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| FORNEY - Longview battled Lancaster for the second time this year during Friday night's regional semifinal at Forney's City Bank Stadium, but it couldn't earn a second season series victory when its 14-point halftime lead slipped away in a 27-24 season-ending third round playoff defeat.
The Lobos played without 2024 Oklahoma running back commit Taylor Tatum (injury), and finished the 2023 high school football season with an 11-2 record, while the Tigers will bring an 8-5 mark to next week's Class 5A Division I Region II final against Forney. Lancaster broke through for a 7-0 lead against Longview just like the District 7-5A Division I matchup at Beverly D. Humphrey Tiger Stadium on Sept. 22 because Kewan Lacy produced a go-ahead 87-yard touchdown run at the 6:42 mark of the first quarter. Lacy set the early tone for the Tigers on Friday, and finished with 22 carries for 177 rushing yards and one score. Longview bounced back during Andrew Tutt's 30-yard touchdown pass to Jaymerson Darensbourg at the 3:56 mark of the opening period. Lancaster then took a temporary second lead at 10-7 during Andres Castro's 27-yard field goal attempt at the 9:51 mark of the second quarter, but Longview immediately answered with Kelvin Washington's 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown 16 seconds later to take its first lead of the night at 14-10. Kelvin Washington earned 102 rushing yards on 19 carries and produced two total touchdowns in Longview's loss, and Tutt completed five of his 10 passes for 71 yards and a score. Longview's defense started to put pressure on Lancaster quarterback Carter Jones, and Bryce Fuller recovered the fumble for the Lobos at the 6:03 mark of the period. Washington tacked on a two-yard rushing touchdown at the 4:09 mark to expand the gap to 21-10. The Lobos made the most of its next possession with the ball, and John Monsivais' 46-yard field goal wrapped up the first half scoring to make it a 24-10 lead with 27 seconds left until halftime. Lancaster moved within 24-17 during Jones' 23-yard touchdown pass to Kameron Robinson at the 4:15 mark of the third quarter. The Tigers eventually completed their 14-point comeback during Jones' 10-yard touchdown pass to Robinson at the 5:10 mark of the fourth quarter to make it a 24-24 score. Jones heated up in the second half, and finished with a 19-for-28 passing performance for 171 yards and two scores. Longview's offense was stagnant throughout the second half, but its defensive unit forced an important Lancaster punt with 1:05 to play in the game. Mason Washington carried the ball for six yards, but he fumbled, and Lancaster's Jerbrandin Henderson recovered it at the Longview 35-yard line with 41 seconds left in regulation. Lancaster moved the ball to the Lobos' 20-yard line, and set up Castro's 37-yard game-winning field goal attempt with three seconds left to wrap up a 17-0 second half scoring edge, and the Tigers' come-from-behind upset win. |