5A Division I Region II Semi-Finals: Longview vs Lancaster

[LoboFan07]

LONGVIEW LOBOS (11-1) VS LANCASTER TIGERS (7-5)

DATE: Friday, November 24th
TIME: 7:00 PM
LOCATION: Forney City Bank Stadium in Forney, Texas
LONGVIEW BROADCAST: 106.5 FM JACK FM
LANCASTER BROADCAST: n/a
LIVE STREAM: tbd

LOBOS LEAD SERIES 5-0-0

The two schools have never played a non-district contest.
The Lobos have a 2-0 lead when the game is a district contest.
The Lobos have a 3-0 lead when the game is a playoff contest.
The Lobos have a 3-0 lead when the game is played at a neutral location.
The Lobos have a 1-0 lead when the game is played at Longview.
The Lobos have a 1-0 lead when the game is played at Lancaster.
Longview has won the last five meetings with the Tigers.
The two schools have never played at City Bank Stadium.
The two schools have never played on November 24th.

LAST FIVE GAMES IN SERIES:
09.22.2023 - Longview 52, Lancaster 35 - Beverely Humphrey Stadium
09.23.2022 - Longview 21, Lancaster 13 - Lobo Stadium
11.19.2021 - Longview 34, Lancaster 14 - Mesquite Memorial Stadium
12.18.2020 - Longview 56, Lancaster 22 - Mesquite Memorial Stadium
11.21.2008 - Longview 49, Lancaster 22 - John E. Kincaide Stadium
FULL GAME LOG

GAME PREVIEW & SERIES REVIEW:
Two years ago, Longview and Lancaster were realigned into the same district fresh off back to back Area Round playoff meetings that saw the Lobos pull away from the Tigers. Going into the 2022 season, the full expectation across the state was a rematch in the post season. That was denied after Frisco Reedy upset Lancaster in the second round. Going into this season, the full expectation was Lancaster/Longview rematch as the Tigers came into the season ranked fourth in the state but favorites to win the district crown over the number two ranked Lobos. The expectation was crushed early as Longview rolled over the Tigers in the first meeting at Lancaster, sending the Tigers to a 1-4 season start. The Tigers had different plans from their poor early start however, as the Tigers rolled into their unexpected rematch with the Lobos having now won five in a row, including knocking off district champion La Porte in South Texas before getting past Frisco Wakeland by 16 points in the Area Round. The Tigers advanced to the third round for the first time since getting to the Quarterfinals in 2019. Longview won it’s 11th game in a row on Friday night, this time with Frisco Reedy being the victim, as the Lobos jumped out to 45 consecutive points in route to a 52-14 win over the Lions. Longview has now defeated its two playoff opponents by a combined scored of 111-21. The win was Longview’s four consecutive area round win and their 80th all-time playoff victory. John King won his 51st playoff game as head coach of the Lobos, more than double of all other combined coaches prior to him. The 50+ points in consecutive playoff games marked the second time in program history that the Lobos have done that, the only other time coming in 2018 when the Lobos opened their run to the state title game with three consecutive 50+ point outings. The big question for the Lobos will be can Taylor Tatum play moving forward? Tatum hit the 4,000 rushing yard mark as a Lobo with his first half against Frisco Reedy that saw the senior hit 137 yards rushing with two touchdowns. John King confirmed that X-rays were held in the second half of the game while the Lobos ran away from the Lions. For the Lobos, in program history, this will be the seventh time that Longview has had a rematch from the regular season in the post season. Four times Longview has had a rematch with Lufkin in the post season from the regular season, while also meeting Mesquite Horn and Denton Ryan in similar fashion. The only time that Longview met a team in the regular season and didn’t have the same exact result play out in the post season came in 2014 against Lufkin, when the Lobos erased a 28-point deficit to defeat the Panthers, 43-42, after getting blown out to start the season, 44-14. This will be the sixth meeting between the Lobos and Tigers, with Longview having won all of them dating back to 2008. The closest meeting between the two teams was last season district game, where Longview came from behind to defeat Lancaster 21-13. This will be the fourth all-time playoff meeting between the two programs, the closest contest being a 20-point Longview win in 2021, that saw the Lobos explode for 24 unanswered points late in the third and fourth quarters in a 34-14 victory. Longview will be looking to advance to the State Quarterfinals for the second consecutive year, and the 17th time in program history.

