2024 WEEK 1 GAME OF THE WEEK: Longview at Lufkin

Published 5:37 pm Thursday, August 29, 2024

Time: 7:30 p.m. Friday 

Stadium: Abe Martin Stadium, 309 South Medford Drive, Lufkin 75901 

Coaches: Longview: John King Lufkin: Todd Quick 

WHEN LONGVIEW HAS THE BALL 

Players to watch 

Longview: Kelvin Washington (737 rushing yards, 368 receiving yards, 13 rushing touchdowns, and four receiving touchdowns in 2023) … Maverick Rowe (315 yards and one passing touchdown) … Buster Mumphrey (180 yards and three rushing touchdowns) … Da’Morrion Williams … Bryant Williams … Fernando Longoria … Jayden Jackson … Jamorion George … Cedric Wrighten … … Johnny “Tre” Hamilton 

Lufkin: Kaden Hooper (106 tackles, six quarterback pressures, five tackles for loss, two pass breakups, one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one knockdown in 2023) … Mike Mosley (58 tackles and four pass breakups) … Zion Williams (35 tackles, five tackles for loss, and three sacks) … Evan Young (30 tackles and 10 pass breakups) … Elijah Alexander (29 tackles, four tackles for loss, three quarterback pressures, one sack, one forced fumble and one knockdown) … Desmond Hood … Keshawn Waters … Kenneth Timmons 

Keys: Longview is expected to introduce a new starting quarterback during the 2024 season opener, and Maverick Rowe and Johnny “Tre” Hamilton have both emerged as quality contenders for the job. Whoever is ultimately chosen needs to be placed in a comfortable position early on to succeed. That’s where offensive linemen Fernando Longoria, Jayden Jackson, Jamorion George, Cedric Wrighten and Eddie McMillion come in. They need to block enough, so the director of the offense has enough time to hand off to running backs Kelvin Washington and Buster Mumphrey and connect with downfield targets Da’Morrion Williams and Bryant Williams. Lufkin understands its best chance in the game is a strong defensive effort, so it needs Kaden Hooper, Mike Mosley, Zion Williams, Evan Young, and Elijah Alexander to slow down Longview. 

WHEN LUFKIN HAS THE BALL 

Lufkin: Krisean Preston (28 receptions, 515 yards, and seven touchdowns in 2023) … Nolan Hansard (made seven of nine field goal attempts and 28 of 33 extra point attempts) … Gavin Phillips … Javion Johnson … DeMarkus Chinn 

Longview: Kason Brooks (77 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and three sacks in 2023) … Brenden Reese (64 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks, and two forced fumbles) … Isaiah Horton (46 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and six sacks) … Krystin Williams (18 tackles) … Darryl Dolly (10 tackles, four tackles for loss, and two sacks) … Jamayis Morrow … Bryan Peoples … Robert White 

Keys: Longview’s defense recognizes that Lufkin’s offense doesn’t have the amount of weapons that it’s had in the past, so it plans to pressure them from different spots. The Lobos graduated many key defensive players from the juggernaut 2023 class, but they still have enough experienced players in linebackers Kason Brooks and Brenden Reese, linemen Isaiah Horton, Krystin Williams and Darryl Dolly, and fellow defensive standouts Jamayis Morrow and Bryan Peoples to slow down Lufkin’s remaining offensive threats in receiver Krisean Preston and running back Gavin Phillips. 

Did you know: Longview will face longtime rival Lufkin for the 87th time … The Lobos own a 45-37-4 series advantage against Lufkin since Oct. 21, 1932 … This is Longview’s third-oldest football rivalry behind Marshall (113 meetings) and Tyler (100), and Lufkin’s second-oldest series behind Nacogdoches (105 meetings) … The programs have matched up in all but four football seasons (1950, 1957, 2005 and 2021) since 1947 … Longview is 7-0 in the series since the 2017 season opener and has won 10 of the 11 meetings since the 2014 Class 5A Division I bi-district playoff round … The Lobos still expect a challenge because they’re 20-20-1 all-time against the Panthers in Lufkin. 

Up next: Longview at Marshall; Nacogdoches at Lufkin