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| LONGVIEW - It's time the District 8-AAAA took he Longview Lobos seriously. There's nothing phony about the Lobos.
Friday night in Lobo Stadium the Longview team showed 8,000 witnesses they're for real by posting a 10-0 halftime lead and then coming back strong in the last two quarters to forge a smashing 31-0 victory. The thrilling but convincing conquest was the seventh straight win for the Lobos of 1967. Now the stage is set for a showdown battle between the marvelous Lobos and the Tigers of Texarkana next Friday night at Texarkana. It is said that some football teams are hot and cold, and they are. A hot ball club runs like a well-oiled machine and a cold one doesn't run. The Lobos were a little cold the first half and made too many costly errors. But when they did start they showed what they could do. That great Lobo defense blocked one punt that set up a touchdown and the defense held Marshall inside their home ground nearly all night. Marshall crossed the 50 yard line no more than three times. The defense played their finest game of the season. Boys like Jimmy Parker, Chal Barnwell, Richard Molpus, Mike Massey, Larry Meeks, Johnny Vaughan, Larry Gregg, Mark Hill, Kenny Kimbrough, Keith Bishop and Larry Shanks. This defensive club are champions. It was homecoming here Friday night and Miss Elaine Faircloth was named 1967 Lobo Football Sweatheart prior to the kickoff. Then at halftime Miss Patti Thomas was officially named 1967 Lobo Band Sweetheart. The Mavericks posted their seventh straight defeat of the season under coach Jerry Ferguson. It isn't likely Marshall will win a football game this year. They are the defending champions of 1966. The Lobo defense held Marshall to a net of 87 yards rushing and 47 in the air for a grand total of 134 yards. Marshall had only eight first downs. Longview compiled 18 first downs and 224 yards rushing and 63 in the air for a net of 287 yards. The Lobos were plagued with a few miscues during the first quarter of action. But coach Tommy Hudspeth quickly sent the Lobos under the football stethoscope for a heart check and found the lads to be A-okay. Longview finally lit the fuse to their offensive fireworks late in the first quarter and blew Marshall down like they have done six other opponents. Coach Hudspeth's boys won the toss and elected to receive. Quarterback Steve Hines kicked off for the Marshall team and strong side guard Ronnie Bussey took the pigskin on the 44 of Longview. Judy assembled his girder in the huddle and called for Rodney Hill to go off left tackle on a pitch out. Hill did so for a gain of eight to the Marshall 48 yard line. Then Judy on a keeper went off right tackle to the 42 for six yards and a first down. From the 42 tailback Hill turned a few times and was at the 33 and the Lobo fans and ex-students home for homecoming were yelling for good ole Lobos. On the next play, the Lobo fans didn't yell, Judy's pass was intercepted by defensive halfback Don Scott at the 28 and he rushed back to the 31 before he was grounded. The Marshall lads started clicking. Fullback Raymond Christmas went to the 34. He then carried to the 35. Quarterback Steve Hines on a keeper went off left guard to the 38. Then a funny thing happened to Marshall. Only the films will tell the true story, Hines went back to punt on fourth down and defensive end Chal Barnwell rushed through the line and blocked the punt. Larry Meeks of Longview quickly picked the ball up for the Lobos at the 37 of Marshall. Longview fans started thinking now is the time to score. Don't get too sure of yourself. Fullback Ray Wright carried he ball to the 33 for a gain of four. On the next play the Lobos were charged with a 15 yard penalty back to the 48 of Marshall. Fullback Larry Gregg was sent in to see if he could get the Lobos out of trouble. Gregg plowed to the 46 for a gainer of two. Then on the next play quarterback Steve Judy was snowed by a host of Mavericks for a loss of three back to the 49. Well Gregg punted the ball down field on fourth down from the 49. The ball was taken by Joe Beaman on the 7 and he returned to the 13. Six plays later from the 30 yard line Hines punted the ball down field. Tailback Rodney Hill took the pigskin on the 31 and returned to the 37 of Longview. This time Mr. Judy asked his offensive unit to do a better job. Quarterback Judy found room over right tackle to the 41 on the first try. Then tailback Hill did another dance and sailed to the 50 for a gainer of nine. Judy then went to