Longview’s Travin Howard is the ETSN.fm + Dairy Queen Defensive Player of the Week

Another week, another big-time performance from Longview's senior safeties.

Travin Howard, Laurent Johnson, and Stephan Maxey combined for 26 tackles and were responsible for three takeaways during the Lobos' 27-10 Class 5A Division II Region II area playoff win vs. McKinney Boyd on Saturday in Dallas.

A week after Johnson earned the ETSN.fm/Dairy Queen Defensive Player of the Week honor, Howard had six tackles, one for loss, one interception, and returned a fumble 25 yards for a touchdown to earn this week's award.

Longview S Travin Howard. (Christopher Vinn, ETSN.fm)

Longview (11-1) held Boyd to 268 total yards and forced four turnovers in the 17-point win, which Howard capped halfway through the third quarter with his game-sealing fumble return for a touchdown.

The 6-foot, 178-pound Howard's two takeaways against Boyd are simply the latest in a growing list of his defensive feats this season. He enters Longview's third-round matchup against College Station A&M Consolidated at 4 p.m. Saturday in Midlothian with 78 tackles, eight for loss, one sack, eight interceptions, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, eight pass breakups, four defensive touchdowns, and two punt return touchdowns.

Johnson followed up last week's award-winning performance with another great defensive effort. He finished with 12 tackles, one forced fumble, and a fumble recovery, while Maxey had eight tackles and one pass breakup.

Longview has held its last four opponents to 276 or fewer yards for an average of 230.5 total yards per game during that span, which has seen the Lobos outscore their opponents 177-45.

After a season-opening 32-24 loss to Coppell in Allen, the Lobos have won 11 consecutive games entering Saturday's third-round matchup with A&M Consolidated.

ETSN.fm/Dairy Queen 2013 Defensive Players of the Week

Filed Under: 2013 Football Playoffs, Longview, Player of the Week

Categories: Class 5A, Football, News