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| LONGVIEW - In one of the most spectacular opening games in the disguinished history of Lobo football, an inspired Longview eleven twice came from behind to noise out the Port Neches Indians of district 6-AAA before a crowd of more than 5,000 here Friday night, 19-13.
The victory, fashion on the strength of the brilliant running by co-captains Dick Nash and Martin (Jeep) Reynolds and the swift passing of quarterback Jerry Matthews, kept alive Longview's record never having lost the season opener in the school's history, although the speed-laden Indians gave local fans one scary moment after another before the Lobos finally nailed down the triumph in the fading seconds of play by halting a determined Port Neches drive in the shadows of the goal posts. The Longview eleven displayed a well-balanced offense that insinuated the Lobos may be tough to deal with in the coming District 4-AAA championship race. The Indians turned loose a blistering ground attack that rolled up 303 yards by rushing, but the South Texans failed in the air game and did not complete a pass. As a matter of fact, they attempted only four and for the most part were content to rely solely on their ground game featuring the dazzling open field running by Kenneth Beasley, Tommy Atkins and Ronnie Slaughter. The net yardage of the teams was almost identical as the Lobos amassed 247 yards rushing and 55 yards through the air for a total of 302. The Indians started the contest as if they intended to run the Lobos right out of the stadium by taking a punt and marching 56 yards for a touchdown in five plays with Beasley barging through right tackle from the four into the end zone. Nash knocked down Wayne Beasley's placement kick on the try for extra point, leaving Port Neches with a 6-0 lead before the fans had hardly settled into their seats. The Longview eleven struck right back, however, by romping 70 yards with the succeeding kick blocked to tie the score when Nash walked around right end standing up from the four-yard stripe. Pliler's placement kick on the try for extra point was wide. Late in the first period the Lobos stopped a Port Neches drive on their own six-inch line and then marched 99 yards in the early portion of the second quarter but failed to score when the Indians held for down son their six-inch stripe. When Port Neches punted out, Phil Brown got off a bad punt that traveled only 15 yards and the Lobos quickly took advantage of the break to score their second touchdown, which came on a 12-yard pass from Matthews to end Claude Pliler in the end zone. Pliler's kick on the try for conversion was wide. Just before the end of the second quarter Port Neches took a 13-12 halftime lead with a 65-yard touchdown march which was climaxed when Slaughter circled right end standing up from the five. Bobby Crawford block Harold Trimble's kick on the first try for extra point, but the Lobos drew an offside penalty to give the Indians another chance at conversion. This time Atkins went around left end on a pitchout from Slaughter to add the extra point. The Lobos pushed across what ultimately proved to be the winning touchdown midway in the third quarter on a 51-yard drive highlighted by the spectacular jaunts of Nash, who was continually applauded by the fans for his stellar offensive play. Nash circled right end from the five to chalk up the touchdown and Pliler, with Matthews holding, booted the extra point. But Port Neches wasn't through and it took a magnificent goal line stand by the stubborn Lobos to nail down the triumph in the last two minutes and 29 seconds of play. As time was beginning to run out the Indians pushed their way to Longview's three-yard line with first down and goal to go. At that point, however, Carl Lively slashed through the Port Neches line to throw Slaughter for an 11-yard loss and the Lobos took heart with that one sparkling play to halt the Indians dead, then took over the ball on downs and were driving back upfield at the final whistle. |