Posted 2:11 am Saturday, September 04, 2010
Lions Whip Lobos
By HAROLD WILSON
Staff Writer
LONGVIEW -- So long for Longview and its winning streaks.
Staff Writer
LONGVIEW -- So long for Longview and its winning streaks.
John Tyler ended a nine-game losing skid against its East Texas rivals, plus Longview's seven-year domination at home, with a convincing 28-14 win Friday night at Lobo Stadium.
The underdog Lions passed a big test against a team counted among the best in the 5A ranks, using the passing of David Bush and opportunistic defense to do so. Bush totaled a career-high 194 yards through the air, Devonte Haggerty found paydirt twice on runs, and Triston Wade intercepted two passes as the ninth-ranked team in Class 4A dominated after the first possession.
JT outscored Longview 28-0 in the second quarter, scoring the last two TDs directly off Longview turnover to put to end what was believed to be a 29-game on-the-field (not counting a win later forfeited) streak of victories by the home team at Lobo Stadium.
Others coming up with takeaways -- all fumble recoveries -- included JT's Quincy Manning, Robert Wheeler and Eric Cavis. Michael Owens, Wheeler and Jarod Haggerty each forced a fumble for the Lions. Devontaye Kennedy, a senior linebacker, led JT with 11 tackles.
"It feels great just to get a victory," said JT head coach Dereck Rush. "The kids played hard, we had a good week of practice and we talked about staying focused and finishing football games. They stepped up and I think our young kids grew up."
The Lions forced the Lobos to become a throwing team, with backup quarterback Bivins Carraway taking over for starter LaDarrin Robertson, after he tweaked an ankle in the first half.
While Longview attempted an uncharacteristic 27 passes, JT continued to lean on its aerial attack. Bush, held to 33 yards through the air in a three-point loss last week to the No.13-ranked team in 5A, Lufkin, answered questions about his ability to stand in the pocket and deliver. Bush passed for 158 yards by halftime, and completed 14 of 22 passes -- hitting six different receivers. Bush, a TCU commit, also led the team in rushing with 43 yards.
Greg Ward, one of four sophomores starting on the JT offense, topped the receivers with six catches for 56 yards. Haggerty took two of his three runs in for scores (3, 12), and pulled in three catches for another 49 yards.
JT's defense allowed 90-yard TD pass on the second-play of the game after Robertson bobbled the snap and just zipped his pass to Eric Hawkins through the hands of a defender.
The Lions stymied the Lobos the rest of the first half, recovering three fumbles and intercepting a pass.
Special teams factored into the early going, with a Longview 15-yard punt setting up JT at the Lobo 25.
JT needed five plays to even the score, with Damarcus Humber scooting in on fourth-and-goal from the 1.
On its next possession, JT traveled 58 yards in four plays; with TCU commit Chris Hackett helping the offense out with a 57-yard reception on a screen over the middle, setting up Haggerty's 3-yard end around run after a toss from Jeremiah Henry.
The Lions atoned for the long TD on the ensuing kickoff when Owens separated Hawkins from the ball. Manning pounced on the fumble, and JT scored on the next play on Henry's 16-yard jaunt up the gut for a 21-7 advantage.
The bleeding continued for Longview, which turned it over on its next down after a nine -- yard completion, fumble and recovery by Robert Wheeler. JT capitalized in four plays, with Haggerty finding the end zone in similar fashion on a 12-yard end around to the right side to go in front 21 points.
"We talk all the time about fighting through adversity and they did," Rush said. "We (say) if you're down you still have to fight -- that comes from offseason -- and they did that."
-- -
John Tyler 28, Longview 14
At Lobo Stadium
John Tyler 28, Longview 14
At Lobo Stadium
John Tyler 0 28 0 0 -- 28
Longview 7 0 0 7 -- 14
Longview 7 0 0 7 -- 14
First Quarter
LON -- Eric Hawkins 90 pass from LaDarrin Robertson (Kyle Jenkins kick), 11:07
LON -- Eric Hawkins 90 pass from LaDarrin Robertson (Kyle Jenkins kick), 11:07
Second Quarter
JT -- Damarcus Humber 1 run (Noe Diaz kick), 10:48
JT -- Damarcus Humber 1 run (Noe Diaz kick), 10:48
JT -- Devonte Haggerty 3 run (Diaz kick), 6:30
JT -- Jeremiah Henry 21 run (Diaz kick), 6:10
JT -- Haggerty 12 run (Diaz kick), 3:34
JT -- Haggerty 12 run (Diaz kick), 3:34
Fourth Quarter
LON - Dakota Anthony 2 run (Jenkins kick), 3:23
LON - Dakota Anthony 2 run (Jenkins kick), 3:23
EST.ATT. -- 8000.
JT LON
First Downs 12 10
Rushes-Yards 36-88 31-86
JT LON
First Downs 12 10
Rushes-Yards 36-88 31-86
Passing Yards 194 198
Com.-Att.-Int. 14-22-0 11-24-2
Com.-Att.-Int. 14-22-0 11-24-2
Punts-Avg. 6-35.9 6-38/7
Fumbles-Lost 5-0 3-1
Penalties-Yards 11-83 4-30
Fumbles-Lost 5-0 3-1
Penalties-Yards 11-83 4-30
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING -- John Tyler, David Bush 14-43, Devonte Haggerty 3-25, Jeremiah Henry 5-24, Damarcus Humber 7-19, DeQuante Woods 2-1, Fred Ross 1-0, Greg Ward 1-(-7), Team 3-(-17). Longview, J'Haston Faggans 11-35, Bivins Carraway 10-29, Dakota Anthony 6-16, LaDarrin Robertson 3-3, Deontre' Wilson 1-3.
RUSHING -- John Tyler, David Bush 14-43, Devonte Haggerty 3-25, Jeremiah Henry 5-24, Damarcus Humber 7-19, DeQuante Woods 2-1, Fred Ross 1-0, Greg Ward 1-(-7), Team 3-(-17). Longview, J'Haston Faggans 11-35, Bivins Carraway 10-29, Dakota Anthony 6-16, LaDarrin Robertson 3-3, Deontre' Wilson 1-3.
PASSING -- -- John Tyler, Bush 14-22-0 -- 194. Longview, Carraway 10-21-2 -- 108, Robertson 1-3-0 -- 90.
RECEIVING -- John Tyler, Ward 6-56, Haggerty 3-49, Darion Flowers 2-9, Chris Hackett 1-57, Humber 1-15, Jaylon Thorn 1-8. Longview, Javorus Poole 4-58, Blaine Tomlinson 3-23, Anthony 2-19, Eric Hawkins 1-90, Donterius Jackson 1-8.
