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| LONGVIEW - Marshall's football team wears red, but the red zone was a place the Mavericks were not familiar with on Friday. Longview's defense made it that way.
The Lobos kept the Marshall from any serious scoring threat, blanking the Mavericks 30-0 at Lobo Stadium in the 101st edition of the rivalry game. Longview (1-0) continues recent domination of its arch rival with its 11th consecutive win over the Mavericks (0-1) as well as the first shutout of the series since a 14-0 decision in 1999. Marshall coach Alex Richters suffered a loss in his head-coaching debut. The closest the Mavericks came to points was the Longview 28-yard line trailing 17-0 with 1:52 left in the second quarter, only to have Demarkus Lathan end the drive with an interception. Led by Lathan, who also had five tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery, the Lobos held the Mavericks to 175 total yards. Safety Corey Bartley also came up big for Longview with nine tackles and a blocked punt. Longview head coach John King credited defensive coordinator Casey Pearce for good work, especially since he was disappointed in his team's normally strong running game. Longview rushed for 141 yards on 35 carries, but 70 yards was on the last two drives when the game was decided. "We kept it simple. We ran a base, four-man line defense because we weren't sure how Marshall would attack us. The defense played great," King said. "I was very disappointed with our running game as a whole." Longview quarterback Bivins Caraway had a solid passing outing in his first start for the Lobos. Caraway was 9-for-14 for 171 yards, with Eric Hawkins shining as the main target. Hawkins had four receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown. Hawkins' score was a 29-yard strike from Caraway, with Hawkins making the reception amid triple coverage to help give the Lobos a 7-0 lead with 4:27 left in the first quarter. Hawkins - who has verbally committed to the University of Arkansas - equaled his 2010 season reception total of three in the first half, going for 91 yards. On the ensuing Marshall drive, Longview defensive tackle Jalen Porter forced Marshall running back Kendrick Biggs to fumble and Lathan recovered at the Longview 37-yard line. This helped set up a 29-ayrd field goal by Israel Madrid with 9:12 remaining in the second quarter, concluding the first-half scoring. Longview had another chance for points with 6:09 remaining in the first half when Longview defensive end Larry Thomas knocked Marshall quarterback Alandric Tutt back one yard on a fourth-and-one play at the Marshall 36-yard line. On the next play, however, the Mavericks forced Caraway to fumble and Kenderson Cooks recovered for Marshall at his team's 23-yard line. A penalty also negated a probable scoring opportunity for the Lobos with 1:52 left in the first half. Lathan returned his interception 70 yards to Marshall seven-yard line, but a personal foul penalty brought the ball back to the Longview 46-yard line and the ensuing drive sputtered. Caraway passed for 112 yards in the first half, but the Lobos had 30 yards rushing on 15 carries. Tutt accounted for 64 of Marshall's 103 first-half yards. Marshall had four first-half sacks, including two by Dakota Newson. Longview put the game away when Marshall punter Trey Wilson had trouble with a snap and was tackled for a five-yard loss by Cornelius Williams at the Marshall 21-yard line with 9:29 left in the third quarter. This set up a two-yard touchdown run by fullback Deontre Wilson with 7:02 remaining in the third. Wilson would have another two-yard touchdown run with 1:22 left in the third quarter. This score was set up by a 37-ayrd reception by Hawkins, which put Longview at the Marshall 35-yard line. Dontonius Sanders concluded the scoring with a four-yard touchdown run with 1:57 remaining. Tory White led Longview with 67 yards rushing, 63 on Longview's last two drives. Williams and Lakeithen Barkins had two tackles each for losses for the Lobos. Tutt finished with 99 total yards, including 67 yards rushing. Longview plays its first road game of the season at 7:30 p.m. next Saturday against John Tyler at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium in Tyler. Marshall makes its 2011 home debut this Friday, hosting Shreveport (La.) Huntington, starting at 7:30 p.m. |