CLASS 5A DIVISION I REGION II AREA RESULTS:
North Richland Hills Richland 48, Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill 47 (OT)
Forney 26, Frisco Lone Star 24
Longview 52, Frisco Reedy 14
Lancaster 35, Frisco Wakeland 19

CLASS 5A DIVISION I REGION II SEMI-FINAL GAMES:
11/24 - T3 Justin Northwest (10-2) vs W2 Abilene (10-2) - Memorial Stadium (Wichita Falls)
11/?? - W1 Aledo (12-0) vs W4 Red Oak (12-0)/T2 Amarillo (7-5) - TBD (TBD)

CLASS 5A DIVISION I REGION II SEMI-FINAL GAMES:
11/24 - W5 North Richland Hills Richland (12-0) vs R7 Forney (11-1) - Birdville Fine Arts and Athletic Complex (North Richland Hills)
11/24 - W7 Longview (11-1) vs F7 Lancaster (6-5) - Forney City Bank Stadium (Forney)

WHAT’S AT STAKE:
The winner of today’s game game will take on the winner of North Richland Hills Richland vs Forney in the Class 5A Division I Region II Semi-Finals match up.

LONGVIEW LOBOS
Record: 11-1 (7-0)
District: 7-5A Division I
Coach: John King (222-46 in 20 seasons) (Playoffs: 51-18)
First Year of Football: 1909
All-Time Record: 781-357-52 (Playoffs: 80-45-1)
Playoff Appearances: 49
Last Playoff Appearance: 2022, Class 5A Division I State Semi-Final
State Championships (2): 1937 (1A), 2018 (6A D2)
State Championship Appearances (5): 1937 (1A), 1997 (5A D1), 2008 (4A D1), 2009 (4A D1), 2018 (6A D2)
SCHEDULE:
08.24 - at McKinney - Loss 23-21
09.01 - at Marshall - Win 48-7
09.08 - vs Tyler Legacy - Win 28-7 (Half Game)
09.15 - vs Lufkin - Win 42-0
09.22 - at Lancaster - Win 52-35
10.06 - at Forney - Win 13-7
10.13 - vs North Mesquite - Win 63-0
10.20 - at McKinney North - Win 36-13
10.27 - vs Tyler - Win 34-12
11.03 - at West Mesquite - Win 43-0
11.10 - Bi-District: New Caney Porter - Win 59-7
11.17 - Area: Frisco Reedy - Win 52-14
11.24 - Regional: Lancaster

LANCASTER TIGERS
Record: 7-5 (4-3)
District: 7-5A Division I
Coach: Leon Paul (26-10 in 3 seasons) (Playoffs: 4-2)
First Year of Football: 1919
All-Time Record: 534-445-30 (Playoffs: 28-26-0)
Playoff Appearances: 28
Last Playoff Appearance: 2022, 5A Division I Area Round
State Championships (0): None
State Championship Appearances (1): 2012 (5A D1)
SCHEDULE:
08.25 - at Dallas Skyline - Win 28-14
09.01 - at Dallas South Oak Cliff - Loss 42-21
09.08 - vs Denton Guyer - Loss 28-20
09.14 - at McKinney North - Loss 28-21
09.22 - vs Longview - Loss 52-35
10.06 - vs Tyler - Win 34-27
10.13 - at Forney - Loss 21-20
10.20 - vs West Mesquite - Win 55-0
10.27 - at North Mesquite - Win 42-7
11.03 - vs Lufkin - Win 28-27
11.10 - Bi-District: La Porte - Win 27-13
11.17 - Area: Frisco Wakeland - Win 35-19
11.24 - Regional: Longview

