Ennis Sends Big Message To East Texas, Rolls Over Longview in 27-6 Scrimmage Win

ENNIS -- The Lions made the best impression they could on their East Texas competition this season. Ennis controlled Longview with ease Friday in a 27-6 preseason scrimmage win.

It was not a fun ride home for the Lobos.

"We got a good old country tail whipping today," head coach John King said. "We got beat by a good football team. They kind of had their way with us in the live scrimmage. They big played us and stoned us on offense and our defense stood out there forever. It just wasn't a very good performance."

Friday's game was an opportunity for all of East Texas to sample the Lions. Ennis, a District 16-5A member, will play Jacksonville, John Tyler, Lindale, Lufkin, Nacogdoches and Whitehouse in addition to Corsicana this season with playoff spots on the line.

Longview was supposed to be a good gauge as the region's highest-ranked Class 5A team in the Associated Press' preseason poll. The Lobos enter the season No. 3 in the poll and Ennis is the No. 2 team.

Not only did the Ennis Lions win the live scrimmage in convincing fashion, the team from the southern fringe of the Metroplex got the best of Longview when the squads ran sets of 12 consecutive offensive plays against each other.

Ennis finished its day with 660 total yards -- 404 yards in the controlled scrimmage and 256 yards through two 12-minute periods.

Longview recorded 418 yards with running back JaMycal Hasty and wideout Jon Sorey unavailable -- 301 yards in the controlled part and 117 yards in the 24-minute live game. The Lobos committed four turnovers while the Lions coughed up two fumbles.

The quarterback set completed just 3-of-13 passes for 24 yards in the live scrimmage. Its overall night was 8-of-27 for 51 yards.

Longview's defense had some bright spots, especially at the depth levels. The second team defense only gave up one first down in a 12-play span with two three-and-outs along the way.

Facing a 20-6 deficit in the live scrimmage, the main defensive rotation forced a punt thanks to Kybrin Sheridan's seven-yard sack on third-and-6 at the Lions' 46 yard line.

Longview's running game should not be an issue if the passing game progresses. Running back Tylan Miller, the primary back in Hasty's absence, rushed for 127 yards on 15 carries and fullback Marquis Hunter averaged 17.6 yards in five carries.

Hunter ran 69 yards on one carry in the controlled scrimmage to set up a first-and-goal on the one yard line, but Longview was stuffed on four consecutive plays.

Quarterback Dezmond Chumley notched Longview's sole touchdown in the live period on an 18-yard run. The hold on the PAT was bobbled and a kick was never attempted.

Ennis' individual stats weren't recorded. Jack Alvarez's team suited out in random jersey numbers so opposing scouts and film reviewers have a tougher time breaking down their scrimmage.

"We did OK in the controlled part," King said. "The live part was a major disappointment."

Longview will begin its regular season Friday with a visit to Lufkin. There's quite a bit to mull over in practice this week.

Ennis will play three games in the Dallas-Fort Worth area before traveling to the Tomato Bowl for its league opener against Jacksonville.

"We've got a lot of work to do," King said. "We're nowhere near ready to beat Lufkin with the performance we had today."