Longview punished North Little Rock 30-14 at Lobo Stadium last September, but this year the Lobos must travel to a neutral site to play their out-of-state foe.

The Lobos meet perennial Mississippi power Olive Branch at Shreveport's Independence Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14 as part of the Battle On The Border showcase that features Marshall vs. Bossier City Parkway earlier that afternoon.

Olive Branch went 11-2 in 2012 and reached the Mississippi Class 6A state quarterfinals. In 2011, the Conquistadors ran the table, going 15-0 and winning the 6A crown.

Olive Branch, which is just south of Memphis on the Mississippi side of the border with Tennessee, regularly plays Tennessee schools early in its schedule, but the Conquistadors get a shot at a Texas power Sept. 14.

Longview's defense shut down Alabama signee Altee Tenpenny in the Lobos' victory vs. North Little Rock. Although much of that defense graduated, several key returning starters will lead the Lobos against Olive Branch.

TCU-bound defensive tackle Zay Henderson joins fellow lineman DeRodrick Alexander and veteran safeties Stephan Maxey and Travin Howard as playmakers on the 2013 Longview defense, which faces an Olive Branch team that scored 32.9 points per game in 2012.

The nightcap in this year's Battle On The Border promises to be a clash of East Texas and North Mississippi powers.

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