|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
||
|
|
| MONROE - It might have been ominous for Longview when brilliant lightning lit up the sky prior to kick off Friday night at Lion Stadium.
The threatening weather produced only a brief downpour, but the Ouachita Lions certainly drenched Longview with 26 first half points as the Lobos fell 33-14. It was a homecoming for Longview head coach Pat Collins, who came to Longview this past winter from Ouachita. Collins had coached the Lions for three years, leading them into the second round of the Class 5A Louisiana state playoffs in 1999. "My hat goes off to the Ouachita coaching staff. They did a great job of preparing," said Collins. "We knew they had outstanding people at the skill positions, and they did a good job of controlling the clock." The Lions used an array of running backs to set the Lobo defense back on their heels. Lewis Carter led the way with 106 yards rushing on 11 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns. His first touchdown, however, came on the end of a 14-yard pass to Todd Garvin to put Ouachita up 26-7 heading into the intermission. Joel Armstrong and Willie Andrews, who combined for a 93-yard, game-winning touchdown a week ago against Lake Highlands, were again the mainstays of the Lobo offense. Armstrong was 18-of-30 passing for 229 yards, while Andrews hauled in 11 receptions for 140. But there would be no comeback in Monroe. A two-yard run by Armstrong closed the deficit to a 26-14 with 3:37 to play in the contest. But that would be as close as Longview would come. Ouachita ended any chance of a Longview comeback as Cater, who initially fumbled a pitch before recovering the loose ball, broke two tackles en route to a 40-yard touchdown run with 1:31 remaining in the game. A key play for both teams came on the opening possession of the game, as the Lobos attempted a fake punt on fourth-and-nine from their own 21-yard line. However, the Lions stiffened on defense and forced Longview to turn the ball over on downs. Michael Mott then put Ouachita on top with a one-yard dive to close out the short series. The Lions would go on to score on all four of their first half possessions. Split end Travis Gray added the second score for Ouachita as he took a reverse and rambled 28 yards into the end zone. the Lions drove 80 yards to go up 14-0 at the 3:17 mark of the opening quarter. A 7-yard run by Sam Colman increased Ouachita's lead to 20-0 as the Lions tallied on their third possession with 8:15 left before halftime. However the extra point failed. Longview finally got on the scoreboard behind the running of LaRandall McKind, who scored on a 15-yard run. A couple of key first down passes from Armstrong to Andrews moved the ball down the field as the Lobos tried to rally form 4:26 to play. Alex Cammack booted the point after. |