Tonight the 2009 State Championship Finalists will be honored at halftime.
Truth be told, there wasn’t a bad taste in my mouth from 2008. I honestly believed that that state game would've shifted dramatically if we’ve had Tyler or Carey for four quarters. Truth be told I was over confident going into my second year starting. I mean why wouldn’t I be? We had our top receiver from 08 back, our top 3 rushers, and the magician himself playing QB1. Defensively we were returning like 8 starters, I mean we’re gonna coast through this thing easily right?
Allen 28-25
Tyler McCray |
I can remember feeling like I was in the best shape of my life. I was 235, heavier than I had ever been, I just knew we were gonna avenge last year's loss, but Allen had other plans. Down 17-0 at halftime thanks to two touchdowns by TCU signee Matt Brown, I thought we were about to implode. Instead it was an explosion. Sparked by a huge throw and catch from Aaron Johnson to Carey Fortson. We drove down the field and scored on a 23 yard reverse by Carey Fortson to cut it to a 10 point game. After a defensive stop, the offense drove down the field again, this time DaCedric Hunt punching it in from 4 yards out. The ensuing kickoff, Damian Jones recovered a fumble, and Tyler McCray pulled off one of the most electrifying moves I've ever seen. He received an off tackle hand off to the right, got through the hole, stopped, pivoted on his left and went back right. Meanwhile the 5A Defensive Player of the year contender, Melvin Spears ran slap into his teammate and Tyler scooted 21 yards for the go ahead score. Aaron finished the scoring off in the 4th on a great play action keeper, (sprung by a block from some guy snapping the ball) and we pulled off one of the best comebacks in school history.
Lufkin 14-28
After a couple of dominant victories against Tyler Lee and Natchitoches Central, we knew we were going to be tested against a great Lufkin Panther football team. They were fast, physical and ferocious on film, and on top of it being a Longview/Lufkin game, this game meant something more to them after a 3 OT win against them last year.
Side Bar...........
I was beyond ready to play this game, but my body wasn't. I was sick as a dog that day, and I just knew if my mother saw me before school she wouldn't let me play. So what do I do? I left the house at 6:30 before she was awake, if she were to call I would tell her I need to watch film. Fast forward the story, we're at Abe and I can't utter a word. My throat was swollen that it hurt to even mutter a word. I was so ready to play though. I was "Captain Crunk" when playing, mainly for celebrating plays and talk Cash Money Shit while on the field. Captain Crunk was sedated before that game. So emotionally wound up all I could do was cry moments before kickoff. My job was to make the calls, and when you care and can't talk, you get hella creative to communicate with your guys.
Back to the Story...........
We got our teeth kicked in that night. Don't really have any other way to put it. The game was tied 7-7 after the first quarter, but that's about the most positive thing that happened that day. Lufkin was tougher than us that night and worked us on both sides to a 28-14 loss for us.
Sulphur Springs 45-0
After struggling with Texas High the week before, we had something to prove. On top of that Sulphur Springs gave us a little motivation during the week. I'll never forget, Senior tackle Beau Carpenter got on KLTV and talked about just how confident they were about going into the week. "They may have won the game last year but we were the state champs." Boy if you don't getcha weak ass 4A Division 2 Title. We all saw that and made it our mission to blow these dudes out. Junior Dakota Anthony rushed for 112 yards that night and Keylon Shaw added another 82. Rayshone McGee debuted the "Money Package" that featured Aaron Johnson playing the slot receiver with, Carey Fortson and Pete Robertson out wide.
Drama
Alonte' Darden |
This game was infused with drama off the field as well. Due to some extra curricular activity in the classroom Tyler McCray and Da'Cedric Hunt we're suspended for the first half. By the time the second half came around we didn't even need them. Up 45-0 in the fourth King wanted his defensive starters out. Defensive coordinator John Berry, felt differently and the two had a heated exchange. Berry threw his headset down, walked up the tunnel and drove like a bat outta hell from the campus. Talk about chaos, we were all confused, players chose sides and it was insane. Casey Pearce and Mark Peters split the job of defensive coordinator and the defense pulled off a shut out against Mount Pleasant a week later.
