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| LONGVIEW - There will be a lot to look at when the Longview Lobos view the game tape of Friday night's 1999 season-opener with DeSoto.
While Lobo head coach Robert Bero knows there will be plenty of mistakes, there will also be an abundance of good things as his club captured a 50-32 victory. Longview capitalized on six of DeSoto's seven turnovers, using offense and special team sot pule up one of its biggest scoring outputs in recent years. Senior split end LaRoyce Howard and backup Sophomore tailback Artillious Allison each scored twice for the Lobos. Both teams combined for 10 turnovers and 160 yards in penalties. But they also rolled up 741 yards total offense. "We both looked at the scoreboard and never would have expected what we would see," said Bero, nothing his conversion afterward with DeSoto coach Ben Dial. "We knew they had a talented offense...they had a lot of skilled players. But our skilled athletes made the plays early and made them play catch up." A year ago, both Longview and DeSoto combined for just 26 points as the Lobos won 16-10. Longview scored 22 point in the first quarter alone Friday. A 28-yard fumble return by junior safety Antoine Pickron - who also had an interception - opened the scoring with just 1:10 elapsed into the game. Donald Kenny added the two-point conversion running around left end as Longview lined up for the extra point. However, DeSoto's Tatum Bell, who had over 200 all-purpose yards, returned the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for an 8-6 deficit. the Eagles' pass for a two-conversion fell incomplete. DeSoto would fail to convert an extra point until late in the fourth quarter. Both teams traded turnovers before the Eagles' second miscue resulted in Walter Sharpe's 18-yard touchdown reception off a screen pass from quarterback Joe Creal. Josh Scobee followed with the first of his six extra points. Howard, who caught three passes for 109 yards, scored on an 84-yard halfback option from Courtney Taylor, and hauled in Dustin Wilson's lob into the right end zone for a 7-yard score. Longview used both Creal and Wilson. Creal, who drew the start, was 4 of 6 for 51 yards, Wilson finished 4 of 9 for 63 yards. Allison added touchdown runs of 28 and 62 yards. His first-ever varsity touchdown followed Willie Andrews' punt block as the Lobos took over at the DeSoto 34-yard line late in the opening half. "That was a great way to start the game," said hero. "It gave us some momentum, although they came right back with the turn. But that's why you play the game." Allison was the game's top rusher with 87 yards on 12 carries. Senior Calvin Coleman did add a 2-yard touchdown run as he picked up 54 yards on 14 rushes. In addition to his kickoff return, Bell scored on a run of 24 yards and caught a 10-yard touchdown pass. The Eagles' other scores came on a 1-yard run by quarterback Jelani Ingram and a 73-yard catch-and-run from Ingram to Ellis Hobbe. Longivew travels to Lake Highlands next Friday. Game time is at 7:30 p.m. |