Longview vs Galveston Ball - at Lobo Stadium - September 22nd, 1989 - via Galveston Daily News
Lobos clobber Ball High, 49-7
Hurricane Hunter, packing touchdown runs of 17, 23 and 7 yards, made landfall Friday night at Lobo Stadium. And in his wake, he left a 49-7 pounding of Ball High.
Earnest Hunter, Longview's star tailback, rushed for 142 yards on 15 carries to lead the Lobos to their third victory of the season. Ball, meanwhile, fell to 0-3.
Longview jumped on the Tors early and never looked back as the Lobos held a 21-0 lead with just 4:18 gone in the game.
Ball High's Isaac Benefield fumbled on the first play from scrimmage to set up the game's first score. With the ball on the Tor 17-yard line, Longview struck quickly as Hunter took the opening handoff and scampered 17 yards for the touchdown.
The highly touted senior then broke several tackles two minutes later for a 23-yard touchdown run, with 10:08 left in the first quarter.
Longview coach Robert Bero, a 1968 graduate of Ball High, said the two quick scores set the tone for the Longview rout.
"We prepared for a good Galveston team so I think our team played up a notch," Bero said. "I think we jumped on them early and took the wind out of them. We just got on a roll offensively and defensively."
The Tors, who have struggled on offense throughout the season, did break out of their slump somewhat Friday night as Ball gained 258 yards of total offense including 148 through the air quarterback Mike Cridland.
But the Tor defense, on the other hand, couldn't hold its own as they gave up 475 yards to the Lobos, 402 of which came on the ground.
"They just physically kicked our butts," Ball coach Jerry Drones said. "I told them it was going to be won up front. They just lined up and whipped us. Defensively, I didn't see any improvement."
"We're going to have to do something up front or it's going to be a long season."
After Longview extended its lead to 28-0 with 4:47 left in the first half, the Tors managed to avoid the shutout as they marched 33 yards for the score with 1:33 left before halftime. Wide received Roy Smith hooked up with a 3-yard Cridland toss for the touchdown, only the second scored by the Tors all season.
With mainly backups playing the second half, the Lobos scored two more times, the las coming on a 45-yard pass from sophomore backup quarterback Jason Dotson to Kim Wallace with 3:26 left in the game.
The Lobos' defense not only snuffed the Ball High running game but defensive back Selwyn Broughton interception Cridland three times in the game, one of which was returned for a touchdown but later called back on a clipping penalty.
Bero said Hunter's performance, which lasted for just a half, probably was the best of his career.
"I think we saw the best of Earnest Hunter so far," Bero said. "Those guys (at Ball) do a heck of a job. They've got good people and good coaches. But they're young and that's what is hurting them right now."
Ball, which plays Pearland on Friday, did not have some individual performance worth noting. Smith caught six passes for 93 yards with one touchdown, while Quentin Winston grabbed three passes for 30 yards. LaMont Washington gained 51 yards on the ground for Ball.
Scoring
1st - Longview (7-0) - Earnest Hunter (17 yard run)
1st - Longview (14-0) - Earnest Hunter (23 yard run)
1st - Longview (21-0) - Earnest Hunter (7 yard run)
2nd - Longview (28-0) - Richard Murphy (27 yard pass from Kevin Madden)
2nd - Galveston Ball (28-7) - Roy Smith (3 yard pass from Mike Cridland)
3rd - Longview (35-7) - Kevin Madden (2 yard run)
4th - Longview (42-7) - Todd D. (19 yard run)
4th - Longview (49-7) - Kim Wallace (45 yard pass from Jason Dotson)
Statistics
First Downs: Galveston Ball-14 Longview-20
Rushing Yards: Galveston Ball-110 Longview-402
Passing Yards: Galveston Ball-148 Longview-73
Passes: Galveston Ball-10-34-3 Longview-2-6-0
Punts: Galveston-5-26.0 Longview-0-0.0
Fumbles Lost: Galveston Ball-1 Longview-2
Penalties: Galveston Ball-3-15 Longview-6-52
