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| LONGVIEW - Like the man said, "Only three things happens when you pass - and two of them are bad."
Longview's Lobos trying hard to bomb their way over the Richardson Eagles, ran into trouble and wound up on the short end of a 21-13 decision that awarded the Eagles a Class AAAA Bi-District championship. It was the first in the history of the school for Richardson and they earned it. The Lobos had a lead of 13-6 with five minutes and 11 seconds remaining in the third period. However, a pass interception by defensive end David Arledge, a 173-pound senior, on the Eagle 35 yard line and in 10 plays, 65 yards and four first downs the Eagles scored a touchdown, 13-12. Go for one or two. The Eagles went for the two point convesion as quarterback Boby Dudney sailed the ball into the arms of fullback John Swords in the end zone. With four minutes and 27 seconds reamining int eh game, the Lobos were on the 35 yard line of Richardson. It was second down and four needed for a first. So quarterback Steve Judy went to the air and htis time Jimmy Hoffman (Monster Man) picked off the pass at the Richardson 26 and returned to the 49 of the Eagles. However, the Eagles were charged a 15 yard penalty that put the ball back on the 29 yard line. Seven plays later Barry Carnahan was caled upon to punt the ball out. The ball fell into tailback Rodney Hill's arms at the goal line but Hill fumbled and Jimmy Hoffman recovered the pigskin for the Eagles at the one. From the one tailback Mack Rogers went over for the touchdown with 1:32 remaining in the contest, 20-13. Norman Flippo added the extra point, 21-13. The Lobos of coach Tommy Hudspeth won the game statistics, but lost on the scoreboard. The Eagles were a mighty lucky ball club. They got all the big breaks and hte Lobos didn't record on little ole break the entire ball game. But breaks win ball games and the Eagles went home to Big D with the bi-district championship. The Lobos played their hearts out. They were so keyed up for the game until you could feel the pressure as far away as the press box. Longview went into the game as the No. 2 ranked ball club with a perfect 10-0 record. The Eagles ranked No. 7 and had a 8-2-0 record. Lobo fans are still mighty proud of this year's ball club. It took 20 years to win the district championship and no one can say the Lobos didn't try Friday night against a fired up Richardson ball club. It wasn't who wanted the championship more, but it was hte costly mistkaes byt eh Lobos that gave the crown to the Eagles. Any time a team has a perfect record (10-0-0) and the entire city looking down on you, the pressure was there. But the Lobos went down like champions. The Lobos are still No. 1 in the hearts of the students, faculity, fans and this newpaper. The Lobos made 14 first downs and 10 for the Eagles. Longview passed for a total of 150 yards and rushed for a net of 171 yards for a combined total of 321 yards. The Eagles passed for only seven yards and rushed for 172 yards for a total of 179 yards. The Eagles had been averaging more than 300 yards per game. So the Lobso defense came through again and big round of cheers for this group of lads. Richardson won the toss and elected to receive. Ralph Blount kicked off and Stan Holmes took the ball on the 11 and return to the 15. Four plays later Barry Carnahan punted the ball down field from the 17. However, two of three Lobo defensive players fell on the punter and the Lobos were chargred with a 15 yard penalty. This was a big break for the Eagles. From the 32 and on third down the Lobos were charged with five yards from the 39 to the 44 of Richardson for being offsies. This gave the Eagles a first down. On the 44 of Richardson, tailback Mack Rogers carried for one and then on second down quarterback Bob Dudney's pass was intercepted by defensive halfback Johnny Vaughan on the 24 of the Lobos. It appeared the Lobos were on teh go from the 24. On the first shot out of the I formation, tailback Hill sprinted 13 yards to the 37 for a first down. On the 37 fullback Ray Wright carried to the 39. On the next play Judy's pass was too high for the receiver. Then on third down Judy twisted his way to the 49 and fumbled the ball and safety Bruce Gadd recovered the ball at the 49 for the Eagles. This was another big break for the Eagles. The Eagles didn't go far. On the second play quarterback Dudney started to pass and then sailed to the right side of the line to the 40 for a gain of nine. But then wingback David Cordwell was caught behind the line for a loss of five on third down by defensive end Chal Barnwell. Carnahan punted the ball down field on fourth down and the ball was officially rolled dead at the 20 with seven minutes and 19 seconds left in the first quarter with 12,000 fans looking on. The three first plays saw Hill carry the ball on five, three and five yard tries to the 33. Then quarterback Judy on the second play hit end