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| LONGVIEW - The Lufkin Panthers learned a harsh lesson about the Longview Lobos on Friday.
A knockdown isn't the same as a knockout. Longview's first five offensive snaps led to a couple of turnovers and two quick Lufkin touchdowns, but the Lobos picked themselves off the turf and stormed back to earn a 41-16 win over the Panthers in the 2025 season opener for both teams at Lobo Stadium. The Lobos tied things with a pair of Mason Washington touchdowns, and then scored on the final possession of the first half and the first drive of the second half to coast to their ninth straight win over the Panthers. The game marked the 88th meeting between the Panthers and Lobos, and Longview now holds a 47-37-4 edge all-time against the Panthers. "We settled down," Lobo head coach John King said of his team's ability to rally from the early deficit. "We were concerned because of some of the inexperience we have. We had some busted plays, but the kids just kept playing. That shows the belief they have in one another and what the coaches are trying to do. All in all, I was pleased with the effort the entire game." Johnny Hamilton completed 11 of 19 passes for 142 yards, one touchdown and one interception and also carried 12 times for 83 yards. Mason Washington carried six times for 68 yards and two touchdowns, and Kylon Cummings picked up 62 yards and scored twice on 16 carries. Makaden Frazier also scored once on the ground for Longview, which finished with 256 rushing yards and 398 total yards. Jayden Washington caught three passes for 55 yards and a TD, and Jaden Hurndon finished with three catches for 39 yards for the Lobos. Lufkin's Javion Johnson went 11 of 21 for 142 yards and a touchdown through the air, and Kenneth Waters carried 14 times for 100 yards and a TD. Lufkin had 127 rushing yards and 113 passing yards at the half, but the Lobo defense adjusted and held the Panthers to 34 total yards after halftime - with 24 coming on one play with under 2:00 left after things were already settled. It didn't start well for the Lobos, who forced a punt on Lufkin's first possession but fumbled the ball back to the second offensive play of the season. Lufkin quickly took advantage when Johnson connected with Kaleb Barraza on a 32-yard TD strike to put the Panthers on top 7-0 with 8:58 to play in the opening quarter. Three plays into the next Lobo drive, Lufkin's Sam Smith picked off Hamilton, and this time the Panthers drove 59 yards in seven plays - capping the scoring drive with a 14-yard run by Waters for a 14-0 lead at the 5:26 mark of the opening stanza. The Lobos answered with a 5-play, 69-yard drive. Hamilton kept for 21 yards to move the ball to the Panther 34, and on the next play Mason Washington went to the right side and scored easily to cut the deficit in half (14-7) with 3:38 left in the first. Longview tied the game with 2:50 left in the half on a 20-yard run by Mason Washington, and then moved 64 yards in five plays to take the lead on a 20-yard pass from Hamilton to Jayden Washington with just 27 seconds left in the half. Hamilton had a 15-yard run and completed passes of seven yards to Hurndon and 23 yards to Jayden Washington before spiking the ball to stop the clock and then hitting Jayden Washington with the TD strike. The first possession of the second half all but sealed the deal for the Lobos. Hamilton was sacked on the second play of the drive, losing 11 yards, but he hit Kaiden Graves on a screen pass on the next play to pick up a first down. Longview got the ball to the Lufkin 34, and then gave the Panthers a steady diet of Cummings, who carried six straight times and scored the TD on a 4-yard run to cap a 13-play, 70-yard march that took 7:04 off the game clock. Cummings later scored on an 8-yard run to make it a 34-14 contest, but Lufkin blocked the ensuing extra point and Smith returned the ball 90 yards for a 2-point conversion to make it a 34-16 game. The Lobos got the ball back late in the game when Chaztin Wrighten recovered a fumble at the Lufkin 9-yard line, and Frazier did the scoring honors with a 2-yard run two players later to make the final 41-16. The Lobos will host Marshall next Friday. |