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| NACOGDOCHES - Pass out the tagamet. Check the pacemakers. Nailbiters will need manicures after Friday night's game here at a soggy Dragon Stadium.
Some key plays and a little luck, in the form of a missed 36-yard field goal, in the final seconds helped Longview avoid its second straight defeat. Instead, the Lobos escaped with a thrilling 15-14 victory over deceivingly winless Dragons. Vincent Price should have been calling the game from the public address system as the Lobo faithful watched in horror as the Dragons moved to the Longview 21-yard line. On third down Nacogdoches quarterback Chuck Winfree went off right tackle and was stopped for a yard gain at the 20 by Darrin Brinkley, Huey Blackman and the rest of the Longview line. That turned out to be a big play. One more yard and the Lobos would be 4-2 instead of 5-1. With about a half minute remaining, Brian Steinsiek attempted a potential game-winning field goal from the 36. The kicks was straight, but fell just below the cross bar as a hugh sigh of relief echoed from the visitor's side of the stadium. "I was worried," admitted Longview coach Doug Cox. "When he kicked it I thought it was short. But it kept going and I thought 'oh no, not another Permain." Cox was referring to Russel Wheatley's 63-yard field goal which knocked Longview out of the state playoffs in 1975. This time, however, the Lobos got the break. Eric Harris fell on the ball three times to end the contest. "I aged five yards in the last five minutes," Cox said. "I feel every year of my age." Cox must have felt near mandatory retirement when Kenneth Smith, showing why he's considered one of the best players in East Texas, ripped off a 48-yard touchdown run with 7:05 left in the third period to break a 7-7 tie. Steinsiek's PAT gave 'Doches a 14-7 lead. But Longview retaliated with a long, drawn out drive that lasted 18 plays and ended with Harris hitting Alvernon Jones with an 11-yard lob in the end zone. The march began on a negative note when Glen Mooore bobbled the kickoff and the Lobos started on their own 7-yard line. With steady running by Harris and Joe Johnson who rushed for 91 and 118 yards, respectively, Longview moved into decent field position. Clifford Powell followed with a 21-yard scamper up the middle and later Harris kept around right end for 16 to the Dragons 23. Johnson picked up a key first down on fourth and two at the 15 and one play later Harris founded Jones, who outwrestled defensive back Andrea Warren for the ball. "It was a split end power pass left. A new play we added this week," Jones explained. "I was a little nervous but I knew I had a chance. Eric put the ball right where it had to be. I had it all the way." With 9:27 remaining Cox could have opted to kick the PAT and use the rest of the period to play for the win. Instead he gambled and Harris covered his bet. The senior quarterback, playing his best game of the season, headed left, cut inside and broke a tackle and dived over the goalie with the winning points. "We had Charlie (Smith) coming around and I had to read the cornerback," Harris said. "If he took me I'd pitch. If he played Charlie I'd keep it. I kept it and the defensive ended grabbed my leg. I saw the goalie and I knew I had to make it so I fought for it." "I knew when they scored (we would go for two)," said Cox. "I told coach (Steve) Gaddis to think of a good two-point play." Longview threatened to score first when the Lobos moved inside the Nacogdoches 10 with its second possession. Later Longview took the lead when Harris tallied on a quarterback sneak 6:23 before the half to cap a 13-play, 75-yard drive. Baird added the extra point. Smith, who gained 121 yards on 15 totes, brought Nacogdoches right back with a 46-yard scoring jaunt to highlight a 5-play, 78-yard drive. Longview barely missed scoring again before the half when Harris connected with Jones down the sideline for a 44-yard completion to the 4. But the officials ruled Jones had stepped out of bounds to nullify the play. Longview returns home next week to face Lufkin in its annual homecoming game. Lufkin tied John Tyler 0-0 Friday night. |