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| MESQUITE - There's something about Longview quarterback D'Marcus Miles and Mesquite Memorial Stadium. Miles has a knack for making big plays there, and the latest has brought a district title home for Longview.
The latest big play by Miles was a 59-yard touchdown run on an option run. It came with 1:53 left and helped give Longview a 21-17 win over Mesquite on Friday before 4,000 spectators at Mesquite Memorial Stadium. The win clinches at least a share of the District 12-5A title for Longview (7-2, 4-0) and was the 16th straight district victory for the Lobos. Miles also had a long touchdown run in Longview's 35-28 win over North Mesquite three weeks earlier at Mesquite Memorial Stadium, but the senior said it wasn't an exact copy. "It wasn't the same play as North Mesquite. I saw an opening on the option and went for it," Miles said. "Actually, I don't like playing here. We've made mistakes here, but the team comes together to get it back." After Miles' touchdown, Mesquite (6-3, 2-2) drove to the Longview 28-yard line. But on a third-and-three, Longview countered with a sack by Gavin Esters. On the next play, Longview safety Dontray Nelson intercepted a Luke Halpin pass in the end zone to clinch the victory. The game turned to Longview's favor when Antajun Guinn forced a fumble by Greg Greene and Marcus Davis recovered at the Mesquite 20-yard line. A 16-yard reverse by Frankey Nelson set up a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Jazmon Moon, his second touchdown of the game. On the first play after the ensuing kickoff, the ball slipped out of Halpin's hand and linebacker Ricardo Buchanan recovered the fumble. Longview drove to the Mesquite 15-yard line on the ensuing drive, but on a fourth-and-one, Moon was stopped by Mesquite's Marcus Trice for no gain. Lobo placekicker Zach Decker missed a 30-yard field-goal attempt in the third quarter. Mesquite used the momentum of that play to drive 84 yards, capped by a 4-yard touchdown pass from Halpin to Adrian Richards with 2:42 to play. But thanks to Miles, and a Lobo defense that held Mesquite in the second half, except for one drive, Longview has to make space in the trophy case for another gold football trophy in honor of the district title. Texas Football picked Longview to finish third in 12-5A in the preseason. "We had to hear that after we lost 37 or 38 seniors. The whole city didn't think we couldn't do it," Buchanan said. "This is a team that plays with it's heart. I love it!" Mesquite struck first with a 37-yard field goal from Bradlee Baladez with 5:17 left in the first quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Baladez prevented Chris Lacy from scoring, as Lacy got a 35-yard kickoff return. Longview's first touchdown was set up on a 38-yard run by Mark Johnson, in which the junior fullback made a move that tricked Mesquite cornerback Courtney Starling. Moon finished the drive with a 6-yard touchdown run with 3:38 left in the first quarter, but the Lobo offense was generally quiet in the first half and was limited to 94 total yards. Mesquite struck back with a 77-yard drive. The Skeeters were 3-for-3 on third-down conversions on the drive, the last a 5-yard touchdown pass from Halpin to Richards. Mesquite used a two-quarterback rotation that generally had Halpin in for passing and Jeremy Hernandez for rushing, although Hernandez's lone pass attempt was negated because of a pass interference call on Longview. Halpin had 163 yards rushing, with 86 yards going to Richards. Longview held standout receiver Krys Buerck to 41 yards receiving, although Buerck got 33 of those yards on Mesquite's final drive. Buerck, who was named homecoming king on Friday, has orally committed to Baylor. Miles finished with 146 total yards, and led Longview with 88 yards rushing. Johnson had 56 yards on 10 carries. Perhaps embodying Longview's euphoria in winning a district title, Esters and offensive lineman Gordon Booker borrowed the big, green school flags and waved them while the post-game school song was played. Booker said he hoped the district title was just the first of several to come. "That was one of our goals. Our main goal is to win state, and get the big ball," Booker said. Longview concludes the regular season next Friday against Mesquite Horn at Lobo Stadium. |