It was not the performance John Tyler wanted to show the nation on Thursday night.
Longview scored a 42-0 win over the Lions in the GEICO ESPN High School Football Showcase from Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.
After a scoreless first quarter, the No. 4 Lobos gradually wore down JT en route to the victory that moved Longview to 3-0 on the season. The Lions fell to 0-3. JT has scored seven points in the last nine quarters.
It was the first game of the 16th Annual Christus Trinity Mother Frances Football Classic on Earl Campbell Field before about 9,000 fans. Game 2 is Saturday when Tyler Lee hosts Nacogdoches at 7 p.m.
The Lions actually played well in the secondary against highly touted Longview quarterback Haynes King, a Texas A&M commit. JT picked off three of King’s passes — one each by Kitan Crawford, the Texas commit, Isaiah Johnson and D’Jonte Henderson. Tyrone Williams also recovered a Lobo fumble.
King connected on 8 of 18 passing attempts for 110 yards.
However, the Lobos gained 355 yards on the ground — 99 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries by Kaden Meredith. Also, the Lobos had 26 first downs.
The Lobos, led by defensive lineman Sawyer Gorman-Welch, limited JT to five first downs, 57 yards rushing and 31 yards passing for a total of 88 yards. It was also JT’s first blanking since 2007.
After a scoreless first quarter, Longview scored three times in the final 4:55 of the second quarter.
King ran left for 28 yards into the end zone with 4:55 showing. Antonio Onofie kicked the first of his four PATs. Meredith then scored on runs of 9 and 30 yards for a 21-0 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, C.J. Hopkins made it 28-0 on a 7-yard run with 8:29 showing.
The final Lobo TDs were in the fourth quarter as Kevin Jones (3 run) and Xaxier Jimmerson (15 run) found the end zone. Spence Powell booted both PATs.
The Lions also missed a 42-yard field goal attempt and muffed another punt.
JT defenders Johnson, Williams, Crawford and Keelan Erwin had good outings. The Lions also committed just two penalties while the Lobos had 12.
The Lions are home again on Friday, Sept. 20 when they host Euless Trinity. That same night Longview plays West Monroe (Louisiana) at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana.
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Longview 42, John Tyler 0
Longview   0  21  7  14 — 42
John Tyler   0   0  0   0 — 0
Second Quarter
LV — Haynes King 28 run (Antonio Onofie kick), 4:55
LV — Kaden Meredith 9 run (Onofie kick), 4:30
LV — Meredith 30 run (Onofie kick), 1:14
Third Quarter
LV — C.J. Hopkins 7 run (Onofie kick), 8:29
Fourth Quarter
LV — Kevin Jones 3 run (Spencer Powell kick), 7:25
LV — Xavier Jimmerson 15 run (Powell kick), 3:27
Team Statistics
                  LV       JT
First Downs         26       5
Rushes-Yards        53-355    21-57
Passing Yards        110      75
Comp.-Att.-Int.      8-19-3    6-24-0
Punts-Ave.          3-37.8    10-34.7
Fumbles-Lost        3-1      3-2
Penalties-Yards       12-90     2-15
Individual Statistics
RUSHING — Longview, Kaden Meredith 15-99, Kevin Jones 9-81, Haynes King 5-45, Xavier Jimmerson 8-44, Jharious Jones 8-23, Kyas Moore 1-21, Otarvio Buchanan 2-18, Phillip Washington 1-13, C.J. Hopkins 1-7, Kaden Kearbey 1-6, Team 2-(-2). John Tyler, Kitan Crawford 4-35, Isaiah Johnson 9-8, Cameron Ford 5-7, Frank Turner 1-3, Kameron Medlock 1-3, Jakyron Lacy 1-1.
PASSING — Longview, Haynes King 8-18-3-110, Otarvio Buchanan 0-1-0-0. John Tyler, Isaiah Johnson 5-15-0-30; Cameron Ford 1-9-0-1.
RECEIVING — Longview, Kyas Moore 4-54; Jayden Williams 1-27, Kaden Kearbey 1-22, Jhailon Braden 1-4, Kaden Meredith 1-3. John Tyler, Kameron Medlock 2-1, Austin Campbell 1-11, Kitan Crawford 1-8, Robert Draper 1-8, Jakyron Lacy 1-3.