ON THIS DATE IN LOBO HISTORY: November 24th
In 1922, Pittsburg knocked off Longview in Pittsburg, 20-0.
In 1927, Leonard Ray and Bernie McCray each caught touchdowns passes as Longview defeated Gilmer, 12-0 in Gilmer to win the District 6-B Championship. It was Longview’s first ever win in Gilmer.
In 1932, Athens rolled Longview, 40-0, at Fair Park in Longview.
In 1933, Jim Whitten scored two times, including a 100-yard interception return to lift Longview to a 29-12 win over Lufkin at Panther Stadium.
In 1938, Gladewater ended Longview’s season with a 26-6 victory at Lobo Stadium. It was the Bears’ first ever victory over the Lobos.
In 1949, Jerry Stewart rushed for four scores while Sonny Jones tried to match with two scores for the Lobos but it wasn’t enough as Gladewater knocked off Longview, 34-27, at Bear Stadium. The Lobos trailed 34-7 heading into the 4th before making their comeback.
In 1955, Dub Thomas and Tony Rothrock each rushed for a score in the fist quarter to help lift Longview over Marshall, 31-7, at Maverick Stadium. The Lobos rushed for 262 yards on the day.
In 1967, Mack Rogers turned around a 13-6 deficit heading into the 4th quarter with two touchdowns to lift No. 7 Richardson to a 21-13 win over Longview at Lobo Stadium, in the Lobos’ first playoff game in 20 years. Four turnovers doomed the Lobos on the night.
In 1972, Jeff Brumbaugh rushed for two scores as Plano’s Wildcats dominated Longview in bi-district play at the Cotton Bowl, 27-0.
In 2001, Ryan Castillo rushed for two Allen touchdowns while Brandon Gray caught a first quarter score as the Lobos fell to Allen at Texas Stadium, 20-17. The Lobos threw for 202 yards in the defeat that saw Willie Andrews taken down at the 24-yard line as time expired.
In 2007, Mark Johnson rushed for two scores, while Johnny Garrett and David Larsen each added their own tallies in a 28-14 Longview win over South Garland at Texas Stadium. The Lobos rushed for 352 yards on a col, damp night in Irving.
In 2012, Tory White rushed for three scores, including a 99-yard run, as the Lobos rolled up 468 yards rushing in a 57-25 win over Dallas Jesuit in Area Round play from Wildcat-Ram Stadium in Richardson.
In 2018, the Lobos used a 21-point 1st quarter to control the contest from the get go in a 63-17 victory over Prosper at the Ford Center. The Lobos tallied up 504 total yards on the Eagles, while holding Proper to 219 on their own in a sold out Ford Center.

Edited November 18, 2023 by LoboFan07

[LoboFan07]

Beat LT!

Friday, at Forney.

Time TBD.

Edited November 18, 2023 by LoboFan07

[RETIREDFAN1]

Longview 

[Mr. P]

Lobos by +1. 

[JohnnyFootball]

Never easy to beat a team twice in one season. Lancaster has been playing well lately. Gonna have to show up to win this one. Their offense was the most effective vs Longview this season, if memory serves. 

Edited November 18, 2023 by JohnnyFootball

[lobo9599]

Had to come back to read this thread to see how Lancaster scored 35 on us since I missed this game. Even with speculating news, I still believe that we can win. We’ve improved since September when we are focused. Yes, I know LT has too. Defense should be a huge factor in our win next week.

[LoboFan07]

First post updated.

Lobo Up.

[LoboFan07]

Post game show with head coach John King following Longview's 52-14 win over Frisco Reedy:

https://lobohistory.com/audio/2023/friscoreedypostgame.mp3

[LoboFan07]

Just initial thoughts...

 

Our defense alone will be a big part of this. No doubt, Lancaster came out in the first game against us throwing everything they had.

I see a lot of people saying Lancaster gave us a game for a half in that first one. Reality was the first quarter was truly the only time that game was close. Longview scored 17 straight after being tied at 14 after 1.

Two of Lancaster's scores came on unreal, fluke plays...including that insane punt return and just an end of the game unreal 80+ yarder when the game was completely dead and over with.

Longview ran at will against the Tigers in the first meeting, and no doubt they're going to try and make us throw the ball more but even without Tatum, I do believe we'll believe able to move the ball on them. Be able to finish drives will once again be the biggest deal. We have to get touchdowns instead of settling for field goals.

Another positive is we won't be in freaking Lancaster this go around. No dealing with half turned on scoreboards, not having to deal with refs being pressured by LT's staff the entire dang night with these phantom personal foul calls, not having to deal with dimmed lights the entire night. The only reason that game was even as close as it was was because we were playing at Humphrey Stadium. That sounds incredibly homer of me, and probably is, but anyone that watched that game (and has seen their team play there season) has said the same.

Longview just needs to play Lobo football, and we'll be fine despite the obvious injury.

[kingwolf]

I think Longview wins this game but it will not be easy. I think a healthy Lacy gives us fits. Maybe more like the 2021 game. 

[Mr. P]

• Longview ISD has requested a student-run broadcast from the UIL, and we expect to hear back in the next couple days (just like last week).
• We've already reached out to the ISD's administrative staff directly requesting a space for our students and equipment (just like last week).

Concerning last week's game, I'll just say this: there was plenty of space in that pressbox. Plenty. Of. Space. 

Lobo Stadium's pressbox is nowhere near as big, and I would never have forced visiting students to work in the conditions ours were. To be quite blunt it almost didn't happen. But our kids refused to give in. They deserve 100 percent credit and appreciation for making that broadcast happen, despite some grownups letting them down. 

 

Lobos.

[JohnnyFootball]

I concur- Lobos. 

[lobo9599]

Let’s go Lobos!!! 

