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| LONGVIEW - With 10 minutes to play it seemed odd the Longview sidelines would erupt in a wild frenzy. Especially since on the field quarterback Kyle Jones was being thrown for a loss.
The cause had nothing to do with the situation at hand, which at the time found the Lobos in control over cross-town rival Pine Tree, 17-0. What sent the bench on fire was word of Marshall's 14-3 upset win over Texas High, which gave Longview the District 14-AAAAA championship and a berth in the state playoffs. Oh, by the way, the Lobos went on to take the mythical city championship here at Pine Tree Stadium Friday night, 23-0. The win, Longview's fifth shutout in loop play, gave the Lobos outright possession of the district title after entering the contest tied with Texas High for first place. And what a decisive victory it was as the ''Mean Green'' defense completely obliterated Pine Tree's offense, holding the Bucs to just 38 yards on the night and three first downs. In the first half alone, Pine Tree managed but 22 offense yards and one first down and crossed into Longview's side of the field just once all night following a fumble recovery at the end of the first quarter. Other than that, it was all Longview, which moved at will between the 20-yard lines in amassing 300 yards offense and 19 first downs. The Lobos threatened to break the game wide open early, driving into scoring position three times in the first half. But a fumble an a muffed field goal attempted stopped Longview twice to keep Pine Tree in the game at the half trailing 6-0. After taking over at the Pine Tree 47 on their second possession of the game, Longview moved inside the Buc 20 in seven plays only to have Ronnie Hunter fumble scooped up by Pine Tree's Tony Chambliss. Four plays later, Longview took over once more, but another Hunter bobble was pounced on by Pine Tree's Scott Smith at the Lobo 41-yard line. This time, it took just two plays for the Lobo defense to turn the ball back over as Nathan Harris recovered a pitch out from Mike Cook to Jay Earnhardt at midfield at the close of the first period. Longview finally broke the ice midway into the second quarter after a nine-play drive moved the ball down to the four where Ronnie Hunter followed a block by left tackle Cedric Stephens and scored untouched. The point after attempt by Michael Rosborough was blocked by Scott Smith, and although holder Jones caught the ball in mid air and ran into the end zone, the play was whistled dead. On its next possession, Longview drove from its own 42 down to the Pine Tree 11-yard line with under a minute to play in the half, but an illegal motion call and an incomplete pass set up a Rosborough field goal attempt of 43 yards. But a high snap caused Jone to abort the kick as Darry Spencer trapped him for a 10-yard line. The Lobos ground out 151 yards offense in the first half with equal distribution between Hunter with 52-yards rushing, 39 more from Clifford Ward who ended the night with 108 yard son 19 carries, and 35 yards from Gahlen Johnson. Longview's second point of the evening were donated but the way of a fumble at the Pirate 21 on the third play of the second half as Harris recovered the second one of the night. Three plays later Hunter went in from 20 yards out and then tacked on a two-point run for a 14-0 advantage. Pine Tree stalled out in four more plays and was forced to kick another of its six punts. Taking over again near midfield, Longview gave Ward a workout calling his number nine consecutive times on off tackles and quick pitches right and left. Ward responded by taking the ball down to the Bux six-yard line, but after a clip set the Lobos back on third and goal, Rosborough came on to connect on a 38-yard field goal with 3:28 left in the third quarter making it 17-0. With the game seemingly put away, Longview began substituting at will, but by then Pine Tree had used most of its energy and was still unable to mount a threat as cornerback Jeff Head picked off a pass at the Pine Tree 37. The Lobos moved down to the goal line but did not push to run up the score, losing possession at the one-yard line on downs. Another interception on the following series, this time by none other than Harris who stepped in front of a Cook to Chris Myrick pass at the Pine Tree 35 and returned it 20 yards to the 15. Still with another chance to score, the Lobos opted to run up the middle with guard Glenn Collier running once and backup fullback David Childs carrying three times down to the 12 where Pine Tree took over on downs. Only a nine-yard interception return by linebacker John Dulweber with 45 seconds to go accounted for the final touchdown and even then, Longview chose to lay down on the ball instead of trying to convert the extra point. |