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| LONGVIEW - Quarterback Jay Hurst and Lee Nix showed their versatility Friday night in leading the No. 3-ranked Longview Lobos to a rousing 41-14 victory over Waco in the 1997 season opener at Lobo Stadium.
Hurst, who started at quarterback, score twice, including a 16-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown. Nix hooked up with Lee Jackson for a 70-yard scoring strike en route to a 4-of-4 showing for 109 yards in the first half. "There's a lot of talent on this football team" said Lobo coach Robert Bero. "Talent can make big plays for you. "There are so many three-year starters on this team. These guys have been under the fire before and I don't think they get rattled. That experience is paying off for us." Longivew scored the first time it touched the ball as Hurst scored from a yard out, lunging into the end zone on second effort after being initially stopped. The brief three-play, eight-yard drive had been set up by Dexter Daniels' 54-yard punt return. Waco then turned the ball over on its next series as Longview's Leon Bell stripped the ball out of Adrian Scott's hands at the Lobo 35-yard line. After reaching the 16, Hurst tossed a short pass to Shawn Byrdsong, who was subsequently hit hard, jarring the ball loose. Hurst trailing the play, picked up the ball at the original line of scrimmage and ran it into the end zone. David Monsivais kicked the extra point and with 5:36 showing in the opening quarter, Longivew had quickly assumed a 14-0 advantage. Nix then replaced Hurst at quarterback on the Lobos' fourth possession after Tracy Brooks recovered the second of three Lion turnovers. This time Talley picked up the bulk of the yardage, completing the 53-yard, five-play drive on a two-yard scoring run. Longview continued its first half assault as Jesse James scored his first varsity touchdown on the following possession with a 23-yard scamper. One series later, Nix and Jackson finished out the opening half as the Lobos took a 34-0 halftime lead into the dressing room. "The turnovers certainly told some of the story," said Waco coach Johnny Tuse. "The turnovers hurt us and our inability to do anything int he first half. When we did something positive, it turned negative." The Lions twice reached Longview territory in the opening half, only to turn the ball over on a fumble and also punt it away. Both times the Lobos capitalized by turning the possessions into points. Waco mustered just 47 yards on ground and 31 through the air. It didn't get any better in the early moments of the second half, either. The Lobos stretched the margin to 41-0 as Talley returned the kickoff 95 yards. Daniels caught the ball and then handed off to Talley, who raced down the right sideline for six more points before he took a seat on the bench. The junior tailback finished with 70 yards on 13 carries in only two quarters of action. Both Waco touchdowns came in the quarter. A fumbled punt and a pass interference call against the Lobos led to the two Lion scores. Joseph Montgomery tallied from a yard out at the 7:01 mark. Jeffery Johnson then hit Bronshay White for 16 yards with 30 seconds remaining in the quarter. The victory by Longview was its ninth straight over Waco in the series. Longview travels to Killeen High next Friday night for a 7:30 matchup. |