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| LONGVIEW - Longview, a pre-season millionaire, died a pauper here on this cold winter rainy Friday night.
The Lufkin Panthers wrote the last three lines to the Lobo's epitaph. Palestine scribbled the first line, Tyler Lee's Rebels the second. Longview, a golden glow before the season opened, had its hopes packed away early here Friday night. Just for the record the Lobos were badly beaten by a good Lufkin Panther ball club, 7 to 0, on the muddy field of Lobo Stadium. It was the kind of beating the Lobos should not forget for a long time. The Lobos found thirteen unlucky, as in November 13th. The Panthers went home with a victory they earned. Longview completed the bitter season with a 6-3-0 record and a 3-3-0 District 14-AAAA mark. Lufkin completed the year's work with a 6-3-0 mark and a 2-4-0 district mark. A total of 31 seniors on the Lobo team completed their career here Friday night wearing the Green and White. It wasn't the kind of game you want to spend a dime to call home about. So, the Lobos now can pack away their shoulder pads for another year. Maybe spring training will bring a brighter outlook in 1971. Just maybe! Lufkin was a mountain here in Lobo Stadium and the Lobos failed the test many, many times. The offensive machine in the first half made only four first downs and a net of 36 yards rushing and 22 in the air. Lufkin had seven points on the scoreboard, seven first downs, 91 yards rushing and five yards passing. For the entire game, the Lobos made just seven first downs (must be an all-time record for a Lobo football team) and Lufkin had 11. Longview netted only 38 yards rushing while Lufkin had 183. In the passing department the Lobos had 53 yards and Lufkin only five. The Lobos had a grand total of 91 yards and Lufkin 188. This was by far the poorest showing for Longview this season or last or the year before. Longview came close to the Panthers in yard specialized. Lobos had 49 and Lufkin 50. Tailback Clifford Davis, 165-pound junior, gained 138 net yards on 37 tries and he also scored the winning touchdown. He finished with 1,032 yards for the season. He is by far one of the top runners in the district. The entire Lobo team didn't play all that bad. The defensive team, at times, looked mighty sharp. They had troubles holding Mr. Davis down and most any team finds that a tough and rough job. Tailback James Lomax carried for 19 yards on nine tries. He only played the first half. Quarterback Ronnie Davis started the game and was pulled for Jeb Blount in the second half. Blount's passing at times looked very sharp to end Tom Brown. A pat on the back must be given to the Lobo defensive unit of Joseph Rattler, Keith Judy, Marcilas Jackson, Larry Smith, Bill Williams, Aaron Davis, Matt Dove, Jimmy Draper, Billy Writt, Kent Wilson and Don Peek. Longview elected to kickoff to the Panthers and the visitors took over at the 31 yard line of Lufkin. From the 30 of Lufkin on fourth down Robbie Tompkins punted and the Lobos took over with 9:57 left on the clock in the first quarter at their own 38 yard line. The Lobos ran six plays and on the seventh elected to punt from the Lufkin 46 yard line on fourth down. The ball rolled to the seven of Lufkin. This punting contest took place a couple or more times before the Panthers voted to do something about it. The Lufkin boys took over at their own 47 yard line after fielding a punt, from the foot of Bill Gibson, with 9:11 to go in the second quarter. From their 47, the Panthers started moving. However, on the first play, Davis carried. Well, you can call that play back. Longview was issued a 15-yard penalty and the ball was moved to the Lobo 34 yard line. In nine plays, tailback Clifford Davis sprinted around his left end into the end zone for the only touchdown of the night. Gary Long kicked the extra point, 7-0, with only 4:46 left before the break. The Lobos never early came close to scoring on the day. The 1970 Lobo team will be remembered as the team that was picked to win the championship in early August and lost to Lufkin Friday night. |