Longview Rides Momentum into Regular-Season Finale vs. Rockwall

Rockwall Yellowjackets (3-6, 2-3)
vs.
Longview Lobos (6-3, 3-2)

7:30 p.m. Friday
Lobo Stadium, Longview

Coaches
Rockwall: Scott Smith
Longview: John King

Last week
Rockwall: lost to Mesquite, 55-24
Longview: def. Tyler Lee, 52-6

Playmakers

Rockwall

• RB Chris Warren, Soph. (161 carries, 1,030 yards, 13 TDs; 2 receiving TDs)
• QB Dylan Campman, Sr. (86 of 148, 938 yards, 2 TDs, 7 INTs; 86 carries, 354 yards, 3 TDs)
• ATH Zach Berryman, Sr. (63 carries, 529 yards, 3 TDs; 26 catches, 407 yards, 1 TD)
• WR Xavier Castille, Soph. (44 catches, 473 yards)
• LB Josh Rippy, Jr. (71 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 fumble recovery)
• LB Jared Farrow, Sr. (74 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble)
• DE Chris Hinckley, Jr. (69 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 punt block)

Longview

• LB DeMarkus Lathan, Sr., 5-9, 190 (100 tackles, 8 for loss, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 kick block, 4 PBUs)
• FS Corey Bartley, Sr., 5-7, 155 (100 tackles, 5 INTs, 1 forced fumble, 1 recovery, 13 PBUs, 5 kick blocks, 1 punt block, 1 def. TD)
• QB Dezmond Chumley, Soph., 5-11, 185 (54 of 92, 800 yards, 10 TDs, 1 INT)
• DE Tre Allen, Sr., 6-0, 225 (28 tackles, 10 for loss, 6 sacks, 1 kick block; committed to Arkansas State)
• RB Tory White, Sr., 5-9, 175 (126 carries, 810 yards, 8 TDs)
• CB Nakia Brown, Sr., 5-10, 180 (41 tackles, 1 INT; 2 punt return TDs)
• DT Cornelius Williams, Sr., 5-10, 290 (55 tackles, 13 for loss, 3 sacks)
• WR Justinn Spady, Sr., 5-9, 155
• WR Dorian Leonard, Jr., 6-5, 185
• LB Torean Sheppard, Sr., 5-10, 185 (91 tackles, 5 for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 1 recovery, 4 PBUs)

Just the facts

• Rockwall averages 23.8 points per game and allows 37.6.
• Longview averages 34.6 points per game and yields 18.1.
• Longview has won three of its last four games.
• Longview has scored 52 points in each of its last three wins.
• Longview outscored its last two opponents 104-9.
• Both teams have lost to Mesquite and Mesquite Horn, but beaten North Mesquite and Tyler Lee.
• The difference in the two teams' records comes down to Longview beating Rockwall-Heath and Rockwall losing to Rockwall-Heath.
• A Longview win clinches the No. 1 Division II playoff seed from District 12-5A.
• A Rockwall win could trigger a potentially lengthy tie-breaker scenario, though the Lobos would still be in the playoffs with a loss if Tyler Lee also beat Rockwall-Heath.

Key matchup: Rockwall's offensive line vs. Longview's defensive line. As it's been said before, Longview's defensive line has performed to a high level all season. The emergence of Chapel Hill transfer Tre Allen has made that group even better. Allen has a team-leading six sacks in only four games with the Lobos and has quickly become a playmaking defensive end in the Lobos' four-man front defensive scheme. But there's also Cornelius Williams, who anchors the middle and leads the Lobos with 13 tackles for loss. Defensive end Jalen Porter leads Longview with four forced fumbles. Rockwall counters with a ground game featuring Chris Warren, the sophomore tailback who has registered a pair of 200-yard rushing games and has eclipsed the 1,000-yard plateau. Rockwall will have a difficult time getting Warren loose against a Lobo defensive front that has repeatedly proven itself throughout the season and appears to be getting better with a highly likely playoff trip looming ahead.

Don't be surprised if: Longview continues its recent tear and rides a three-game winning streak into the Class 5A Division II Region II playoff bracket. During the last two weeks, Longview did exactly what good teams are supposed to do against overmatched opponents: destroyed them. The Lobos hammered North Mesquite 52-3, then pounded Tyler Lee 52-6. Sophomore quarterback Dezmond Chumley continues to progress, as do his receivers, namely senior Justinn Spady and junior Dorian Leonard. With senior tailback Tory White likely returning this week after missing the Lee contest because of a concussion suffered against North Mesquite, the Lobos could be as close to full strength as they've been since losing Bivins Caraway to a knee injury in the season opener. That's not only bad news for Rockwall, but bad news for teams that had written off the Lobos in the 5A Division II Region II playoff bracket.