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| LONGVIEW - Bring out all the standard cliches for this one. Never say die. Going for broke. Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
Unfortunately for Longview fans, only the first two applied to the Lobos as Fort Worth Trimble Tech rallied to take a 21-17 lead with just over a minute remaining in the game and then held off a furious Longview rally to post its second win of the year, Friday night in Lobo tedium. Longview falls to 1-1. The Lobos held a 17-7 advantage with less than five minutes remaining, but Tech quarterback Michael Miller found split ends Joshua Williams on a post pattern that went for 15 yards and a touchdown, trimming the margin to 17-13 with 3:07 left. Tight end Kevin Evans, a thorn in Longview's side the entire contest, then caught a pass for the two point conversion as the 'Dogs made it 17-15. The Lobos were then forced to punt, giving Tech the ball at its own 47 with 1:21 remaining. On the next play, Evans, a 6'4 senior, reached over cornerback Carwyn Richardson and hauled in Miller's aerial for a 53-yard touchdown. The kick failed but Tech had its first lead, 21-17, with only 1:12 to play. Carl Johnson fielded the kickoff with one knee on the turf, so Longview was forced to start at its own 15. At that point it looked as if the game was over. However, looks can be deceiving. On first down, senior quarterback Chris Cotton connected with a wide-open Brian Williams for a 46-yard completion to the Tech 39. Williams had to wait for the ball. If the pass had been on target, Williams would have easily scored. Cotton hit tight end Brett Payne for 10 yards and followed with a 10-yard strike to Williams to put Longview at the 19-yard line with 42 seconds left. Carl Johnson then rambled down to the eight. But on first-and-goal, Johnson was stopped for no gain and Cotton misfired on his next two attempts. On fourth down, Cotton's toss sailed over Glenn Moore's outstretched hands with no time remaining. Longview relied on its defense in a 17-0 victory last week over Fort Worth Eastern Hills, but this time the defense betrayed the Lobos. Miller, operating a free-wheeling wishbone attack, passed for 197 yards and guided the Tech offense to 212 rushing yards for 409 total. But the Lobos forced six fumbles and Moore returned an interception 76 yards. Longview's offense resembled the powerful unit of a year ago on its first possession as Cotton guided the Lobos on a five-play, 74-yard drive. Clyde Boyd had a 44-yard burst and Cotton put the finishing touches on the march with a 14-yard touchdown scamper with 9:31 left in the first quarter. However, the offense squandered most of its scoring opportunities. On its next possession Longview moved to the Tech 11, but on third and six was hit with a delay of game penalty. Then Ronald Lacy sacked Cotton for a seven-yard line and Jason Baird was wide right on a 40-yard field goal attempt. Tech evened the score three plays after Jerry Don Williams claimed a Johnson fumble at the Lobo 27. Kevin Hood blasted into the end zone from 10 yards out with 1:06 left in the period and Donald Armstrong added the PAT. Donnie Childs recovered a Tech fumble at the 'Dogs 15 with 4:30 showing and Williams had grabbed a would-be 15-yard touchdown pass. However, Longview was called for holding and Baird later was wide on another 40-yard attempt. In the fourth quarter Baird also missed a 45-yard try that was accurate, but fell a yard short. Longview went up 14-7 42 seconds before halftime when Moore intercepted Miller, picked up a wall of blockers and outran everyone down the right sideline. Baird finally getting a shot up close, nailed a 23-yard field goal with 8:17 left in the game, putting Longview up 17-7. Then, the Lobos appears to clinch the game when Tommie Taylor, who was outstanding, recovered Miller's errant pitch at the Tech 20. But the Lobos were thrown for 27 yards in losses and came up empty again. |