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| LONGVIEW - A steady ground attack, sparked with several "big" plays, some key passes and a swarming defense paced the third-ranked Longview Lobos to a 27-0 season-opening victory over Dallas Jesuit here Friday night.
The shutout victory marked the fifth season in a row the Lobos have held their opening opponent scoreless and third straight shutout win over Jesuit. The last two years have seen 28-0 and 14-0 triumphs. Longview employed eight ball-carriers to pile up 286 yards rushing, and 408 total yards. The Lobo "Mean Green" defense, meanwhile held the Rangers to 123 total yards, all on the ground. Jesuit could manage just seven first downs, three in the second half as solid gang-tackling was present through the night. A full house saw Longview tack on the first seven points of the season on its very first possession. Quarterback Llewellyn Fambles sparked a 70-yard, eight-play drive with a 47-yard jaunt to the Ranger 11. Three plays later tailback Leo McCoy picked up where he left off a year ago when he took the pitch from quarterback David Gibson, used a key block by Fambles (now at fullback) and tallied from six yards out. McCoy, an All-14-AAAA District selection as a junior last year when he rushed for over 900 yards and scored 16 touchdowns, to lead the team in both departments. Henry Williams booted the first of his three extra points conversions for the night. Longview took the 7-0 lead with 6:25 remaining in the opening quarter. The Lobos next score came with just 1:19 left in the half on a little trickery, a 33-yard halfback pass from McCoy to wingback Johnny Fuller. It was entirely through the airways that the Lobo mounted a 65-yard march for the touchdown. Fambles hit split end Bobby Hunt for 6 yards and two plays later connected with Thomas Cook for 15 more steps. Cook's reception came on an almost perfectly executed screen pass to the left. The speedster, who racked up 190 yards rushing in just five carries in garner game honors, gathered in Fambles' toss with three blockers poised to create a path for him. It also came on a third-and-nine situation to keep the drive alive. Jesuit managed just 55 total yards that first half. One pass was completed but it was for no yards as Hunt smothered fullback Steve Barker. The Lobos increased his margin in an unsurmountable 21-0 on their initial possession of the second half. The eight-play, 69-yard move was sparked by an 18-yard pass play from Tim Martin to tight end Williams and a 19-yard scamper by Cook for the score at 8:19 of the third quarter. Jesuit tried desperately to light up its side of the scoreboard but continuous fourth down attempts were thwarted by the stingy Lobo defenders. One such play came at the Longview 12 when Hunt, Williams and Hosea Taylor teamed to stop Barker cold in his tracks on a fourth-and-two. The Rangers had received the ball in Lobo territory at the 37 following a fumble recovery. The visitors moved as deep as the Longview eight late in the game before the "Mean Green" stood up to meet the occasion. Williams and Jeff Stone buried Alan Stone on a fourth-and-one play. The fourth Lobos score of the night came with 9:30 left in the game. McCoy again did the honors with a two-yard run. It took five plays to move in for the final score after a short punt gave the Lobos possession at the Ranger 47. Longview will travel to Waco Richfield next Friday for a 7:30 p.m. contest. |