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| TEXARKANA - When the Texas High band struck up a brisk "Happy Days Are Here Again" it wasn't because it's the school song. But the Tigers could do well to adopt it.
Happy days are, indeed, here again. The Tigers, under first-year mentor Donnie Laurence, the former Mount Pleasant taskmaster, proved here Friday night they are for real. A game defense which picked off three Longview passes and recovered a fumble at the one-yard line sparked Texas High to a 10-8 upset over the Lobos, the preseason favorite in District 14-AAAAA. The victory kept the Tigers unbeaten with a 6-0-1 record, while the Lobos fell to 3-1 in loop play and must now close out the schedule with wins in order to have at least a shot at winning the laurels they were unanimously chosen to reap. It was the second loss of these season for Longview in seven games. Although the Lobos ground out yardage in huge chunks in the second half, after falling behind, 10-0, the passing game proved to be the downfall. Ray Valentine intercepted two of Kyle Jones' three passes, including one with 1:34 left in the game to insure the triumph. Longview drove 70 yards in nine plays, all on the ground, near the end of the third quarter to narrow Texas High's margin to two, the final 10-8 score, and appeared to be on the way back when Tony Duckett intercepted a Vince Minter pass just two offensive plays later and returned it 27 yards to the Tigers' 21-yard line. A 15-yard clipping penalty, however, nullified most of the return but the Lobos still were in excellent field position at the Texas High 36 with 24 tickets still remaining on the third period clock. Longview moved the ball to the 15, early in the final quarter now, and faced a fourth-and-two situation only in have a five-yard delay penalty move the ball back to the 21 where Michael Rosborough came on to attempt a 36-yard field goal. It was short and to the left slightly and Texas High retained it slim margin with 9:52 showing. It was then the Tigers' offense proved its worth by driving from the 20 to the Longview 47, using up a precious 6:12 on the clock. Randy Higgins 41-yard punt, coupled with Gahlen Johnson's six-yard return put Longview at its own 12 with just 3:40 left to travel 88 yards. Six running plays accounted for a pair of first downs, the last at the Lobos' 47, where Jones' toss down the left sidelines was picked off by Valentine. Texas High opened the game with a torrid ground game, marching the ball from its own 24 to the Longview eight in 10 plays before Nathan Jones fumbled and Darrell Writt, who played one of his best defensive games of the year, recovered to halt the move. Longview took over and successfully moved the ball against the Tigers' defense, but three penalties, one a 15-yard clipping call, staved off the charge and Valentine ended it with his first pilfer. The Tigers lighted the scoreboard for the first time with 8:33 left in the half, on Norman Roberts' 36-yard field goal. It was the first points the Longview defense has allowed in district play. Texas High, on Longview's ensuing possession, recovered a Clifford Ward fumbled at the one when 250-pound Sophomore Jeff Pickett came up with the ball. |