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| LONGVIEW - The Longview Lobos gobbled up two Marshall fumbles - turning one into a touchdown and the other into a Maverick back-breaker - to earn a 13-8 victory over the Marshall club here Friday night in a real cliff-hanger.
The Mavericks outplayed the Lobos all over the field in the second half but couldn't cash in enough blue chips. The game was in doubt until the final buzzer sounded. On the final play of the evening quarterback Palmer Pratt, who turned in an outstanding performance all night, tossed a 14-yard bomb to end D.H. Martin inside the five yard marker. Martin made a leaping catch with two Lobo defenders handing on for all they were worth. The player started developing with seven seconds showing on the clock. When D.H. came down with the catch the final seconds were ticking away. This climaxed night of frustrating near-misses for the game Mavericks. Marshall was within the Longview 30 yard marker three times, twice in the last five minutes of play, but failed to get the yardage that counted the most. Pratt, a two-year veteran at quarterback, turned in a sparking performance. He rushed for 93 yards in 14 efforts for a 6.5 averaged. He connected on seven of 17 passes for 67 yards. The calm field general accounted for all of Marshall's scoring with a one-yard quarterback sneak for a touchdown and then he passed to Vernard Grimes for the two extra points. The Mavericks touchdown came with 7:05 left in the third period and gave the Harrison County club an 8-7 margin. It climaxed a 69 yard drive which started from the opening kickoff of the second half. Marshall covered the distance in 10 plays. A 16-yard pass from Pratt to D.H. Martin and a 16-yard end sweep by Pratt were the big plays in the drive. Longview scored first on a 71-yard drive in the second period. The climax came when fullback Glenn Cobb stepped over for six-yards out with 7:14 left in the period. Ronald Cook split the uprights for a 7-0 Lobo lead. This payoff drive started after the Lobos held for downs on their own 29 yard line. The second and winning touchdown for Longview was a cheap one. Marshall fumbled on its own 30 yard line and it took the Lobos only nine plays to cover distance for a six-pointer. Quarterback James Street rolled around right end from three yards out for the payoff. A pass from Street to end Ed Harbour fell incomplete on the extra point effort. That touchdown came with 10:55 left in the game. Marshall still had plenty of time. The visitors appeared to be touchdown bound, driving from their own 35 to the Lobo 23 on 13 ground plays which ate up six minutes. A fumble at the 19 gave Longview the pigskin. The Lobos ran three plays and punted to Marshall's 22. From there the Mavs started over, this time taking to the air in an effort to spare every valuable second. Pratt hit six of ten passes in this drive with Tommy Asaff, a promising Sophomore back, making three receptions, end D.H. Martin taking in two aerials and tail back Gerald Haddock picking off the other. Still Lady Luck would not smile on the Mavs as they knocked on the door but found it only open once in the 48 minutes. |