Longview’s Kelvin Washington picks up yardage against Rockwall-Heath last week in Rockwall. (Les Hassell/Longview News-Journal)

North Forney (6-2, 4-0) vs. Longview (6-2, 4-0)

Time: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Stadium: Lobo Stadium, 3012 Airline Road, Longview, 75605

Coaches:

Longview: John King

North Forney: Marcus Shavers

WHEN LONGVIEW HAS THE BALL

Players to Watch

Longview: Kelvin Washington (1,347 rushing yards, 249 receiving yards, 18 rushing touchdowns, and five rushing touchdowns) … Maverick Rowe (890 passing yards, 156 rushing yards, 12 passing touchdowns, and two rushing touchdowns) … Buster Mumphrey (278 rushing yards and six receiving yards) … Mason Washington (198 rushing yards and 23 receiving yards) … Da’Morrion Williams (202 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns) … Jaden Hurndon (142 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown) … Javarion Pereira (91 rushing yards) … Jace Peterson (82 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown) … De’Je’Un Owens (79 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown) … Kieffer Doxey (62 receiving yards and one rushing yard)

North Forney: Caleb Holt (68 tackles, three tackles for loss, two interceptions, two pass deflections, and one forced fumble) … Jackson Van Otten (65 tackles, 10 and a half tackles for loss, four quarterback hurries, one sack, one pass deflection, and one fumble recovery) … Slaten Starrett (60 tackles, six and a half tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries, one sack, one interception, one pass deflection, and one forced fumble) … Deundra Putilla (40 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, eight quarterback hurries, and six sacks) … Josiah Turner (39 tackles, two tackles for loss, and two pass deflections) … J’ynv Williams (35 tackles, seven tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries, and two sacks) … Ryan Gilbert (31 tackles, three tackles for loss, and three pass deflections) … Gianni Edwards (31 tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception, and one pass deflection) … Chase Adkins (24 tackles, and two tackles for loss) … Matthew Garcia (23 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, and one quarterback hurry)

Keys: Two stats indicate that Longview has the necessary confidence for a critical late season District 10-6A matchup with North Forney this week, so the Lobos can pull off a third straight district championship (7-5A Division I in 2022 and 2023). The Lobos are 4-1 when they score at least 38 points in a game this season, and are 2-1 in games decided by one possession in 2024. Their offensive unit needs more strong play from quarterback Maverick Rowe, rushing and receiving threats Kelvin Washington, Buster Mumphrey, Mason Washington and Kieffer Doxey, receivers Da’Morrion Williams, Jaden Hurndon, Jace Peterson and De’Je’Un Owens, and runner Javarion Pereira to outlast a formidable North Forney defense that limited seven of the season’s first eight opponents to 34 points or less, and has played a critical role in the team’s 2-0 record in one-possession games this year. The Falcons will send a defensive force that includes Caleb Holt, Jackson Van Otten, Slaten Starrett, Deundra Putilla, Josiah Turner, Johnni Williams, Ryan Gilbert, Gianni Edwards, Chase Adkins and Matthew Garcia.

WHEN NORTH FORNEY HAS THE BALL

Players to Watch

North Forney: Legend Bey (1,472 rushing yards, 831 passing yards, 23 rushing touchdowns, and four passing touchdowns) … Andikan Asuquo (647 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns) … Kellen Sanders (591 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns) … Elijah Otieno (493 receiving yards, 38 rushing yards, four receiving touchdowns, and one rushing touchdown) … Nathan McCoy (228 receiving yards) … Briceson Thrower (107 receiving yards) … Michael Douglas (102 passing yards) … Aayden Minger (102 receiving yards) … Cordai Woodard (72 rushing yards, one receiving yard, and one rushing touchdown) … Armani Holt (43 rushing yards)

Longview: Kason Brooks (94 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, five sacks, two pass breakups, two defensive touchdowns, one interception, and one fumble recovery) … Jamayis Morrow (75 tackles, two forced fumbles, one pass breakup, and one fumble recovery) … Brenden Reese (69 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, four sacks, two pass breakups, one interception, and one forced fumble) … Bryan Peoples (57 tackles, three pass breakups, two tackles for loss, one interception, and one forced fumble) … Isaiah Horton (55 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and eight sacks) … Da’Kayden Carter (35 tackles, three pass breakups, two interceptions, and one forced fumble) … Jessier Hampton-Williams (34 tackles, three tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one pass breakup, and one defensive touchdown) … Bradley Williams (31 tackles, three pass breakups, one interception, and one fumble recovery) … Robert White (30 tackles, four pass breakups, and one tackle for loss) … Jailynn Taylor (19 tackles, two pass breakups, and one interception)

Keys: North Forney has heated up since its active six-game win streak began on Sept. 13, and will need another productive offensive outing to continue its success rate. The Falcons were limited to 14 points per game when they lost their first two games in 2024, but they have rolled to 44.2 points per game during their last six outings. Their offensive crew needs Legend Bey, Andikan Asuquo, Kellen Sanders, Elijah Otieno, Nathan McCoy, Briceson Thrower, Michael Douglas, Aayden Minger, Cordai Woodard and Armani Holt to keep making plays and challenge a tough Longview defense. The Lobos, meanwhile, started their current four-game win streak by allowing 34 points to Rockwall on Oct. 4, but they have only allowed a combined 44 opponent points between the last three outings. They expect Kason Brooks, Jamayis Morrow, Brenden Reese, Bryan Peoples, Isaiah Horton, Da’Kayden Carter, Jessier Hampton-Williams, Bradley Williams, Robert White and Jailynn Taylor to shut down the competition.

Did You Know: Longview will meet North Forney on the gridiron for the first time … The Lobos are 3-0 all-time against Forney ISD competition because they defeated Forney High School during the 2022, 2023 and 2024 seasons … Friday’s victor between Longview and North Forney will be the frontrunner for the 2024 District 10-6A title with a week to play in the regular season … The Lobos and Falcons are the final two undefeated teams in league play this year … Rockwall (3-1) trails both teams by a game in the district standings … Longview owns the head-to-head tiebreaker with Rockwall after a 63-34 home win at Lobo Stadium on Oct. 4, while North Forney still has to host the Yellowjackets at Better Life Stadium on Nov. 8.

Last Week: Longview 20, Rockwall-Heath 15; North Forney 62, Royse City 23

Up Next: Longview at Royse City (Nov. 8); Rockwall at North Forney (Nov. 8)