Ruston knocks off Longview
The last time the Longview Lobos lost back-to-back games at home was 24 years ago. Ruston was one of those losses.
History repeated itself Friday night as the Bearcats two-stepped past the Lobos 21-10 to extend their winning streak to 17 games — the longest in the state.
“I got to thinking, I don’t remember a time when Longview lost two ballgames in a row. I knew they would be ready to play. We were inconsistent at times and have to clean some things up,” Ruston head coach Jerrod Baugh said postgame in a radio interview.
Baugh wanted to challenge his defending state champions by taking him across the state line for a little big boy Texas football. It was the Bearcats that came away playing big in the second half, pitching a shutout on defense and doing just enough ball control offense to run the Lobos off their own field.
It looked as though Ruston would come out and dominate in the first quarter, taking the opening possession 74 yards in 9 plays to take a 7-0 lead on a 19-yard TD strike from Josh Brantley to Ahmad Hudson.
From that point, though, Longview (2-2) tightened its chin straps and began to apply pressure to Ruston’s offense and it became a battle through the first half. The Lobos grabbed the lead at halftime with a 25 yard field goal with no time left to lead 10-7 at the break.
“We felt good about what we were doing but we needed to execute better,” Baugh said. “Line up and be where we’re supposed to be and make plays. We did in the second half.”
Defensively that’s exactly what the Bearcats (3-0) were able to do. Longview crossed midfield only twice in the second half — one being the final drive of the night.
Ruston’s adjustments shut down a Longview rushing attack that amassed more than 100 yards in the first half, but struggled to gain any momentum after halftime.
Meanwhile on offense, the Jet was ignited and the offensive line began to control the line of scrimmage. Early in the third quarter, Longview was forced to punt and Ruston took over on its own 34 yard line. On the third play from scrimmage, Jordan “Jet” Hayes broke two tackles and sprinted 59 yards to pay dirt to regain the lead 14-10 with 7:27 remaining in the third.
For the rest of the third and into the fourth quarter, neither offense could get much going in a stalemate that was fine with the Bearcats holding a four-point lead.
Longview put together its best drive of the second half and marched 50 yards from its one yard line to the Ruston 49 but turned it over on downs when Kelvin “Boosie” Washington was held to one yard by Zheric Hill on fourth down to give the ball back to the Cats.
Ruston put together its patented game-sealing drive. Methodically using fullback Lander Smith on the dive and Brantley on designed quarterback runs, the offense moved down to the Longview 33. On third down, Brantley’s cadence caused the Lobos to jump and gave Ruston a free play. Brantley connected with Joran Parker for 25 yards to the Longview six yard line.
Three plays later, Brantley dove in from the one yard line and Ruston led 21-10 with 2:41 left in the ballgame. Longview had one last gasp but it ended on fourth down when Kaleb Williams sacked Maverick Rowe for a 9-yard loss. Ruston ran out the clock in victory formation to remain unbeaten.
For Baugh, who returned to where he coached for a decade in the early 2000s, it was a solid win.
“It is nice. Had a chance to visit with those guys (Longview coaching staff) before the ballgame,” he said. “If you’re going to lose, you’d like to lose to friends. Never good to lose, but they feel that way.”
Hayes led the way for Ruston with 98 yards on 10 carries and a TD, while Brantley added 63 yards on 18 carries and a score. Altogether, the Cats rushed for 220 yards while Brantley completed 5-of-7 passes for 53 yards and a touchdown.
Hill led the defense with 10 tackles Keilan Davis added 6 tackles, and 2 tackles for loss. Jayden Anding picked off Rowe twice in the first half for the first two interceptions of his young career. Williams had 5 tackles, 2 tackles for loss and a sack.
Ruston will go right back to Texas next Saturday with a special game in Arlington at Choctaw Stadium against Midland Legacy, for the second of three straight in the Lone Star State.
