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| LONGVIEW - It was over before it really began as Longview blitzed Nacogdoches 50-0 Friday night at Lobo Stadium.
The Lobos quickly tacked 20 points in the first quarter alone, and behind Eric Faggett's 100 yards rushing in the first half, they never looked back, improving their District 13-5A record to 3-0. While Longview's offense rolled at will, the Nacogdoches defense did a disappearing act. The Lobos ran up 290 yards total offense in just the first half, while the Golden Dragons could manage only 73 yards 53 coming on one pass. Longview also had 21 first downs to the Dragons' two. Longview, for the second week in a row, posted 30 or more points in the first half. The Lobos assumed a 36-0 lead following Steve Allgood's third field goal of the season, a 40-yarder with 14 tickets left on the clock. The Lobos had led Texas High, 35-6, the previous week. "I thought we played really well," said Lobo head coach Doug Cox. "Nacogdoches had completely changed their defense (from what had been scouted). Our kids adjusted, communicated to each other and kept the ball moving all the time." The combination defense thorns at the Lobos were met with 234 yards on the ground. Allgood, who also handles the punting chores, never saw punting duty until the second half. The Lobos opening possession score was the fifth time this season they've been successful on first possession. "They went on down and scored that first time and from then on they had them," Cox said. Ray Allison, nicknamed the "goal-lineman," posted each of Longview's first three scores. He ended the Lobos 73-yard, 10-play opening drive with a four-yard run up the middle at the 7:35 mark. Following a 'Doches fumble with 5:12 to play, he scored from three yards out completing a short 22-yard, four-play drive. His third touchdown came on a three-yard run following another short drive with 3:27 to play. Longview just missed scoring a fourth time in the first quarter. But the quarter expired with the Lobos at the Dragons four-yard line. Eric Faggett went over the next play for the first of his two touchdowns. Faggett became the third Lobo in three weeks to garner 100 yards. He gained his 104 yards on 11 carries before sitting out the second half. Carl Johnson had rushed for 120 yards in the district opener over Tyler Lee and Earnest Hunter added 163 against Texas High. Faggett's second touchdown came with 4:40 before half-time on a 4-yard run. David Hill tacked on three of four extra point attempts. The Lobos also failed on a two-point conversion try. In the second half, Longview got scores from quarterback Mike Bobo, who sneaked in from one yard with 9:24 left in the third and third-string quarterback Selwyn Broughton on a 18-yard keeper with 2:37 to play in the game. Hill and all good added the extra points, respectively. It was the Lobos' Mean Green unit which continually held Nacogdoches at bay. Quarterback Dedric Morrison, who had thrown for over 500 yards on the season, was continually pressed by the front line of tackles' Chris Fuller and Donald Tyron, and ends' Jesse Johnson and Kevin Middleton. The linebacking corps of Warren Smith, Mark Saurette and Chedric Jacobs also helped keep Morrison's totals to 59 yards for the game on 12 attempts. Weak safety Anthony Jimmerson also recorded his third theft of the year to lead the secondary. "That's what we want, to be able to play a lot of different people," Cox said of the reserves. "We just wanted a chance to keep building momentum. "I really didn't know how they'd play," Cox continued, noting the players' reaction to the death of Brian Dodson last week. "I knew they wanted to play hard and I just didn't know they would react emotionally...I was really proud of them." All the Longview players wore a small "82" on the back of their helmets to memory of Dodson. They also dedicated the game and the remained of the season to him. Dodson died Oct. 3 in an auto accident. The Lobos finished with 364 yards for the game, 308 rushing and 56 passing. Nacogdoches totaled 149 total for the game. Longview now travels to Lufkin next week for a crucial matchup. Longview is tied for first place in the district with Marshall. Lufkin is second, one game. |