Ralph Blount with a six yard pass to the 39. Judy on a keeper to the right side went to the Lobo 47 for a gain of eight for a first down. Four plays later from the 49 of Richardson, Judy punted the ball out. It rolled dead at the 18. With 2:10 left the Eagles took over in the first quarter. In five plays Mack rogers fumbled the ball att eh 38 of Richardson and Chal Barnwell recovered the ball for the Lobos. With only 30 seconds to go in the first quarter hte Lobos had their first big break of the contest. Fullback Ray Wright started the drive to the 37. Then wingback Sid Sistrunk carried to the 24 for a gainer of 13 before he was nailed down. It was a double reverse play from Judy to Hill to Sistrunk. It really caught the Eagles sleeping. From the 24 Hill carried to the 19. Then Judy to the 17. On the next play the Lobos drew a five yard penalty. So the ball was moved back to the 22. Sistrunk on the next carry made it back to the 17. The Lobos at the 17 started for a field goal. But Longview's players took too much time in the huddle and were given a five yard penalty back to the 22. Teh ball was placed at the 27 for a field goal try. The kick was blocked by defensive end David Arledge. He quickly picked the ball up at the 32 and ran the ball back 68 yards for a touchdown with 8:20 left in the second chapter. This really broke the heart of the Lobos. So Richardson had a 6-0 lead as the extra point try failed when Norman Flippo's kick went wide to the right of the uprights. Quarterback Judy called his boys together and Judy was about as calm as calm could be. He is the greatest quarterback to come out of Longview in years. Flippo kicked off to the Lobos and Blount fielded the ball at the 33. Four plays later Judy punted the ball down field. So the Eagles on fourht down punted the ball back to the Lobos. Hill received the ball at the 20 and went only one yard to the 21. With 6:13 left before halftime the Lobos started moving the ball like champions. Hill carried for six and then Sistrunk sprinted for eight. From the 35 Judy sailed a pass into the arms of Gene Portley to the 35 of Richardson for a gainer of 30 yards. Hill, who wasn't stopped all night by the Eagles, went to the 27 from the 35. On pitch-back to Sistrunk from Judy, Sid was caught for a loss of three. Then on the next play the Lobos were issued a five yard penalty for offsides and the ball was moved back to the 35. In that play Judy hit Joe Miller for a long gainer, but that was rubbed out. So it was fourth down and 10 needed for a first. All-State quarterback candidate Judy gave the Eagles something to talk about as he sailed the ball into the arms of Ralph Blount for a touchdown. Blount caught the ball at the 12 and went on into the end zone for the touchdown. Blount's kick was good and the Lobos had a 7-6 lead. The Lobos went to the dressing room at halftime leading 7-6. They came back in the third chapter full of fire and the Lobo fans were behind them 110 percent with cheers. Flippo kicked off and Portley took the ball on the 35 and returned to the 39. The Lobos just couldn't be stopped as they went the full distance for the touchdown. It was Hill and Judy on the drive. But the big gainer was for a pass from Judy to Joe Miller to the Richardson 14 from the 47 for a gainer of 39 yards. Then from the 14 Hill went to the 12. With second down and eight needed for a first, Judy on a pitch-out to Hill went around the right end for the touchdown from 12 yards out. The Lobos had a 13-6 lead. With 8:25 to go in the third period, Blount's kick failed. The Touchdown drive covered 61 yards, seven plays and three first downs. Rodney Hill carried the ball 23 times for a total of 109 yards for a 4.8 yards per try. his longest gain was for 13 yards. Wingback Sid Sistrunk carried six times for a net fo 31 yards and Steve Judy carried 11 times for 24 yards. Judy attempted 15 passes for 158 yards and completed seven. His longest was good for 39 yards. Death, taxes and defeat are bound to come some time. Those are things you can bet your last trading stamp on. The Lobos have had a great football season. The entire team is a credit to the City of Longview. It has been a number of years since the Longview school has fielded a ball club with boys of high standards as this 1967 squad. All fans love a winner (even sports writers) and the Lobos are still a winner in our book. Center David Cox injured his knee in the third quarter and Jim Robin was called into duty to replace him. Richardson must be given a pat-on-the-back for a great job of taking advantage of the breaks in the game. But no Lobo player must feel bad about the defeat. It was a team defeat and no one player lost the game. To be a trust champion you must be able to walk with heads high when you are defeated and wish the winner the best of luck next against week against Bryan Adams. Coach Tommy Hudspeth's birthday is Saturday. Many more birthdays at Longview as the No. 1 coach in the nation. |