High School Sports

By CHRIS PARRY
Staff Writer

LONGVIEW -- Robert E. Lee can expect more of the same.

No, this isn't a Democrat political ad, but it does represent what Lee will face from this point forward.

After manhandling a balanced four-man defensive front for two quarters last week, Lufkin stacked the line with five guys and put seven and eight guys in the box.

This forced Lee to pass, and the result was the Red Raiders being shutout and managing three first downs in the third and fourth quarters to lose 26-21.

"When they are putting seven guys (in the box) and are only covering with four and we have three wide receivers, we should be able to throw the football," said Lee head coach Mike Owens. "We weren't able to get that done. If we can't get that done, we are going to be in for a long year."

Owens believes Lee's next opponent, Longview, will adapt a similar strategy.

"It wouldn't surprise me at all, and they play that anyway," Owens said. "We expect it, and naturally, we're working on it."

The Red Raiders (0-1) face the Lobos (0-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Lobo Stadium as REL tries to snap a five-game losing streak to its area rival.

Both Lee and Longview, ranked No. 9 in Class 4A, were blanked in the second half of losses last week. Longview was tied 7-7 with No. 6 Allen before being dumped, 21-0.

Lee quarterback Luke Wagner completed 9 of 21 passes, most of his incompletions coming in the second half, for 88 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, Lee junior tailback Da Da Brown rushed for 94 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, the Red Raiders limited Lufkin to 68 yards rushing. The majority of those came from quarterback Jeffrey Claybon, who also threw for 251 yards.

Owens believes Longview junior quarterback Aaron Johnson is comparable to Claybon. The Lobos signal caller passed for 115 yards and rushed for 64 yards last week.

"The quarterback is great; he was a wide receiver for them last year," Owens said of Johnson. "He kills people with his feet and he can throw the ball."

In the backfield, Tyler McCray carried 13 times for 110 yards with fullback Jonathan Oliver complimenting with 10 carries for 49 yards. All told in a losing effort, Longview rushed for 242 yards.

Lee gave up two long third-quarter touchdown passes last Friday. The first went for 69 yards and the second for 37. The Red Raiders also were unable to prevent Lufkin from converting a fourth and 10, which led to the Panthers' third touchdown.

Prior to this, Lee had a first-and goal at the Lufkin 10, but couldn't score and missed a 27-yard field goal.

Owens said the offense and defense share equal blame in the second-half turnaround.

"In the second half, we gave up two big touchdowns," Owens said. "But offensively, we're three and out, and you can't go three and out on Lufkin.

"You have to burn some clock and do some things � we're down inside the 10 and come away with nothing. You're not going to beat Lufkin or Longview or anyone like that."

Lee senior fullback Chase Wiley, who rejoined the team after playing baseball his sophomore and junior year, averaged almost nine yards per carry and scored two touchdowns in his varsity debut.

What does he have in store for game 2?

"A win, hopefully, that is how I follow that up," Wiley said.

Probable Starting Lineups

OFFENSE

ROBERT E. LEE (Multiple)

-- QB-9 Luke Wagner (6-2, 186, Jr.), FB-28 Chase Wiley (5-9, 165, Sr.), TB-1 Da Da Brown (5-8, 163, Jr.), WR-19 Joe Turner (6-1, 180, Sr.), WR-15 Derell Tate (5-11, 165, Sr.), LT-73 Derrick Dunn (6-2, 280, Jr.), LG-64 Nathan Yost (6-1, 200, Sr.), C-56 Hunter Hogan (6-2, 295, Sr.), LG-60 Brandt Martin (5-9, 215, Sr.), LT-72 Thomas Lacey (6-2, 285, Jr.), TE-12 Doug Franklin (6-2, 220, Sr.), WR-15 Derell Tate (5-11, 165, Sr.).

LONGVIEW (Multiple) -- QB-10 Aaron Johnson (6-0, 170, Jr.), FB-6 Jonathan Oliver (5-11, 170, Sr.), RB-7 Tyler McCray (5-10, 170, Jr.), WR-2 Aaron Hollins (5-9, 160, Sr.), LT-73 Tevin Ratliff (5-10, 235, Jr.), LG-56 Bryce Redman (6-2, 260, Jr.), C-55 Spencer Borens (5-11, 230, So.), RG-Vinny Portley (6-3, 270, Sr.), RT-66 Jazz Reeves (6-3,265, Sr.), TE-19 Cody Taylor (6-2, 220, Sr.), WR-Carey Fortson (6-1, 175, Jr.).

DEFENSE

ROBERT E. LEE (3-4)

DE-45 Simmon Blaylock (6-3, 195, Sr.), NT-56 Hunter Hogan (6-2, 295, Sr.), DE-43 Reggie Taylor (6-1, 217, Sr.), OLB-31 Hunter Glaske (6-2, 200, Sr.), MLB-42 Matt Monigold (6-0, 190, Sr.), OLB-33 Blake Roberts (6-3, 210, Jr.), Rover-8 Junior Cain (5-9, 180, Sr.), SS-38 Jordan Aubrey (5-11, 180, Sr.), CB-5 Trey Smith (5-11, 178, Sr.), CB-37 Josh Aubrey (5-11, 180, Sr.), FS-4 Chris Dinkins (6-0, 191, Sr.).

LONGVIEW (4-3) DE-45 Britton Eastburn (6-0, 250, So.), DT-92 Bubba Vactor (6-0, 225, Jr.), DT-Chris Knighton (6-3, 230, Sr.), DE-49 Jeremiah Farley (6-2, 255, Jr.), MLB-46 Conard Cooks (5-10, 185, Sr.), OLB-8 LaMarcus Howard (5-11, 170, Sr.), OLB-47 Chris Weaver (5-10, Jr., 180), SS-27 Jovorius Brown (6-0, 175, So.), CB-12 Addison McGee (5-9, 165, Jr.), CB-22 Joseph Patillo (5-10, 170, Sr.), FS-4 Alonte Darden (6-0, 175, Jr.).

SPECIAL TEAMS

ROBERT E. LEE

-- DS-54 Jimmy Landes (So.), K-34 Judson Hinsley (5-8, 180, Sr.), P-32 Brady Jones (6-0, 168, Jr.), KR-15 Derell Tate (5-11, 165, Jr.), KR-1 Da Da Brown (5-8, 163, Jr.), PR-15 Derell Tate.

LONGVIEW -- K-99 Will McWhorter, P-10 Aaron Johnson (6-0, 170, Jr.), KR-9 Montorio Harris, KR-12 Addison McGee, PR-8 Lamarcus Howard.