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| ABILENE - Welcome to Possession Offense Class 101, Abilene Eagles.
Your instructor is Eric Harris and the Longview Lobos. Listen carefully, you will be tested. It wasn't fancy here Friday night in Abilene's Shotwell Stadium. There were no long, break away scoring runs and the scoreboard didn't light up like fireworks. But Longview, paced by Harris, who was nothing less than outstanding, showed the Eagles textbook ball-control offense and rolled to a 21-0 victory. It was the Lobos' third win in three games, and Abilene's first loss. The Lobos rolled up 357 total yards, 108 passing, as they totally dominated the game. Fatigue? What fatigue? The long trip didn't bother the Lobos at all. Fullback Clifford Powell scored on a 1-yard run, Joe Johnson tallied on a 3-yard scamper and Harris connected with split end Leon Hendrix on a 40-yard touchdown strike to account for Longview's three touchdowns. Jason Baird hit all three extra points as the Lobos retained their No. 1 state ranking. Hendrix provided an omen of what was to come the first time the Lobos touched the ball. He caught Mickey Russell's punt at his own 38, picked up a wall of blockers down the right sideline and found himself in the end zone 62 yards later. Unfortunately, a clipping penalty nullified the play and moved the ball back to the Longview 25-yard line. That, however, only delayed the touchdown. Harris, who complete 5 of 8 aerials, started the Longview offensive onslaught by faking to Johnson into the line. Instead, the senior quarterback pulled up and hit a streaking Charles Smith with a 30-yard strike. The pass was just long or Smith would have scored easily. Alvernon Jones followed with an 11-yard run to the Abilene 34. Two plays later, Harris hit Hendrix on a down-and-out to the 9 yard line. Three runs by Johnson moved the Lobos to the 1, and on fourth down Powell plowed over for the touchdown with 6:41 showing in the opening quarter. Baird's PAT made it 7-0. Abilene's defense never stopped the Lobos. In three first-half possessions the only way Longview was kept out of the end zone was its own mistakes. Clyde Boyd fumbled at the Eagles 13-yard line when Longview appeared headed for what would have been its second touchdown. Minor delay. No problem. The turnover simply delayed the touchdown. The next time Longview had the ball it moved steadily from its own 35 into Abilene territory. A big run by Harris from 43 to inside the 10-yard line was nullified by a clipping penalty, sending the ball back to the Longview 47. But Powell dashed for 13 on a draw and on third-and-nine Harris, who threw for 105 yards in the first half, connected with Hendrix down the left sideline for a 40-yard touchdown. Baird's kick made it 14-0 with 2:23 left before the half. The Lobos put it away when Johnson scored from 3-yards out with 4:30 showing in the third frame. The touchdown capped an 11-play, 48-yard drive, which was set up by Kevin Allum's blocked punt. Johnson, who rushed for 118 yards, carried six plays in the drive. While Longview's offense was moving, the defense was bending but not breaking. Abilene moved to the Longview 17 on its second possession, but managed a mere yard in three following plays. Melvin Davis' 33-yard field goal attempt fell short to end the drive. |