Marshall 47-30
Jeremiah Farley and Chris Weaver |
This game felt like it was on to another blowout/shutout after the first quarter score of 14-0, but the weaklings from the East put up a fight. After 22 point second quarter, I thought we were about to implode again. Guys were about to fight at halftime, it seemed like we were losing our minds. Families fight, but crazy thing about it, you typically come out closer afterwards. The defense forced 5 turnovers in the first 12 minutes of the second half, and we pulled away 47-30, the only Maverick score coming late in the 4th.
Pine Tree 56-7
Aaron Johnson |
Nothing to really say here, just want Mark to know we killed him his senior year, but he did have a 42 yard score against us in the 3rd.
Whitehouse 52-7
The first home playoff game I can ever remember for Longview and we had to face one of the best receivers in the nation out there. Trey Metoyer jumped on us early, catching the first pass of the game and going to the house 69 yards. We kinda sat on the bench and looked at each other like "ohhhh sh*t," but we bounced back and finished the Wildcats 52-7.
Waco Midway 14-13
Carey Forston
By the skin of our teeth, the hairs of our chiny chin chin. Midway defensively came out and gave it to us. We scored early in the first quarter on a 5 yard run from Tyler McCray, and Joe Brown housed a fumble return from 52 yards out, and that was all of the scoring for us. Ahmad Dixon, Baylor product, was out to ruin our lives. He was hella aggressive making blockers and ball carriers alike feel him every time he hit us. In ironic of all ironic ways, Midway found themselves down by one with less than a minute remaining after Dixon scored a 14 yard touchdown. A 50 weeks prior to this game, Aaron Johnson stretched his arm out across the line to score the most-dramatic points in school history. So what did Midway decide to do? They went for two, only for Darren Brown to destroy the fullback, and Diop Johnson and company came rushing in to finish the play. Thanks guys.
Waxahacie 50-26
Addison McGee |
After a close win over Carrolton Newman-Smith, we were back in Kincaide on one of the coldest nights of my life. We played just like the weather to start the game off. Defensively we could tackle, offensively we had no consistency. Before you knew it we were down 7-20. Addison McGee came up huge with the play of the game, coming up and delivering a huge blow to the legs of Jamison Stearns, knocking him out for the game. We outscored the Indians 50-6 after that play by McGee.
Denton Guyer 49-28
Bubba Vactor |
The most dominating performance in a game we've seen from Longview on the ground. 492 yards in the 15th ball game of the season, against a defense with 4 D1 Players. Aaron Johnson ran for 153 yards, DaCedric Hunt 142, and Tyler McCray 125, his last yards coming where he reinjured his ankle on a 38 yard touchdown run. Bubba Vactor was dominant on the defensive line, racking up sacks, Addison McGee had an interception, Alonte' Darden forced a fumble that Jeremiah Farley recovered. It was just a great night to be a Lobo.
Lake Travis 17-24
There wasn't much anyone needed to say to us. 52 weeks ago this team embarrassed us in the same site we were playing in in 2009. TBH here's the things I remember the most from that night.
1. Blown Opportunities.
We didn't communicate and gave up an easy touchdown to start the game off. We dropped easy passes, that could've went for big yards. We missed blocks that would've sprung big time runners. We played hard, but we didn't execute.
2. What really happened with Tyler?
Tyler had one carry, that seemed like he got 8 or 9 yards on the play. He got into it with one of the players who twisted his ankle on the tackle, and I don't know if he looked bad on the run (I was blocking), or if King didn't trust him. The world may never know.....
3. Ping's Interception
LaDarius Brooks made the play of the year, going up and fully extending and coming down in bounds to secure an interception. It was sick!
4. Colin Miller's comments afterwards.
Colin told me to go back to state the next year and do what we couldn't. I laughed in his face and said, "hell naw we ain't gotta chance."
That was a special class of seniors, guys I loved dearly, and some of the greatest days of my life were
spent on the field with those young men.
Go Lobos!
Beat Rockwall!
Give em Hell!
Offensive MVP: Aaron Johnson
Defensive MVP: Bubba Vactor
Offensive Team Captain: Aaron Johnson, Bryce Redman
Defensive Team Captain: Bubba Vactor, Addison McGee
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