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| MARSHALL - Marshall's football team proved to be Longview's equal on Friday ... for one half.
The Lobos owned the second half, outscoring the Mavericks 29-0 in a 50-21 victory at a sold out Maverick Stadium. Longview didn't take its first lead until 3:11 left in the third quarter on a one-yard touchdown plunge by Jonathan Oliver. The touchdown was set up by a 34-yard reception from Aaron Johnson to Tyler McCray. On the ensuing squib kickoff, the Mavericks couldn't make a grab and Longview's Ladarrin Robertson pounced on the loose ball at the Marshall 41-yard line. Five plays later, Tyler McCray had a five-yard touchdown run with 1:06 left in the third quarter. A 40-yard touchdown run by Oliver with 6:08 remaining iced the win. Longview (6-2, 4-0) - ranked No. 6 in the Associated Press' Class 4A state poll - maintains sole possession of first place in District 13-4A, wins its eighth straight game over Marshall and brought home its 26th consecutive district game. Marshall drops to 5-2, 2-1. Longview's balance on offense wore the Mavericks down. McCray had 105 total yards of offense and had a 64-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the first quarter. Johnson had 186 total yards of offense, while Oliver had 65 yards rushing on six carries. Marshall quarterback Darius Jones - who has orally committed to the University of Oklahoma - lived up to his pedigree. Jones had 262 total yards of offense and had a hand in two Marshall touchdowns, but the Mavericks were sabotaged by 60 yards of penalties in the second half. Brandon Fitzgerald has taken the majority of snaps for Marshall this season, but except for Marshall's first play from scrimmage, Jones was Marshall's quarterback as well as seeing some action as a defensive back on defense. Marshall's offense was unstoppable in the first quarter. Aided by a pass interference call on Longview, Marshall marched 59 yards on its first drive, capped by a two-yard touchdown run by K.D. Johnson. On the touchdown, the Mavericks were called for unsportsmanlike conduct. The shorter field because of the penalty set up McCray's touchdown-scoring kickoff return. Marshall struck back with a 60-yard drive, capped by a tackle-breaking, 14-yard touchdown run by Jones to give Marshall a 14-7 lead with 3:35 left in the first quarter. A 39-yard punt return by Howard set up a 19-yard touchdown run by Aaron Johnson off an option to tie the game at 14-14 with 7:21 left in the first half. Howard would also have a 63-yard interception return for a touchdown with 4:05 remaining. Marshall countered with a 70-yard drive, which was extended when the Lobos roughed Fitzgerald on a punt attempt. Jones found Demarques Sadler for a 24-yard touchdown pass to give Marshall a 21-14 lead with 1:52 left in the first half. Jones had 148 total yards in the first half. However, the Lobos struck back quick to make the halftime score 21-21. A Marshall defender went for the ball on a pass from Johnson to Carey Fortson, but the defender missed and Fortson made him pay with a 50-yard touchdown reception. Howard, Chris Knighton and Jeremiah Farley had two tackles for losses each for Longview. Jaquan Kelly had three tackles for losses for Marshall. Longview hosts Hallsville next Friday, while Marshall visits Texas High. |