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TYLER - Gridiron observers here in Rose Stadium said Friday night all of the first half in the game between Longview and John Tyler belonged to the Lobos.
But what they confess reluctantly is that the second half belonged to the host team. That second half was what told the tale in a District 8-AAAA contest with two clubs playing to a tie, 21 to 21. It was the second tie of the season for the Lobos. In the second game of the season, Longview played Arlington High to a scoreless tie. During the first half, Longview ran 38 plays while the Big Bad Lions could only muster 21 plays. However, the score was tied at 14-all when the two teams left for halftime. Longview had 24 rushing plays and 14 passing. John Tyler rushed for 13 and passed eight in the first half. In the second half, the Lions ran the ball 17 times and went to the air 16 plays. The Lobos toted the ball 22 times and passed only six times for 28 plays. John Tyler had 33 plays. The Lions crucified themselves with mistakes during the first and second quarters. However, with 12 seconds left on the clock in the second period, defensive halfback HaroldMartin block a field goal on the John Tyler 23-yard line and tackle Bobby Henderson quickly picked the ball up at the 20-yard line and sprinted 80 for a touchdown to tie the score at 14-all. Ronnie Shiflett's kick for the extra point was blocks by a host of Lobos. The last time the Lobos beat John Tyler was in 1961 in Lobo Stadium, 35 to 9. It was in 1959 the two clubs played to a scoreless tie in Lobo Stadium. And in 1957 the two schools played to a 19-19 tie in Lobo Stadium. Last season, John Tyler blanked Longview 28-0. The two grid team went into the game Friday night with 2-1 District 8-AAAA records each. John Tyler now has a 5-3-1 season mark and the Lobos a 4-3-2 record. Marshall put the frosting on the District 8-AAAA championship with a 13-0 victory over the Tigers of Texarkana. Tyler Lee defeated Lufkin, 14-7. Lufkin has not won a league game this season. Lufkin is 3-6 for the season and will meet the Lobos Friday night in the final district game of the season for both teams in Lobo Stadium. John Tyler will take on Marshall for a warm up contest in making ready for the bi-district playoff. During the first half of play, the Lobos recorded 68 yards on the ground and 83 via the air. They had 10 first downs. John Tyler had six first downs, 39 yards rushing and only 21 in the air. Longview attempted 14 passes and completed nine while Tyler attempted eight passes and completed only three. John Tyler won the flip-of-the-coin in the midfield and elected to receive. Ralph Blount kicked off for the Lobos and halfback George Hager took the ball on the 20 and returned it to the 24. Six plays later Eddie Dobbins was forced to punt. The ball was blocked at the 45 yard line of John Tyler and the ball rolled back to the 18 yard line where Chad Barnwell recovered for the Lobos. Dobbins was credit for an 18 yard loss. From the 26 yard line the Lobos went to work. Tailback David Majors carried to the 25. On the third play quarterback Judy sailed a bomb into the arms of end Cecil Newton to the 14 yard line for a gain of 11 and a first down. Fullback Joe Griffin carried to the 11 on the next play. However, the Lobos were issued a 10 yard penalty and moved the ball back to the 26 yard line. Four plays later Newton punted the ball and the pigskin rolled to the 14 yard line. Bad John boys took over on the 14 and three plays later quarterback Danny Palmer went to the air and the ball was intercepted by Newton at the John Tyler 49 yard line. At the 49 yard line quarterback Judy on the first play was grounded for a loss of eight yards back to the 43 of Lobos. Two plays after fullback Griffin plowed through the middle to the 44 for a gain of 13. However, it was fourth down and the Lobos needed five for a first down, so Newton punted the ball down field. The ball was fumbled by Mike Snodgrass and Rodney Hill recovered the pigskin at the 13 yard line with 3:26 left in the first quarter. The Lobos again were in scoring position. On the first try Griffin went to the nine, Majors carried to the four and on the third play Majors carried the ball into the end zone for the touchdown with 2:33 left. Keith Parker's kick for the one pointer was good and the Lobos led, 7-0. Late in the first quarter, the Lobos had the ball again after fielding a Tyler punt on the 32 yard line of Longview. A total of 12 plays and tailback David Majors went into the end zone again for a Lobo touchdown with 7:46 left in the second quarter. Parker's kick was good and the Lobos led, 14-0. A 30 yard run from the 38 yard line of Longview to the 32 of Tyler by fullback Griffin aided in the drive. Blount kicked off to the Lions and Palmer took the pigskin on the 17 and returned to the 30. In eight plays, the Lions had six points on the scoreboard. Palmer hit halfback Tommy Neil with a two yard pass in the end zone with 5:03 reading on the clock in the second quarter. Palmer's pass for the two point conversion was good. The touchdown covered 70 yards and a big gainer was a 17 yard run by quarterback Palmer. Bobby Henderson kickoff to the Lobos and Majors took the ball on the 18 and returned it to the 24. Quarterback Judy went to the air with passes of 12, 8, 11, 3, 10, 10 and 4 yards. The Lobos were on the 11 yard line with 33 seconds left on the clock. It was third down and the Lobos elected to go for a field goal. Parker teed the ball at the 23 with Judy holding. The kick was blocked by Harold Martin and Bobby Henderson picked up the ball and ran 80 yards for the touchdown that tied the game up at 14-all. With 12 seconds reading, the Lions were back in the game. Henderson, who is a tackle and one of the best in the league, ran the 80 yards untouched. The Lobos missed a second chance at a field goal in the third quarter when Parker's kick sailed to the right of the cross bars from the 21 yard line with 11 seconds left in the period. The Longview team had taken the kickoff on the 33 yard line and moved the ball down field to the 14 before they elected to go for the field goal on fourth down on the 14 yard line. In the fourth quarter, the Lions broke the tie when Palmer passed to Mike Snodgrass in the end zone with a 20 yard bomb with 7:28 left in the contest. Henderson's kick was good and the Lions led, 21-14. The drive covered 74 yards in eight plays. Palmer threw two long passes of 14 and 12 yards to help in the march. The Lobos turn around and marched for a touchdown. Henderson kicked off and Rodney Hill took the ball on the five and returned to the 23. On the first try Majors carried to the 31. Then Judy hit Hill with a 6-yard pass to the 37. On the next play, Judy sailed the ball into Newton's arms for an 8-yard gain to the 45 of Longview. On second down and needing two for a first down, Judy stepped back after taking the snap and sailed the ball into the arms of Hill who caught the ball around the 25 yard line and Hill turned the speed on and went into the end zone for the touchdown. With 6:18 left in the game, the Lions still led, 21 to 20. Should the Lobos go for the two pointer or go for the extra point via Parker's kick. The Lobo coaching staff stetted for a tie. Parker was sent in to kick the ball through the uprights and the game was tied at 21-all. |