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| NACOGDOCHES - Call it a dragon whipping as in the Nacogdoches Dragons. A Homecoming bonfire Dragon fans, where the kindling was provided by Longview.
The Lobos' bid for an unbeaten season was shot down in flames Friday night at Dragon Stadium as Nacogdoches ran, passed and totally subdued the Lobos, 33-12. The win by Nacogdoches was its first over Longview since 1982, the last time the Dragons won a district championship and advanced to the playoffs. The Lobos came into the 12-5A contest at 6-0 and ranked No. 3 in the state in Class 5A. For Nacogdoches (5-2, 1-1), its best defense proved to be its offense as the Dragons played ball control, especially in the second half after holding a 14-12 lead at halftime. The Dragons' first drive of the third quarter consumed nine minutes and 14 seconds as quarterback Mark Curl completed the 18-play, 66-yard march with a 10 yard touchdown pass to Jamie Simon. The drive also included three successful fourth down plays, the last coming on fourth-and-goal at the 10-yard line for the touchdown. Curl completed 7 of 10 pass for 159 yards and three touchdowns to pace the air attack, while Eric McGriff, after a slow start in the first half, rambled for 121 on the ground and a touchdown. In all, Nacogdoches amassed 494 total yards on offense. Vincent Bell had the hot hands on the receiving end for the Dragons with four receptions for 121 yards and a touchdown. For Longview, things just went from bad to worse. After Curl's touchdown pass had given the Dragons a 21-12 lead in the third quarter, Bobby Taylor took the ensuing kickoff and raced 99 yards for a touchdown. But a illegal block called during the runback brought the ball all the way back to the Lobos' nine. Longview would then put together a drive that eventually reached Nacogdoches' 37, only to have a 10-yard holding penalty move it back further. Stalled at the 47, facing fourth and 12, an attempted fake punt by Jason Dodson was upended by Karl Chatman and the Dragons took possession. An extended Nacogdoches drive resulted in a one-yard touchdown by Derrick Fields with 5:33 showing in the fourth quarter. McGriff posted his only points on a 4-yard scamper with 1:01 remaining. Longview's only successful offense came from tailback Andre Davis who ran for 132 yards on 19 carries. It was his second straight 100-yard game. The Dragons came out passing in the first half and burned Longview for 163 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Both quarterbacks had a hand in the scoring. Curl connected with Bell for an 86-yard touchdown and Dustin Treadwell tossed a 31-yard to Simon for a touchdown. Curl completed 4 of 8 for 132 yards, while Treadwell threw only once a touchdown. Nacogdoches only needed three plays to take the lead with 11:50 to play in the second quarter. The Curl-to-Bell pass completion followed a four-yard sack of Curl at the Dragon 14. Ashley's extra point put the team on top, 7-6. Treadwell and Simon's scoring series took seven plays and traveled 50 yards. Nacogdoches also put together a steady running attack with 146 yards, led by Field's 50 yards on eight carries and Curl's 47 on five. The Dragons' offense totaled 306 yards by the half, clearly outdistancing the Lobos'. The Lobos cut the margin to 14-12 as Dodson scampered 17 yards for his second touchdown of the game. |