|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
||
|
|
| LONGVIEW - For a change, the Longview Lobos didn't hurt themselves with penalties or turnovers. For a change, the busted assignments were few, if any. For a change, the Mean GReen defense didn't relax after getting a lead as in past games. And for a change, the Lobos didn't beat them.
Living up to its potential, Longview downed a good Texas High team, 21-8, at Lobo Stadium Friday on Homecoming night. The exes and alumni had something to be proud of. "They play so good," said an elated Doug Cox, who recorded his 49th win in his six-year tenure as the Lobos' head coach. "It was beautiful to see them with their backs up against the wall, and come back. They showed they were champions. I don't care how they finish in district, they're champions. "It was a most beautiful thing to see them come together and beat a good Texas High team." The Lobos dominated the contest, scoring on their fist two possessions, with Clifford running eight yards, and later catching a 20-yard touchdown pass from Derek Grant. Both scores came in the second quarter. Longview iced the contest on Eric Borders' 66-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Texas High's only tally came with 35 seconds left on a 48-yard fake punt-and-run by tailback Steve Austin. The two-point conversion was good on a pass from Vince Minter to tight end Kenneth Link. Longview, 3-2-2 overall and 2-1-1 in district play, finished the contest with 283 yards in total offense to 256 for Texas High. The visiting Tigers, 3-4 overall and 2-2 in district, lost three costly turnovers, one leading to the Longview score and another resulting in a missed 22-yard field goal attempt. After the Tigers ate up the first 6:35 of the contest, driving to the Longview 6 only to turn the ball over on downs, the Lobos returned the favor with a 19-play, 94-yard march for their initial score. Grant, who finished the nigh with 5-of-8 for 78 yards, hit key passes to Borders for 14, and Bobby Daniels for 20 to keep the drive alive. Longview converted six third-downs plays with the offensive line creating big enough holes for Ward and Co. Ward did it alone on the touchdown run as he took the pitch, veered left, broke two tackles, and dragged another into the end zone. Chuck Tomberlain kicked the first of three extra points. Taking up nine minutes on its first drive, the Lobos drove 69 yards in 13 plays for their second score of the night. Converting two of four third-down situations on Grant's passing, the touchdown came on a third-and-12 at the Texas High 12 as Grant found Ward all alone in the end zone with 1:05 left in the first half. The second half was not quite like the first, but the Lobos didn't sit on their lead either. The defense, led by Tomberlain, Carlos Lee, Jimmy Hand and Kyle Jones, kept the Tigers at bay, coming up with two fumbles recovers and turning the ball over on downs at the Longview 30. |