|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
||
|
|
| NACOGDOCHES - There was no better place for the Longview Lobos to stop spinning their wheels and start squealing them.
Dragon Stadium, where Longview had dropped two previous games to Nacogodches on the Dragons' homecoming, marked the territory on which the Lobos finally found some reaction and started their run at a possible playoff slot. Despite a three-week slump, running back Chris Butcher sped to two lengthy first-half touchdowns, sparking Longview to a 33-15 victory over the slumping Dragons. Longview is 3-3-1 and 1-0-1. Butcher completed the evening with 183 yard on 15 carries, and Longview's offense came up with the big plays when it needed to. A pair of second-half scores solidified Longview's advantage, and the Dragons' final touchdown at the 2:32 mark of the fourth quarter was a classic case of too little too late. The game, for the most part, was decided before intermission. Butcher broke loose for 162 of his yards in the first half, including touchdown runs of 57 and 70 yards. Both touchdowns came on the first plays of Lobo drives, and both were pitchouts designed to go toward the sidelines. The Lobos' first touchdown drive, however, was a long, time-consuming affair. Longview took the opening kickoff and ran almost eight minutes off the clock before quarterback Kevin Miles snuck the ball over the line on a fourth-and-one situation. It was the second fourth-down play the Lobos converted on - the first coming at midfield with Miles successfully running the sneak - and it put the finishing touch on a fourteen-play, 77-yard drive. Longview scored on its second possession, with Butcher doing the honors on a pitch to the left side. After Dragon defenders turned him inside, Butcher found room in the middle of the field and dashed his way to a 53-yard score. Jeff Works added the point after and Longview led 14-0. When Nacogdoches' second drive failed, Longview had the ball on its own 30. Dan Sitton dropped quarterback Cory Hutchings for an 11-yard sack not he first play, and Hutchings coughed up the ball on the next play. Nacogdoches recovered and began its only scoring drive of the half. On a fourth-and-one situation, Duffield dived over his offensive line for a touchdown and Derek Snyder tacked on the extra point to cut into Longview's lead, 14-6. Butcher scored on Longview's next play from scrimmage on a 70-yard scamper. The PAT failed. |