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| KILLEEN - It took 12 quarters, two hours and 24 minutes of playing time, for one team to take a decided advantage in this three game mini-series which pitted recognized Texas schoolboy powers Longview and Killeen. Unfortunately for the Lobos, Killeen proved the victor.
As in the first two games, which ended in 13-13 and 7-7 deadlocks, both teams battled to a 0-0 halftime score here Friday night. For awhile, it seemed as though the "rubber" game of in the series might leave both teams empty handed. The Kangaroos, however, took advantage of Longview's untimely mistakes, mostly mental ones, to post a 13-0 triumph. The win was Killeen's third in as many games this season; the loss Longview's first in three outings. Although the Lobos seemingly held the upper hand - statistics wise - throughout the opening two quarters, a mishandled exchange between quarterback Zane Butter and tailback Clifford Ward, apparently on a Statue of Liberty play which worked masterfully the first two games, put Killeen in position for the game's initial score at the Longview 13 just 3:22 deep in the second half. Linebacker Carey Williams, who made defensive gems all over the field, fell on the fumble and four plays later. Mike Griffin stretched over the goal line fro a yard out with 7:08 remaining. Ricky Dow, whose booming punts in the first half kept the Lobos in bad field position, missed the point after attempt but was given a second shot when Longview was called for an offsides penalty. He did not miss again and the 'Roos held a distinct 7-0 advantage. As quickly as Killeen had broken the scoreless deadlock, Longview fell on a fumbled punt return just moments later and appeared to be in position for a possible tying score at the Kangaroos' 27. Ward, who finished as the game's leading rusher with 99 yards on 25 carries, user a key block by fullback Gahlen Johnson to scoot through for eight yards on a third-and-four play to place the ball at the 13. With Ward playing the part of workhorse, the sleek junior kept pounding into the Killeen line. He picked up three first downs, was thrown for a yard loss on second down and used a clearing block by tackle Gary Morris to pick up five on the next play. Fourth-and-three at the six in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter, Ward's number was again called but an alert defensive play by Mike Coker, Rod Borja and Sidney Harper stopped him cold at the line of scrimmage on a pitch right play with Johnson trying to provide the block. Although the 'Roos had made a magnifyicent stand, they had to punt away and Longview was back in business. Another costly mistake, a bad pitch from Kyle Jones to Ronnie Hunter, set the Lobos back 3 yards on a second and four situation. Hunter got three back on the next play but Ray Delk had to punt on a fourth-and-three. Again, Killeen was unable to move the ball and had to punt right back. But it was mistake time, once more for Longview. Jones bobbled Dow's punt and Tom Szvetecz came up with the recovery, Killeen's third of the night, at the Longview 25. Longview will enjoy an open date next week and prepare for the District 14-AAAAA opener Oct. 3. |