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| TYLER - Strike up the band and let the loudest victory march heard in these parts in years ring out for the fabulous Lions of Tyler High School.
The might Blue Wave Friday afternoon threw its touchdown magic at the defending state champions and buried the Longview Lobos under a 20-to-0 count while 12,000 fans, the largest ever to witness a schoolboy encounter in East Texas, looked on with amazement at the fall of the Lobo empire and the rise of the most powerful Tyler eleven since the crown winning days of 1930. Armistice Day was observed everywhere except on the gridiron, where the Lions did a gallant job of getting revenge for drubbings in the past two annual clashes and gaining a strangle hold on the District 9 gonfalon. Only the down-trodden Marshall Mavericks, who come here for a Thanksgiving Day tilt, remain in the way of the high-scoring Lions, whose Friday tallying ran their point total to 344 against 22 for the opposition in nine games. Tyler's victory also pushed the locals directly in front of the limelight on the Texas schoolboy stage. The ninth straight decision made a tumultuous splash throughout the state in addition to sounding a warning to Lufkin, the District 10 power. Coach Ed Henning's starless quartet of backs, romping behind a stiff line over a strong enemy, churned the turf for 16 first downs to 8 for the invading Wolves, piled up 159 yards from scrimmage to 79, and put an almost impregnable defense against the potent Longview overhead attack. A 68-yard drive midway in the opening period ended with the first Tyler touchdown. The Lions put on steam again in the second chapter to add to their total and closed with one in the fourth quarter for a clear-cut verdict. If a standout could be picked from the Lion forward wall that call would go to Durwood Mumford, center, with Wally Scott a close second. Mumford, playing a roving defensive position, was well acquainted with every Lobo ball carrier before the game was past the first quarter. He stuck to the plays and was a consistent wrecker of Lobo hopes for yardage. He was equally as strong in the aerial defense, batting down numerous heaves besides gathering in one heave and almost turning it into a Tyler marker. And he didn't rest after passing the oval back on the offense. His hefty blocks were felt many times by would-be tacklers. Scott, lanky lad who is powerful at stopping end jaunts and taking passes, was up to his usual tricks. In the backfield the honors were evenly distributed. First it was Walton Roberts, and then James Rodgers, Verbal Duke and Melvin Jones would pick up yardage. Bill Knox, Lobo wingman, walked off with Longview defensive laurels. He went through and around the Lions to make tackles by the whole-sale lots. Big Don Fambrough's number was down in all the Lions' books. The 182-pounder was held well in check and it remained for Hardy Miller, a slippery-heeled lad, and Worsham, to make the Lobos tabs. Both did creditable jobs. Making no headway with the visitors in an early-game punting duel, the Lions went on the offensive midway in the opening quarter and drove 68 yards to pay dirt. With Walton Roberts, Verbal Duke, Melvin Jones and James Rodgers doing the carrying and Roberts taking off from the running game to toss air bombs to Wally Scott, the Lions marched on, reaching the 8-yard stripe, from which point Duke bounced around right end behind beautiful blocking to score. Mumford took out the last Lobo to allow Duke to sail over. Jones added the extra point from placement. The Lions stayed on the offensive most of the second period but could not hit a touchdown stride until Mumford touched off the spark near the halfway mark by intercepting a pass from Worsham on the Tyler 40 and running to the Longview 25 before being brought down by Miller. On fourth down Scott took a pass from Roberts, good for a first down on the Lobo 14. Three plays gained only 6 yards and on the final effort,Duke sprinted around the left wing, again getting good interference, to strike payoff territory. Jones sent his second extra point try squarely between the uprights, making the count 14 to 0 at the intermission. Miller threw a scare into the Lions by taking the kickoff after Duke's second touchdown and weaving his way through a broken field down to the Tyler 12 before being run out of bounds by Duke. The Lions braced and stymied the Lobos in two tries. The half ended before Longview could start another play. It was the first of two scoring threats offered by the invaders. A 15-yard penalty against Tyler for holding helped the Lobos off to another spurt in the third quarter. The Lobo attack, however, bogged down on Worsham, Miller and Sapp had chipped in with good running. With about seven minutes remaining in the game, the Lions started and finished with success another drive. Roberts took Miller's kick on the Tyler 31 and fought his way back to the 45. After Roberts picked up 4 yards in two attempts the locals went air-minded in a big way and turned in the most thrilling play of the game. Scott took a pass from Roberts and just before a tackler reached him he flipped a lateral to his end mate, Doyle Stegall, who raced to the Lobo 10 for a gain of 41 yards. Three plays netted little and Stegall came to the rescue again, taking a shot from Roberts near the goal line and going over for a touchdown. Jones missed the try for point. Appropriate Armistice Day between halves presentations were made by the Longview High school band and by the Tyler High band and Blue Brigade. |