[Quick]

3 hours ago, Mr. P said:

• Longview ISD has requested a student-run broadcast from the UIL, and we expect to hear back in the next couple days (just like last week).
• We've already reached out to the ISD's administrative staff directly requesting a space for our students and equipment (just like last week).

Concerning last week's game, I'll just say this: there was plenty of space in that pressbox. Plenty. Of. Space. 

Lobo Stadium's pressbox is nowhere near as big, and I would never have forced visiting students to work in the conditions ours were. To be quite blunt it almost didn't happen. But our kids refused to give in. They deserve 100 percent credit and appreciation for making that broadcast happen, despite some grownups letting them down. 

 

Lobos.

Well your boi @MattStepp said differently…… I appreciate his work over the years but, I’m with you 100% on this. To ME, it seemed personal and I’ve stated my reason already behind that and I don’t believe it’s too far fetched to believe otherwise.

[MattStepp]

4 hours ago, Quick said:

Well your boi @MattStepp said differently…… I appreciate his work over the years but, I’m with you 100% on this. To ME, it seemed personal and I’ve stated my reason already behind that and I don’t believe it’s too far fetched to believe otherwise.

I wasn't in Mesquite so I have no idea what the situation was in the pressbox (and I stated that multiple times) I was only guessing on what I know about the box there and the number of outlets there.

If Mr. P said there was space there was space and I could not yell you why Mesquite ISD decided to not grant access to the Longview ISD student broadcast (which was very good BTW)

[Mr. P]

5 hours ago, Quick said:

Well your boi @MattStepp said differently…… I appreciate his work over the years but, I’m with you 100% on this. To ME, it seemed personal and I’ve stated my reason already behind that and I don’t believe it’s too far fetched to believe otherwise.

Whether or not it's personal, I am certain Stepp had nothing to do with it. 

I am hopeful it was just a misunderstanding from the district side of things, and will not happen again. 

[MattStepp]

2 minutes ago, Mr. P said:

Whether or not it's personal, I am certain Stepp had nothing to do with it. 

I am hopeful it was just a misunderstanding from the district side of things, and will not happen again. 

I put the call in from Pittsburg and said "Dont let those pesky kids from Longview in your pristine pressbox"  lol

[Mr. P]

1 minute ago, MattStepp said:

I put the call in from Pittsburg and said "Dont let those pesky kids from Longview in your pristine pressbox"  lol

I heard it was Tepper meeting with Woodward and Bernstein in a parking garage. 

[Lobohooperstarter07]

Let’s be logical here, do y’all really think Lancaster wins this game even without Tatum, our running backs were havin their way the entire second half, what I’m worried about is the qb gettin a huge hit laid on him, I really hope our backup qb has been gettin quality reps and is ready

[Mr. P]

I think anything can happen in #txhsfb and Lancaster matches up well with Longview. 

Longview plays clean, we win big. The Frisco-Reedy game proved that. Penalties were minimal, and we moved the ball at will. Need more of that. 

But Lancaster has big play capabilities that Reedy did not. They'll keep coming until the final whistle.

Longview needs to control the ball, control the clock. Keep Lancaster off the field. 

[Lobos57]

Go lobos 

[Lobos57]

Do you think they’re selling tickets at the gate?

[kingwolf]

47 minutes ago, Mr. P said:

I think anything can happen in #txhsfb and Lancaster matches up well with Longview. 

Longview plays clean, we win big. The Frisco-Reedy game proved that. Penalties were minimal, and we moved the ball at will. Need more of that. 

But Lancaster has big play capabilities that Reedy did not. They'll keep coming until the final whistle.

Longview needs to control the ball, control the clock. Keep Lancaster off the field. 

All of this...we play our game, we win.

[Quick]

12 hours ago, MattStepp said:

I put the call in from Pittsburg and said "Dont let those pesky kids from Longview in your pristine pressbox"  lol

I never even remotely said it was you, Stepp. I clearly emphasized that (I BELIEVE) as senile as it may seem that the powers that be in Mesquite I.S.D. basically abused the little power/authority that they had as a leverage tool to get back at Longview High for us continuously beating the brakes off of them year in and year out.
 

It’s a jealously/envious type of move and they didn’t care who or how it affected said entities. When we rolled our azzes up to Mesquite Memorial Stadium with Lobos on our chest, the fix was already in to take out their frustrations on our personnel and them affecting our students and making them sit in the rain was a pure “female dog” move and I can tell you that they were content with what they done and it was most definitely personal. No one can convince me otherwise.

Edited November 21, 2023 by Quick

[LoboFan07]

Full box score of Longview's 52-14 win over Frisco Reedy:

https://www.lobohistory.com/blog/2023/week13boxscore.html