0 victory keeps John Tyler's Lions in the thick of the district tears while Longview suffered its third defeat. John Tyler kicked the ball 10 times and Longview was forced to punt seven times with neither team able to move the ball up the middle of the staunch forward walls. John Tyler kept Longview in the Lobo end of the field and without a first down until 2:18 remaining in the third quarter. However, the Lobo drive stopped on the Lion 41 before an incomplete pass gave the ball to John Tyler and started the Lions to pay dirt. Kenneth Motes, playing probably his best game of the year, recovered two fumbles, was an important factor in the safety and played an outstanding defensive game. The senior fullback gained 27 yards in seven carries. Motes recovered a Lobo fumble on the second play of the game but John Tyler failed to move the ball. Quarterback Gary Bruner punted the ball 41 yards with a Lion defender falling on the ball inside Longview's one. Two plays later quarterback Jerry Ainsworth fumbled before the onrushing Lion forward and the Lions held a 2-0 with 8:37 left in the first quarter. Neither team could get a drive started the rest of the first half with the Lions punting six times and Longview five. Longview ran 28 plays and had no first downs while John Tyler ran 36 plays for 53 yards and two first downs. Wilmot set up the touchdown in the third quarter when he recovered a Longview fumble on the Lobo seven. Bruner attempted a pass and Gary Hayes ran six after attempting to pass. Then Wilmot bulled through for the final yard with 3:09 left in the quarter. Hayes, who was doing limited duty because of a cracked rib in last week's game, had his kick attempt blocked. Hayes came in and out of the game all night and was used mainly to pass and for kickoffs. With the start of the fourth period, the space crowd began filtering through the strong breeze for the gate as the game dragged to a finish. Longview attempted to pass on every play and moved to John Tyler's 36 before losing possession with a run attempt. The Lions ran out the clock for their seventh victory of the year against two defeats. John Tyler now has a 3-1 district mark and are in a tie with Lufkin and Marshall. Longview drops to 2-6-1 on the season. |