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| DALLAS - Longview faced a 14-point deficit against Lancaster for a large chunk of Friday night's UIL 6A Division II area round playoff battle at Dallas' John Kincaide Stadium, but it erased that margin in the fourth quarter and eventually prevailed with the winning score on the opening drive of overtime to earn a memorable 35-28 second round victory.
The Lobos earned their eighth straight win to improve their 2024 season record to 10-2 and advance to play Klein Collins during a UIL 6A Division II Region II semifinal battle at 2 p.m. at Lufkin's Abe Martin Stadium on Nov. 30. They also avenged their 2023 UIL 5A Division I Region II semifinal defeat against Lancaster. The Tigers, meanwhile, finished the year with a 5-7 mark. "That's what the Lobos do," Longview athletic director and head football coach John King said of his team's fight on Friday. "They're not going to quit on us. This program, high school, and community in Longview mean too much to these kids." Longview's defense had its hands full in the first quarter because Lancaster running back Izayah Lee produced a 10-yard touchdown run and 19-yard rushing score between the 8:34 and 3:28 marks to give his team an early 14-0 lead. He led Lancaster with 25 carries for 100 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the outing. Longview was slow out of the gate, but it started to show life during Johnny Hamilton's 63-yard second quarter touchdown pass to Buster Mumphrey. That cut Lancaster's lead to 14-7 at the 1:34 mark. Hamilton guided Longview with an 8-for-17 passing performance for 162 yards and two touchdowns. Longview forced a quick Lancaster drive late in the first half, but Hamilton followed that with a thrown pick six to Lancaster's Ke'Breion Winston. That grew the Tigers' advantage to 21-7 with eight seconds remaining until halftime. Longview responded with a special teams score in the third quarter. Kason Brooks returned a short Lancaster punt for a touchdown that cut the gap to 21-14 at the 5:56 mark of the third quarter. Lancaster turned to Lee again to finish its lone third quarter scoring drive. His two-yard touchdown run gave the Tigers a 28-14 advantage with 57 seconds remaining in the period. The Tigers later mishandled a punt return and Longview jumped on the loose ball. The turnover set up Hamilton's nine-yard touchdown pass to Da'Morrion Williams, and the Lobos moved within 28-21 with 8:46 to play. The Longview defense then forced a Lancaster fumble on Lee's five-yard run. The Lobos jumped on the opportunity because Hamilton found Kelvin Washington on a game-tying 42-yard touchdown pass that made it a 28-28 score with 1:01 remaining in regulation. The game eventually reached overtime. Longview had possession first, and quickly moved the necessary 25 yards to take its first and only lead of the game at 35-28 during Washington's four-yard touchdown run. Washington finished the outing with 12 carries for 51 rushing yards and one touchdown, and grabbed three receptions for 63 yards and one score. |