Longview’s Kelvin Washington fights off a tackle during a Nov. 15 game against Garland Naaman Forest in Longview. (Les Hassell/Longview News-Journal Photo)

Longview (11-2) vs. DeSoto (11-2)

Time: 3 p.m. Saturday

Stadium: McLane Stadium, 1001 South Martin Luther King Boulevard, Waco, 76704

Coaches: Longview: John King; DeSoto: Claude Mathis

WHEN LONGVIEW HAS THE BALL

Players to Watch

Longview: Kelvin Washington (2,136 rushing yards, 410 receiving yards, 28 rushing touchdowns, and six receiving touchdowns) … Maverick Rowe (1,020 passing yards, 223 rushing yards, 13 passing touchdowns, and two rushing touchdowns) … Buster Mumphrey (429 rushing yards, 80 receiving yards, two rushing touchdowns, and one receiving touchdown) … Johnny Hamilton (380 passing yards, 52 rushing yards, four passing touchdowns, and one rushing touchdown) … Da’Morrion Williams (253 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns) … Mason Washington (207 rushing yards and 22 receiving yards) … Jaden Hurndon (190 receiving yards, 24 rushing yards, and one receiving touchdown) … Kieffer Doxey (154 receiving yards and one rushing yard) … Javarion Pereira (115 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown) … Jace Peterson (95 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown)

DeSoto: Keylan Abrams (77 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and two quarterback hurries) … Jace Hill-Douglas (59 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, and one forced fumble) … Sael Reyes (57 tackles, three pass deflections, two tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble) … Jackson Curry (55 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, and one pass deflection) … Caleb Holmes (49 tackles, six pass deflections, one tackle for loss, one interception, and one blocked punt) … Marshall Kirven (44 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, four quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one interception) … Ryan Pelly (42 tackles, four tackles for loss, three interceptions, and two pass deflections) … Roscoe Billings (41 tackles, five tackles for loss, and three sacks) … Antrone White (35 tackles, one interception, and one pass deflection) … Jordan Stevens (24 tackles, four pass deflections, one sack, one tackle for loss, and one interception)

Keys: Longview’s offense has averaged 32 points through the first 13 games of the 2024 season, and is facing DeSoto’s defense at the right time. The Lobos have heated up with three of their eight season scoring outbursts of at least 30 points in the last four weeks, and continue to lean on a ground game that features explosive runners Kelvin Washington, Buster Mumphrey, Mason Washington and Javarion Pereira. They also have full confidence in quarterback options Maverick Rowe and Johnny Hamilton to connect with receivers Da’Morrion Williams, Jaden Hurndon, Kieffer Doxey and Jace Peterson down the field. They recognize that DeSoto’s defense has only allowed 21.3 points to opponents this year, but there are also opportunities to strike since the unit gave up 57 points in a Sept. 6 loss to North Crowley, 42 points in an Oct. 11 loss to Duncanville, and 35 points in last Saturday’s regional semifinal win against Willis. The Eagles will still be a tough matchup due to the continued defensive play of Keylan Abrams, Jace Hill-Douglas, Sael Reyes, Jackson Curry, Caleb Holmes, Marshall Kirven, Ryan Pelly, Roscoe Billings, Antrone White and Jordan Stevens.

WHEN DESOTO HAS THE BALL

Players to Watch

DeSoto: Kelden Ryan (2,353 passing yards, 924 rushing yards, 25 passing touchdowns, and 14 rushing touchdowns) … Deondrae Riden (1,880 rushing yards, 59 receiving yards, 27 rushing touchdowns, and one receiving touchdown) … SaRod Baker (477 receiving yards, 467 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns, and four receiving touchdowns) … Myson Johnson-Cook (902 rushing yards, 27 receiving yards, 14 rushing touchdowns, and one receiving touchdown) … Daylon Singleton (914 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns) … Ethan Feaster (780 receiving yards and 13 receiving touchdowns) … Legend Howell (326 passing yards, 13 rushing yards, and six passing touchdowns) … Kristoff Fantroy (319 receiving yards, five rushing yards, and two receiving touchdowns) … Antron Edmundson (100 receiving yards) … Deadrian Hardy (27 rushing yards)

Longview: Kason Brooks (141 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, four touchdowns, two interceptions, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery) … Jamayis Morrow (128 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two pass breakups, and one sack) … Brenden Reese (110 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, five sacks, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one interception) … Bryan Peoples (86 tackles, four pass breakups, three tackles for loss, two interceptions, and one forced fumble) … Da’Kayden Carter (62 tackles, six pass breakups, two interceptions, and one forced fumble) … Robert White (51 tackles, seven pass breakups, and one tackle for loss) … Jessier Hampton-Williams (46 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks, one pass breakup, one forced fumble, and one touchdown) … Jailynn Taylor (44 tackles, six pass breakups, and three interceptions) … Bradley Williams (44 tackles, three pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, and one interception) … Jaden Woolridge (36 tackles and six tackles for loss)

Keys: Longview’s dominant defense will look to slow down a high-powered offense for the second straight playoff event on Saturday. The Lobos have limited their first 13 opponents to only 17.4 points per game, and contained a Klein Collins’ group that scored 70 points in round two of the postseason and averaged 32 points through the first 12 games of the 2024 season before last Saturday’s 28-point effort. They understand that they will need to buckle their belts again to slow down a DeSoto offensive unit that scored 55 points in round three and currently averages 53.8 points per game through 13 outings. Longview is preparing for DeSoto offensive leaders like dual-threat quarterback Kelden Ryan, running backs Deondrae Riden and Myson Johnson-Cook, and receivers Daylon Singleton, Ethan Feaster, SaRod Baker, Kristoff Fantroy and Antron Edmundson. Luckily for the Lobos, they have an established group of defensive threats like Kason Brooks, Jamayis Morrow, Brenden Reese, Bryan Peoples, Da’Kayden Carter, Robert White, Jessier Hampton-Williams, Jailynn Taylor, Bradley Williams, and Jaden Woolridge.

Did You Know: Longview has produced an 83-46-1 playoff record during its 50 postseason appearances since 1924 … The Lobos will bring a 10-6 regional final record to their 17th trip since 1937 … DeSoto has earned a 62-29 postseason record during its 33 playoff appearances since 1971 … The Eagles own a 5-6 regional final record before their 12th trip since 1974 … Longview and DeSoto will meet on the gridiron for the fifth time … The Lobos own a 4-0 record against the Eagles after series wins in 1998, 1999, 2010 and 2011 … Both programs own an undefeated record at Waco’s McLane Stadium … Longview is 2-0 at McLane after a 2017 win against Klein Collins and a 2018 win against Austin Vandegrift … DeSoto owns a slightly better 3-0 McLane Stadium mark after a 2014 win against Cibolo Steele, a 2020 win against Spring, and a 2022 win against Harker Heights.

Last Week: Longview 42, Klein Collins 28; DeSoto 55, Willis 35

Up Next: Winner Plays Denton Guyer or Southlake Carroll