Back with Lufkin/Longview tilt shortly
When these two hook horns, you can expect max effort from both sides and a bitter rivalry to boot.... This will be the 82nd meeting between the two, Lobos hold serve at 40-37-4....All eyes will be on Lobo Stadium as this one might be the best game out of the slate tonight. While you might be tempted to simply grab the points in this one due to the rivalry theme, you should note: Lufkins last win at Lobo Stadium was 2003....Longview has won 8 out of 10 last meetings... Longview is 63-5 under HC John King. Longview is ranked #7 in 6A, while Lufkin is ranked #3 in 5A..... Nationally, Longview is #77, while Lufkin is #124...... Longview is #7 in the State of Texas, Lufkin is ##16........
Lobos HC John King is 151-35 in his 15th year. In 2017, Lobos were 14-2 and beat the Panthers 35-16 on the opener, then won again in the State Semis 33-32 before losing to Midway 28-26 in the Finals.... *The playoff win was unique because Lobos trailed significantly but came storming back in the 4th quarter for what has been called one of Texas High Schools best games..... In 2016, Lobos lost 35-24. But swept again in 2015, winning 21-20 (another barn burner) and 31-10 in the playoffs...
Longview is 159-40 in the Dynasty Record, and 160-39 in League. Lobos have won League Crowns in 2013-2016 and 2004-2011....In 2017, the Offense averaged 41.2 ppg while Defense held to 20.9....Longview is #96 on MaxPreps Top 100.
There should be little drop off this season as Lobos return 7 Off Starters and 3 Def starters and will plug holes with talent from a 9-1 JV team... The return of 3 Star QB Haynes King Jr (6'3" 190 lbs) (102 of 186 for 1,743 yards w/20 TDs and 16 carries for 187 yards w/1 more +5 INT, Haynes has offers from Arkansas and Auburn... As a Soph, he was 10-1 as a starter finishing with 2, 170 pass yards w/28 TDs.
Helping King is RB Keilyn Williams (Sr 5'5" 160 lbs) had 1,235 yards w/17 TDs (Had 5 100 yard rushing games ly), WR Kamden Perry had 46 catches for 661 yards w/4 TDs ly, the 5'11" 170 lb Sr had 25 catches for 349 yards w/3 TDs in the post-season and has drawn interest from Incarnate Word and Northwestern St..... TE Daquavion Randall is big with sure hands... FB Jessie Anderson (Sr 5'11" 200 lbs) had 259 yards w/3 TDs...
On Defense, the team is led by S Jephaniah Lister (5'9" 170 lbs) is making his 27th career start and was Defensive Player of the Year ly.. He's a 3 year starter who had 91 tackles (6 for loss) w/5 forced fumbles 1 INT and 5 break-ups in his Soph season.... His Jr year he had 144 tackles-4 for loss - 4 INT, the All State Safety has garnered numerous attention from several D1 schools.....
The team has experience at every position on Off, but will try to establish the run, out of the Pro formations... OL Marcus Williams (Sr 6'6" 290 lbs) is going to TCU and OL Tim Puck (Jr with offer to Arkansas) the OL returns all its starters from ly.
Lufkin Panthers were 11-3 in 2017... Their Dynasty Rec is 135-45 (76-14 in League)... It's 2017 Off Avr was 34.6 ppg while D held to 20.7 ppg... Last years D allowed average of 84 rush yards while giving 195 pass yards.... They have 6 Offensive Starters back and 6 Def States... Returning QB Kevin Thomas was reason to hope, however, the job is going to Soph QB Jordan Moore as Thomas is unavailable due to injury... The OL and DL is huge and athletic. DL Breylon Garcia (6'3" 220 lbs) has ride to Nevada Wolfpack, DE Javasia Brunson (6'4" 235) has 12 offers that include Oklahoma St, Arizona, and Baylor.... DT Carl Williams (6'4" 300 lbs) is Arkansas commit, DB Jerrin Thompson (6'0" 180 lbs) has interest from Oklahoma, Baylor, SMU and Arkansas.... DB Demond McKelbly (6' 170 lbs) going to Arkansas Pine-Bluff,
On offense, WR Jalynn Polk (Jr 6'2" 185 lb) had 36 catches for 610 yards w/5 TDs.. The WR has offers from Illinois and Arkansas and is a playmaker.
The obvious battle will be between the Longview Veteran Offense against Lufkins Stout D with several D1 talent..... It's a Big East Texas Showdown on steroids times 10......The storied bitter rivalry should be a good one and I'm tempted to grab the +8 however, I can't ignore that Lobos have won 5 of the last 6 and 8 of the last 10....... Simply put, I don't trust a Soph QB to get the job done in this atmosphere and have to respect great Defense on both sides of the ball, which should translate to a slobber knocker Def gem with Lobos taking home the prize.
2 units on Longview -8 LOSS *ARGH BY 1
2 units on the Under 60.LOSS
Gluck to you