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| RICHARDSON - Coach Pat Collins does not like to use the word "ugly" to describe a football game. However, the Longview Lobos came about as close as team could get as they survived four fumbles and two interceptions to capture a 24-14 victory here Friday night at Wildcat-Ram Stadium.
Ryan Howard's first field goal of his career - following an earlier miss right before halftime - enabled the Lobos to build a 10-point cushion and hold off the Wildcats, who suffered their first loss of the season. Howard's 26-yarder came with 3:15 left in the ballgame. Longview, ranked No. 4 in the state in this week's Associated Press Class 5A Poll, improves to 3-0. The Lobos take on nationally ranked Evangel Christian Academy on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Independence Stadium in Shreveport. Lake Highlands made a game of it as Steven Coleman returned a Quincy Grant pass attempt 90 yards with 8:05 left in the fourth quarter, cutting the Lobos' advantage to 21-14. The Wildcats then went for an onside kick, but after the ball bounced around several times on the turf, Rodney Moore recovered for Longview. The Lobos had been penalized on the 'Cats touchdown, with Lake Highlands kicking off from the Longview 45. Longview took possession at its 35, kept the ball not he ground and took nearly five minutes off the clock in 10 plays with Howard ending an 0-for-2 slump in field goal attempts. It was a steady march down the field behind the running of Jerrel Williams, Chris Jones and Vondrell McGee. Williams finished with 70 yards on 18 carries, while ones added 53 on 12 totes, and McGee came off the bench for 61 yards one night carries. Grant was 6 of 13 for 103 yards, one touchdown and a pair of interceptions. Longview built a 21-7 advantage on its first possession of the second half as William ran back the kickoff 88 yards to the Wildcat 4. Against a staunch Lake Highlands' defense, Jones found the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the 1. Although no rain fell during the first half, both teams had their share of bobble and turnovers. Longview put the ball on the ground three times and lost two fumbles, while Lake Highlands lost one of three that ended up on the turf. The Wildcats also threw an interception, which Longview turned into a 60-yard drive and a 14-7 halftime margin. Keaton Daniels picked off the ball at his own 36 and returned it 24 yards to the 'Cats 40. Lake Highlands' Franklin Okam nearly derailed the Lobo drive as the 6'5, 313-pound tackle dropped Grant for a 2-yard loss on first own at the Wildcat 28. After an incomplete pass, Longview faced third-and-12, but Grant hit Williams on the left side on a screen pass and a first down at the 14. Grant finally finished off the series with a 1-yard quarterback keeper at the 2:31 mark. However, J'Dion King returned the ensuing kickoff 62 yards to the Lobo 29. A sack of Humphreys and an incomplete pass had Lake Highlands facing third-and-13, but Bryson Porter broke through for a first down run to the seven-yard line. After a five-yard penalty pushed the Wildcats back five yards, Humphreys connected with Dazohn Fisher for a 12-yard scoring play. Longview had an opportunity to score in the closing seconds, but Howard's 37-yard field goal attempt was wide to the left. Grant directed the drive with a 17-yard pass to Durell Horne and a pair of tosses covering 21 yards to Malcolm Kelly. It was a 41-yard strike from Grant to Rogers Taylor that put the Lobos up 7-0 at the 7:51 mark of the first quarter. The scoring play came the first time Longview touched the football after Lake Highlands came up short after picking up a blocked punt. Longview's Roderick Allen had blocked Humphrey's punt at the 'Cats' 37, where Fisher scooped up the loose ball and tried to reach the sideline marker for a first down. He came up a yard short, and on the Lobos' first play from scrimmage Grant hit Taylor in stride for the touchdown. |