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LONGVIEW - Longview outhustled Forney at Lobo Stadium on Friday night, and leaned on a 46-7 win to move into the first-place spot of the District 7-5A Division I standings with four games to play in the 2022 regular season.
Longview improved its season record to 6-0 and district record to 3-0, while Forney dropped its respective marks to 4-2 and 2-1. The Lobos also earned their 81st winning football season during their first-ever matchup with the Jackrabbits. "Tonight's win, we came out and played inspired football," said Longview athletic director and head football coach John King. "I thought we got off to a fast start." The Lobos leaned on a high-scoring first quarter to take an early 22-7 lead. Taylor Tatum jumpstarted the surge with his first of two 14-yard touchdown runs at the 7:20 mark of the opening period. Longview then turned to an aerial attack that resulted in Jordan Allen's 73-yard passing touchdown to Fredirick Hawkins. That allowed the Lobos to hold a 14-0 advantage with 5:51 remaining in the quarter. Allen finished the night with an 11-of-15 passing performance for 250 yards and two scores, and Tatum added 129 rushing yards and three scores on 14 carries. Tatum found his groove again on his second 14-yard touchdown run of the night, and Andrew Tutt connected with Jaymerson Darensbourg on a successful two-point conversion attempt to extend the home team's lead to 22-0 at the 3:57 mark of the period. Forney started to find its footing when Javian Osborne broke free on a 58-yard run. That helped set up a 20-yard touchdown pass from Brent Paine to Ronnie Harrison that cut the Jackrabbits' deficit to 22-7 with 2:46 remaining in the quarter. Longview regrouped with 17 unanswered second quarter points to take a 39-7 lead by the halftime break. Tatum scored his 15th rushing touchdown of the season and his third of the night on a one-yard carry to grow the Lobos' lead to 29-7 at the 7:02 mark of the second frame. Allen went to the air again when he found Alijah Johnson on a 20-yard touchdown strike. That gave Longview a 36-7 advantage with 1:22 left in the second quarter. The Lobos quickly got the ball back, and Michael Fields added a successful 30-yard field goal attempt as time expired in the first half to give the home team a 39-7 edge. Forney took advantage of Longview's mishandled kickoff return on the first play of the second half, but Willie Nelson forced a Paine interception in the end zone to help his team bounce back. That was his second pick of the night because he also produced a defensive stop at the 4:34 mark of the first quarter. Kelvin Washington then wrapped up Longview's scoring outburst with a 15-yard rushing touchdown. That made it a 46-7 score at the 4:10 mark of the third quarter. Longview now turns its attention to next Friday's 7 p.m. road district game against North Mesquite at Mesquite Memorial Stadium, while Forney travels to Beverly D. Humphrey Tiger Stadium to play Lancaster at 7:30 p.m. |