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| LONGVIEW - Lufkin's threesome made quite a splash at Lobo Stadium Friday night.
Fantastic. Amazing. Unbelievable. Take your pick. They all fit like a glove in Lufkin's 36-13 victory over Longview in a District 13-AAAA contest. The threesome were quarterback David Alexander, wingback Kenneth Harris and tailback Ray Harper. Lufkin just may have a new major if tailback Harper decides for un. Run he did here Friday night at Lobo Stadium - for 137 scintillating yards - as the Lufkin team elevated their season record to 7-1-1 and 5-1-1 in district play. Harper is one of the best runners in the Lone Star State. He now has scored 12 touchdowns for the season and is the leading rushers for the Panthers. Lufkin lost to Texarkana 13-12 and tied John Tyler 0-0. Lufkin is by far one of the best teams in the district the Lobos have played. They have a well balanced attacked and their linemen turned in a great job. The Panthers must be even a big pat on the back for a great job. The Longview Lobos gave a good account of themselves. However, the Panthers were just a little too much here Friday night. The running of Harper and Harris made the difference in the game. The victor for Lufkin was the first over Longview in three years. It was an earned win. It is too bad Lufkin can't win the district championship. They are bless with outstanding material. Lufkin, a pre-season millionaire, died when they tied John and lost to the Tiger at Texarkana. There's only one thing with being perched at the top of the world. The football is tricky and there is only room for one t a time and once you're King of the Mountain, there is not much satisfaction in being second best. Lufkin next Friday will play Marshall Pemberton at Panther Stadium in Lufkin and the Lobos will close out the season at John Tyler. The Lobos are now 5-4 for the season and 4-3 in loop play. There were many bright spots in the game for the Lobos, as the rain-thinned crowd watched the two clubs battle it out on a very wet field. The Lobos won the toss of the coin and elected to receive Gary Teer kicked off and fullback Ray Wright took the ball on the 34 and returned it to the 41. From the Lobo 41, quarterback Roland Whitehurst called the meeting in order as a light rain was falling. On the first play Whitehurst hit end Joe Jordan on a 51 yard bomb at the right side of the field. This gave the Lufkin defense something to talk about. The ball was placed at the eight yard line. On the first play, Lufkin was called offside and the ball was moved to the four (half the distance). Three plays later, Whitehurst on a keeper went into the end zone from four yards out for the Longview touchdown with 10:35 left in the first quarter. Ralph Blount kicked the extra point, 7-0 Lobos. The drive covered 59 yards and two first downs. This looked like the "old" Lobos of 1967. Lufkin came back and score after taking a Blount kickoff. The drive started on the 20. Fullback Ken Carpenter and tailback Harper were the big boys in the drive as they took the ball down the field. It only took 10 plays and Harper went into the end zone from 16 yards out for the touchdown with 6:43 on the clock in the second quarter. Quarterback Alexander passed to wingback Kenneth Harris for the two point conversion, 8-7. With just two minutes remaining in the first quarter, the Lobos took over on their own 35 yard line after Lufkin's Wayne Durham had punted the ball and Lnogview's Alton Coley took the ball at the 35. On the first play, quarterback Roland Whitehurst fumbled the pigskin at the Lufkin 39 yard line and was recovered by Wayne Thornton. Lufkin took over at the 39 and with fire in their eyes, they used 15 plays in the drive for the touchdown and two penalties against the Lobos (20 yards). Wingback Harris went into the end zone for the touchdown from 11 yards out with 7:17 left in the second quarter. Durham kicked the extra point, 15-7. At the Lobo 11 yard line, Harper was hit so hard that the ball bounced from his arms and rolled out of bounds. Several Lobos made a jump at the ball but couldn't recover the ball. Gary Teer kicked off to Longivew and wingback Sid Sistrunk took the ball at the 12 and returned to the 29. the Lobos gambled on fourth down at the Lufkin 47 (needed just inches for a first) and Whitehurst was stopped for a one yard loss and the ball went over. This set up another Lufkin touchdown. The drive started at the Lufkin 47. Seven plays later quarterback Alexander pass to Trey Denman in the end zone for the touchdown with 1:4 left before halftime. Wyane Durham kicked the extra point, 22-7 Panthers. The big gainers in the rive were made by Carpenter and Harper. The Lobos have not yet given up a single point in the third quarter in nine games this fall. Late in the third quarter the Lobos took over on Lufkin's 49-yard line after Durham had punted the ball. Coley took the punt at the 36 and the Panthers were given a 15 yard penalty. The officials placed the ball at the Lufkin 49. The Lobos really went to work on an end around pass Jimmy Griffin passed to Ralph Blount for 24 yards to the Lufkin 19. At the 19, fullback Ray Wright plowed to the 18. Then Whitehurst went around right side and fumbled the ball. However, he recovered the ball at the 10. Sistrunk carried the next time and was stopped by the Panthers. It was fourth down and needed one, so Whitehurst on a keeper went up the middle to the four for a gainer of six. Three plays later tailback Alton Coley went over right tackle into the end zone from one yard out for the touchdown with 11:57 reading on the clock in the fourth period. Coley's try for the two pointer failed, 22-13. After the kickoff the Panthers started another drive from their own 35. In four plays, the Panthers were on the scoreboard again. Quarterback Alexander passed to end Wayne Durham in the left end zone for the touchdown with 10:06 remaining in the game. Durham's kick failed, 28-13. Lufkin again started another drive at the Lobo 36 yard line. Five plays later, Harper went over from the one for the touchdown with 4:38 on the clock. Wingback Harris went over the right side of the field for the two pointer, 36-13. Longview started their final drive on the 30 yard line. The Lobos were moving the ball well agains the Panthers and were down on the Lufkin 19 when Whitehurst's pass was intercepted by Gary Teer to stop the drive with just seconds left on the clock. The leading rushers for Longview were Billy Price and Alton Coley with 53 yards each. Price carried the ball nine times and Coley 16 times. Whitehurst attempted 22 passes and completed 6 for 85 net yards. He carried the ball 16 times for 37 net yards. Coley, 165-pound junior, showed lots of power in his running against the Panthers. He is going to make the Lobos a real fine ball carrier next fall. The Lobos have nothing to be ashamed of. They tried. The Panthers were just the best team here Friday night. |