the air and hit Rodney Hill at the right side of the field for a 21 yard pass and run play. Hill took the pass near the 46 of Marshall and before the Mavs could close that door the fancy little runner was at the 29 of Marshall. On the next play the Lobos were charged with a five yard penalty for delay of the game. The official moved the ball back to the 42 of Marshall. Tailback Hill went off left tackle to the 28 for a six yard gain. Then Judy let the bomb loose again. this time he sailed the ball into the arms of end Ralph Blount at the 15 for a gainer of 13. From the 15 Judy carried to the 10 and fullback Ray Wright toted the ball to the seven. Then Judy caught the Mavericks sleeping and plowed over from the seven for the first touchdown of the night. Ralph Blount's kick was good and the Lobos had a 7-0 as the buzzer sounded to end the first period of action. Blount kicked off and fullback Raymond Christmas took the ball on the 11 and returned to the 36. Four plays later from the Marshall 43. Steve Hines punted the ball downfield. Rodney Hill took the pigskin on the 22 and returned to the 35. The Lobos marched 65 yards in 13 plays and kicked a 25 yard field goal. Rodney Hill on the first two carries made 11 yards to the 46 yard line of Longview from the 35. Wingback Sid Sistrunk carried to the 49 of Longview. Judy on a keeper didn't make an inch. Then Sistrunk on a double-hand-off sailed to the left side of the line to the 35 for a 16 yard gainer and a first down. On the 35 the Lobos were shooting for a second touchdown. Judy elected to go to the air and missed his receiver. On the next play Hill went up the middle for a gain of eight to the 27. Then Judy charged through the right side to the 24 for a first down. On the 24 Judy passed to Hill for a gainer of 15 to the nine. The pass was over center and Hill nearly got away for the touchdown. Judy from the nine went to pass and didn't see a receiver and was grounded for no gain. Then Hill started to the left side of the line and was stopped by Marshall. Then Judy's pass to Sistrunk was missed. However, Hill was in the end zone wide open. But Judy didn't see Hill until it was too late. So on fourth down Blount kicked a 25-yard field goal to give the Lobos 10-0 lead with 3:35 to go in the second quarter. At the start of the third quarter Ralph Blount kicked off and Raymond Christmas took the ball on Marshall's five and returned to the 23. On the first play tailback Bruce Abraham fumbled the ball and defensive end Chal Barnwell recovered the ball for Longview on the 10 yard line. On the 10 Judy took the snap from center David Cox and carried the ball to the seven. Then from the seven Rodney Hill went over the right side of the line into the end zone for the touchdown with 11:07 remaining in the third chapter. Blount's extra point kicks as good, 17-0. Again Blount kicked off and this time Joe Beaman took the ball on the 11 and returned to the 24. Quarterback Hines went to the air on the first play and defensive halfback Johnny Vaughan intercepted the pass at the 25 and returned to the 6 for a 19 yard return. Rodney Hill on the first try from the six carried to the three. But on the next play quarterback Judy was caught off guard and was snowed back to the 14 for a loss of 11. Then Judy made it up when he passed to wingback Sid Sistrunk in the end zone for a touchdown. The pass covered 14 yards. Blount's kick was good and the Lobos had a 24-0 lead. Late in the third quarter Chal Barnwell put a bear rush on quarterback Steve Hines on the 9 yard line of Longview and when Barnwell stopped the ball, it was placed at the 18 yard line. It was a fourth down play and the Lobos took over. On the first play, fullback Wright carried to the 20 and the buzzer sounded to end the third period of play. Seven plays later Rodney Hill scored his second touchdown of the night from the three yard line with 9:16 left in the final chapter. Blount's kick was again good and the Lobos had a 31-0 victory. The big gainers in the drive from 18 of Longview were made by Hill, Sistrunk and Wright. Hill from the 25 of Longview carried to the 49 of Marshall for a gainer of 26 yards. Then Sistrunk plowed up the middle to the 34 of Marshall for 15 yards. Ray Wright wanted some of the drive and he took the ball to the 12 for 22 yards. At the 12 the Marshall lads came alive. On the first play Hill was pushed back to the 14. However, on the next play Hill carried to the three for a gainer of 11. Then with third down and one needed for a first, Hill went over for the touchdown. |