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| TYLER - It was a thrilling game to say the least. With six seconds remaining at the John Tyler 33 and trailing 14-9, Longview quarterback Derek Grant hit Nathan Harris at the John Tyler six. Harris twisted and turned and came a tackle away from the winning score.
For the Lobos it was a valiant rally that took too long and came just a little bit too late. Starting at its 10 yard line with 2:46 remaining, Grant moved the Lobos to their 47 and six plays with 18 seconds remaining, hitting three of four passes. After an incomplete pass, Grant hit Thomas Brown for 16 and then connected with Harris on the final play of the game. Longview coach Doug Cox was worried about the Lions' over-powering defensive line, but there was very he could do about it. The Lobos had a more difficult time trying to stop John Tyler's offense tack. Beating Longview at its own game - ball control - the Lions scored the game-clinching touchdown on Michael Mimms' one-yard run with 2:39 remaining in the third quarter. Mimms, who led all rushers with 156 yards on 35 carries, capped an 80-yard drive in 20 plays. The 152-pound junior Mimms wasn't far behind the Lobos total offense, 171-156 yards. Trailing 7-3 at the half, Clifford Ward returned the second half kickoff 86 yards to give the Lobos a rife 9-7 lead. Ward, who caught the ball at the 14 and then dropped the ball, returned the kickoff up the middle untouched. Chuck Tomberlain's extra point was wide to the left. Both teams played errorless ball as Grant's first half interception was the only turnover in the contest. After being able to move the ball fairly successful in the first half, the Lobos offense was kept at bay in the second half. Led by Keith Guthrie, the Lions defense sacked Grant five times for 33 yards. Ward finished the night 76 yards on 14 carries, while Grant was seven of 12 for 92. John Tyler took a 7-3 lead into the dressing room on the strength of Mimms' one-yard touchdown run, capping a 57-yard drive in 12 plays with 4:27 left in the first half. Keith Johnson's interception set up the Lions' scoring drive, which consisted of Mimms carrying he ball 11 times in the march. Mack Woodward added the point after. The Lobos were able to move the football on the Lions' staunch defense with Ward gaining 46 yards in the first half. However, the interception ended one drive and three consecutive quarterback sacks ended another. Longview drew first blood on Chuck Tomberlain's 37-yard field goal with 4:44 left in the first quarter to cap a 32-yard, 10-play drive. |