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| MESQUITE - A win, yes. Impressive, no.
Longview used two quick scores in the third quarter to pull out a 21-14 victory over North Mesquite Friday night at Memorial Stadium. But, again, it didn't come easy. Al'Darius Thompson's second touchdown of the game with 2:39 to play brought the Stallions to within a touchdown. And, North Mesquite recovered the ensuing onside kick. The Stallions would only reach the Longview 41 before the Lobos' Calvin Jackson knocked away a fourth-and-four pass to turn the ball over on downs. With 1:20 left on the clock, Longview was able to run it out. It was a slow walk off the field for the Lobos, who put their undefeated season in jeopardy for the second game in a row. They rallied two weeks ago to beat Rockwall 37-35. Longview (9-0, 5-0) came into the game ranked No. 3 in this week's Associated Press Class 5A poll. Tied 7-7 at halftime, the Lobos responded as North Mesquite attempted an unsuccessful onside kick to start the second half. Starting at the Stallion 46, Longview needed just two plays before Carlin Freeman connected with David Robinson down the left sideline for a 31-yard touchdown. Longview got the ball back one series later, and this time needed only four plays to get into the end zone. However, it took a finger-tip catch by Chris Ivory on the screen pass from Freeman as the senior quarterback was under a heavy rush. Ivory went 46 yards, breaking several tackles along the way to put the Lobos up by 14, 21-7, with 6:00 showing on the clock. The Lobos would not score again, failing to convert on a fake punt from the Stallion 42 on fourth-and-11. North Mesquite would subsequently march down to the Longview 19. On third-and-17, Cartez Beall picked off a Derek Wooten pass in the end zone, which he attempted to bring out and fumbled it back over to the Stallions. After taking over at the 6, Thompson ran in from the 1-yard line and suddenly it was a ballgame again. Freeman finished 9 of 17 for 173 yards passing and three touchdowns. Ivory, the fullback, had three receptions for 73 yards and a score, plus ran for 48 yards on eight carries. Vondrell McGee was held to 70 yards on 12 and did not score for the first time this season. Thompson led North Mesquite (3-7, 1-5) with 55 yards on 23 carries. Wooten, who started in place of the injured Eric Herrera, was 20 of 33 for 125 yards. He threw the one interception. Longview also fumbled four times and lost three. The Stallions put the ball on the ground four times, but lost it just once. Friday's game was the season finale for North Mesquite, which has an open date next week. Longview will battle John Tyler for the District 12-5A crown at Lobo Stadium. John Tyler (8-1, 5-0) rallied for a 26-16 win over Rockwall Friday. Coming off their bye week, the Lobos clearly did not look like the offensive juggernaut they'd been in the previous eight games. Longview opened the scoring, but not until the second quarter, as Freeman tossed a short-yardage pass to Michael George for an 8-yard score with 9:51 remaining in the first half. The score came on the Lobos' third possession of the game. A North Mesquite fumble set up the 36-yard, four-play drive as Jarvis Pippins came up with the ball. A 17-yard Freeman-to-Michael Berryman completion and a run of 14 yards by Ivory set up the scoring series. The Lobos' first drive, which started at their own 1-yard line, reached the Stallion 31 before a bad exchange between Freeman and McGee resulted in a turnover. The next time Longview had the ball, the Lobos went three-and-out. However, Thompson was stripped on first down and Pippins recovered for Longview. The Stallions tied the game following a second Longview miscue at its own 45. Going to the air, Wooten was 5 of 5 for 44 yards before Thompson scored from two yards out with 3:01 left before halftime. Longview, however, got a 37 kickoff return from Lacy out to his own 45. Three straight runs by Ivory, which were sandwiched between an 11-yard Freeman pass to George and a 15-yard completion to Mark Johnson gave the Lobos a first down at the 15. But the drive stalled there, and on third-and-10 Freeman was sacked by the Stallions' Scott Flick for a 10-yard loss. Zach Decker then came in to attempt a 42-yard field goal. However, holder D'Marcus Miles took the snap and attempted to pass, which was batted down as the ball went over on downs. North Mesquite then ran out the few remaining seconds on the clock. |