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| NACOGDOCHES - Longview tailback Sammy Lanier was tackled by defensive end Jimmy Farrell while trying to pass on a 2-point conversion with only 2:50 remaining in the game as Nacogdoches took a 14-13 win over the Lobos here Friday night.
It was the first time since 1971 that Nacogdoches has been able to subdue Longview on the gridiron. Longview coach Doug Cox, who has said all season that his team must eliminate the crucial mistakes, witnessed the Lobos do just that. No less than four fumbles and one interception were lost by the Longview offense and another 85 yards were taken away in penalties. The loss, both teams' District 14-AAAA opener, drops Longview to 2-1-1 on the season while Nacogdoches is 3-1. After giving up two early fumbles, the Longview offense finally began moving with 8:41 left in the first half, going 79 yards in 11 plays. Quarterback Victor McGee found Freddie Williams at the goal line but threw behind the receiver as Williams had to catch the ball behind his hip then fell into the end zone for the touchdown. The pass covered 40 yards and Longview took a 7-0 lead when Chuck Tomberlain added the extra point with 4:31 left. The Lobos, however, proved to be their own worst enemy again when on their next possession Monroe Henderson bobbled the ball after a 10-yard gallop and Nacogdoches' Dempsey Compton fell on the pigskin at the 50. On the next play, Dragon quarterback Sam Shields found wide receiver Don Jones wide open at the 15 racing down the right side line and completed the aerial for a touchdown. Ilester Little added the PAT to knot the score 7-7 with 2:21 left in the first half. Longview missed a 30-yard field goal attempt on its first possession in the second half when Tomberlain's kicks was wide to the left. Nacogdoches began it's winning touchdown drive with 2:43 remaining in the third quarter. Taking over at their own 42 after a seven yard punt by Kevin Jones, Shields found Compton over the middle for a short pass and the Dragon tight end carried the ball all the day to the Longview 13, a gain of 45 yards. Five plays later, on the first snap of the fourth stanza, Tim Williams crashed over from the two for the touchdown. Little added what turned out to be the winning point. Longview began a marathon 19-play, 74-yard drive that last 9:02 with McGee hitting Williams from 15 yards out for the touchdown to culminate the length series. Again, McGee's pass was poorly thrown but Williams made a diving catch over the back of a defender for the touchdown. It was then that Longview coach Doug Cox called on Lanier to try the halfback pass but he was smothered by Farrell at the five-yard line. The loss negated the 103-yard rushing effort by Lanier, who carried the ball 23 times. Statistically, Longview dominated. The Lobos had 16 first downs to Nacogdoches' 8 and 289 total yards to the Dragons' 154. But Longview also had five turnovers to their hosts two. Nacogdoches had an attempt at a field goal on the third play of the second quarter, but Littles' kick was just about six inches short. Again, the Dragons could not take advantage of a Longview miscue. With fourth down at the Nacogdoches 42 Longview was first called for an offsides penalty and then for an illegal block on the punt return, giving the Dragons a first own at the Lobo 44. Six plays later, Little missed on a field goal attempt. Longview will host Lufkin next week. The Panthers, defending 14-AAA co-champions with Longview, also lost their district opener as John Tyler took a 41-19 victory. |