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| TYLER - It had been 22 games since the Lobos offense had failed to score in a game and going on five years since they were handed a shutout by a district foe. That mark changed here Friday night at Rose Stadium as Longview found out just how good Tyler Lee's highly-touted defense is, falling 3-0.
Despite giving up a 34-yard field goal in the second quarter, it would've been hard to believe Longview would go scoreless the rest of the night. The Lobos had dominated the statistics in practically every category. But time and again in the second half, drive after drive, the Lobos were turned away short of the goal line. After receiving the opening kickoff of the second half, Longview ground out 34 yards over 10 plays, steadily popping the middle of Lee's front four for just enough yardage to keep the drive alive. Power tailback Fred Hunter did most of the work, carrying seven times for 25 yards, including a four-yard blast on fourth and one and the Lee 35. Then, on fourth and three, quarterback George Liggins went to wingback Donnie Centers on a delay pass only to have cornerback Lee Scott trip up the play after only a one-yard gain. After the Red Raiders took over and moved the ball back out near midfield, tailback Stephon Holand lost the ball on a pitchout and Lobo linebacker Eddie Barba recovered it at the Longview 47. On the first play from scrimmage, Liggins took a keeper around left end and broke into the secondary down to the Lee 30 for a 23-yard pickup. Two plays later though, the Lobos suffered their second lost fumble of the game when Hunter lost control at the 26. The Red Raiders were unable to convert the recovery into anything, however, after Marlin Myers trapped quarterback David Henderson behind the line for a 16-yard loss on first down. Longview's defense held Lee on one series of down and then marched 37 yards on the ground in nine plays, highlighted by runs of 14 and 10 yards by Hunter down to the Lee 33. Once more, Lee's defense turned the Lobos back, this time when Liggins' pass to Myers was deflected and intercepted by Ricky Barnes. The Lobos got the ball back two more times in the fourth quarter, mounting another 30-plus yard drive down to the 17 on back-to-back pass completions from quarterback Henry Shaw to Kenneth Hendrix for 15 and to Stevie Crain for 22. But as Crain was being tackled, the ball popped free and there was Barnes again for the recovery. Longview's final breath was taken away when four consecutive passes were either batted away or overthrown. Tyler Lee entered the game sporting the top defense in 13-AAAAA, giving up less than 100 yards per game and only 27 yards in three outings. |