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LONGVIEW - Longview returned to its roots Friday night, sticking to the ground and playing power football. End result: a 21-14 victory.
Sophomore Artillious Allison's 36-yard run with 4:47 left in the fourth quarter rallied the Lobos (2-2) over previously unbeaten Monroe Ouachita (3-1). It was the first-ever meeting between the Louisiana and Texas high schools. Allison also went over 100 yards for the first time in his varsity career with 134 on 21 carries and a pair of touchdowns. "We noticed they weren't making adjustments against us on short yardage," said Longview head coach Robert Bero. "Our kids had seen that and just turned it up a notch. That was a championship drive." Trailing 14-13, the Lobos stuck to the round for a 69-yard, eight-play game-winning drive. Lining up a full house backfield, all three backs - Allison, Chris Jenkins and Mark Peters - ate up yardage before Allison broke loose down the left sideline for the go-ahead score. A key block down field by wide receiver LaRoyce Howard sprung Allison free. Jenkins finished with 40 yards on 10 carries, while Peters, who also went most of the game at defensive tackle as well, totaled 20 yards on five carries. The 6'2, 254-pounds Peters also caught a pass for 15 yards. Leading 19-14, Joel Creal connected with a wide-open alan Rodgers - Longview's starting middle linebacker - for the two point inversion. But while it was the ground game that saw the Lobos come from behind, the offense mixed its plays to finish with 327 total yards. Creal, who went with distance, was 9 of 17 for 134 yards with one interception. Howard had four cathces for 36 yards, while Courtney Taylor made three receptions for 49. Longview's defense had Ouachita to 171 total yards, plus forced two first half turnovers that resulted in an early 10-0 Lobo lead. Placekicker Josh Scobee kicked a pair of field goals - a 36-yarder in the first quarter and from 27 yards in the third as Longview closed a 14-10 deficit. Scobee, who routinely boomed every kickoff out of the end zone, got his first opportunity after Willie Andrews picked off a Ouachita pass at the Lions' 38-yard line. Later in the quarter, a Lion fumble set up Allison's first touchdown on a 5-yard run. The Lions scored their two touchdowns on a 9-yard Todd Garvin-to-Jeff King pass at the 5:40 mark of the second quarter, and a run of 25 yards by Lewis Carter with 8:19 showing in the third quarter. There were some anxious moments in the closing minutes of the game after the Lobos muffed a punt. Ouachita had a first down at Longview's 34-yard line with 3:06 to play. However, Peters came up with a tackle for no gain on first down, which was followed by an 8-yard pass reception to the 26. An incomplete pass then set up fourth-and-two. A five-yard penalty against the Lions after the left side of the line moved, resulted in a fourth-and-seven. Then linebacker Herman Martin forced a hurried throw and an incomplete pass, turning the ball over on downs to Longview and sealing the win. |