Lufkin Clinches Postseason Berth With 48-0 Shutout Of Corsicana

CORSICANA -- Lufkin strolled to a 48-0 win over Corsicana on Friday night at Tiger Stadium, clinching a playoff berth for the 17th consecutive season.

The Lufkin (5-4, 3-3 in District 16-5A), coupled with Whitehouse's loss to Nacogdoches, officially secured the Pack's place in the playoffs. Lufkin will enter the playoffs as the district's No. 2 seed in Division II and will face Longview in the bi-district round in two weeks, a rematch of the Panthers' season-opening 44-14 victory.

Senior quarterback Trey Cumbie completed 9 of 13 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns, four Lufkin ball carriers found the end zone and KeKe Coutee returned a punt for a touchdown for the third time this season.

Lufkin's defense pitched its first shutout since 2012, holding Corsicana (3-6, 2-4) to 242 total yards of offense.

The Panthers scored 21 first-quarter points. Coutee rushed for an 11-yard score, Steven Sowell found paydirt from 16 yards, and Coutee returned a punt 61 yards for a touchdown in the dominant opening period.

Lufkin added to its lead in the second quarter on Cumbie's 48-yard touchdown pass to Terry Mark and Dalvin Smith's 7-yard scoring run, which pushed the Panthers' lead to 35-0 at halftime.

Ellis Jackson scored on a 2-yard run, and Cumbie connected with Mark again for a 45-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.

Sowell finished the night with a team-high 86 yards on seven carries, Jackson ran 10 times for 54 yards and Smith picked up 51 yards on 10 attempts. Mark led the receiving corps with 101 yards on just three catches.

JaMicha Polk paced Corsicana offensively with 95 yards rushing on 27 carries.

Each team concludes the regular season next Friday night. Lufkin hosts Jacksonville, while Corsicana travels to Ennis.

[Stats courtesy, DallasNews.com]