No. 8 Longview Lobos vs. Tyler High Lions (2-6, 2-3)  

When/Where: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Field/Stadium: Earl Campbell Field at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium (609 Fair Park Drive, Tyler, Texas 75701)

Records: Longview Lobos (6-2, 3-1), Tyler Lions (2-6, 2-3)

Coaches: John King, Longview; Ricklan Holmes, Tyler

Radio: The Team 92.1-FM, Tyler-Longview (Manny Almanza, Reginald Coleman); 

TV: KTPN Channel 9

Streaming: KETK.com

Last Week: Longview 55, McKinney North 10; Sherman 30, Tyler 9

Up Next: Longview bi-district, Tyler season complete

When Lions have the ball:

Tyler: QB Eli Sanchez (59 of 116, 727 yards passing, 3 TDs, 6 INT; 26-14 rushing) … RB Derrick McFall (48-281, TD)… C LeTavion Erwin … LG Cornelius Hartsfield … RG Sergio Munoz … LT Avery Coleman … RT Ashton Williams … A-Rec Tacorey Gilliam (12-127, TD) … X-Rec Jakyron Lacy (11-141, TD) … Y-Rec Makavion Potts (42-591 yards, 1 TD) …  Z-Rec Montrell Wade (22-470, 4 TDs) … K Kendell Howard (17 for 18 PATs, 4 for 8 FG)/Saul Perez (1 for 1 PATS, 2 for 3 FG)

When the Lobos have the ball:

… BE Ashton Williams (20 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 hurries)  … NG LaTravion Hawkins (28 tackles, ½ sack, 5 hurries) … RE Preston Johnson (27 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 caused fumble, 1 hurry) … Lion Alijah Johnson (37 tackles, 4 TFL, 3 hurries, 1 sack, 1 caused fumble) … WLB Tory Howland (24 tackles, 1 hurry) … MLB Jacob Villela (34 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 interception, 2 caused fumbles, 1 hurry) … SLB Jacques Jones (7 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 1 PD, 1 fumble recovery) … CB Zachaun Williams (14 tackles, 5 PD) … SS Xavier Tatum (48 tackles, 13 PD, 2 FR, 1 sack) … FS Travion Ates (91 tackles, 5 TFL, 4 interceptions, 9 PD, 1 hurry, 1 FR) … CB Keelan Erwin (32 tackles, 1 TFL, 8 PD, 1 CF) … P Howard (20-36.7) … 

Quick hits: This is a District 7-5A Division I game. ….  This will be the 97th meeting between the two rivals with Longview holding a 50-39-7 advantage according to Lobohistory.com. According to Joe Lee Smith’s TexasHighSchoolFootballHistory.com, the Lobos lead 49-40-7. … The Lobos have won three straight against the Lions, including last year’s 42-0 victory in Tyler. The Lions last won 38-24 in 2016 in Longview. The teams met twice in 1912 with the Lobos winning the first meeting 13-7 and the Lions taking round two, 45-7. … The Lobos have beaten the Lions eight straight at CTMF Rose Stadium. … The football numbers are down in the Tyler program and Lions coach Ricklan Holmes addressed the problem. … Although the school enrollment slots Tyler in Class 5A Division I, football player numbers are down that have hurt the Lions’ depth. … “The process that we started this year will help us in coming years to stay traditionally strong with low football numbers,” Holmes said. “Not having a full offseason or spring football, hurt our normal development process to get ready for the season. With COVID-19 hopefully coming to an end soon (Keep Praying) … we will get back to some normal way of life and use offseason, track season, spring football, and summer training to make sure 2021 Season will not be a repeat of 2020 Season.” … Holmes also said Tyler may just field junior varsity and varsity teams in the future, “because of the declining number of incoming freshman football players and us having to play underclassmen on varsity for depth … to continue the process of having a number of experienced players to return every year to varsity. This process will help us stay competitive and develop our players for a successful high school career.” …  For 2021, the Lions will have 32 players with varsity experience. … The current roster has four freshmen, 14 sophomores, 14 juniors and 14 seniors.

Did you know?:  It will be Senior Night on Friday. The Lions will honor Ken’Yontae Pinkard, Jacques Jones, Travion Ates, Keelan Erwin, Alijah Johnson, Kameron Medlock, Qudarium McMiller, LeTavion Erwin, Mitchell Elder, Preston Johnson, Daylon Myles, Ashton Williams, Deairyan Hampton and LaTravion Hawkins. … The Lions will miss the playoffs for the second time under the nine-year tenure of Holmes, who has led the Lions to four district championships. … According to TexasFootball.com/PigskinPrep.com the Lobos are 32-point favorites over the Lions.