PREVIEW: Longview Seeks First Unbeaten Regular Season Since 2005

DISTRICT 11-6A

Mesquite Skeeters (5-3, 3-2)

vs.

No. 4 Longview Lobos (9-0, 5-0)

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

Coaches

Mesquite: Jeff Fleener
Longview: John King

Last week

Mesquite: lost to Rockwall, 41-21
Longview: def. Tyler Lee, 63-14

Next week

Mesquite: vs. TBD, bi-district playoffs
Longview: vs. TBD, bi-district playoffs

Players to watch

Mesquite

RB LaDarius Turner, Jr., 6-0, 180 (146 carries, 1,019 yards, 10 TDs)
QB Dylan McGill, Jr., 6-2, 167 (38 of 83, 829 yards, 9 TDs, 5 INTs; 85 carries, 570 yards, 5 TDs)
WR Devin Davis, Sr., 6-4, 190 (20 catches, 422 yards, 5 TDs)
WR Ja'Darion Smith, Jr., 5-8, 150 (14 catches, 245 yards, 2 TDs; 12 carries, 94 yards)
DL O'Tay Baker, Sr., 6-3, 268
DL Osaretin Obadeyi, Sr., 6-3, 231

Longview

QB Haynes King, Jr., 6-2, 185 (113 of 164, 2,219 yards, 26 TDs, 0 INTs; 17 carries, 209 yards, 3 TDs; 1 catch, 20 yards, 1 TD)
WR Kamden Perry, Sr., 6-0, 180 (52 catches, 1,148 yards, 13 TDs)
RB Keilyn Williams, Sr., 5-5, 145 (117 carries, 869 yards, 6 TDs; 11 catches, 281 yards, 2 TDs)
S Jephaniah Lister, Sr., 5-9, 155 (56 tackles, 1 sack, 3 PBUs, 1 forced fumble, 1 recovery)
LB Ja'Vontae Writt, Sr., 5-9, 190 (66 tackles, 9 for loss, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumble, 2 recoveries)
FB Jessie Anderson, Sr., 5-11, 225 (77 carries, 604 yards, 13 TDs; 10 catches, 160 yards, 2 TDs)
DE Jaylon Allen, Sr., 6-0, 225 (21 tackles, 9 for loss, 4 sacks, 1 blocked punt)
LB Tyshawn Taylor, Jr., 5-9, 195 (64 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 recovery)

Just the facts

This is the 15th all-time meeting between Longview and Mesquite. Longview leads the series, 12-2.
A Longview win would give the Lobos their first 10-0 regular season since 2005.
Mesquite is averaging 26.6 points and 357.9 yards per game -- 235.1 rushing and 122.8 passing.
Skeeters junior running back LaDarius Turner is averaging seven yards per carry.
Mesquite is allowing 22.3 points per game.
Longview is averaging 50.9 points and 536.1 yards per game -- 281.4 rushing and 254.7 passing.
Lobos senior receiver Kamden Perry is averaging 22.1 yards per catch.
Longview is allowing 16.4 points per game, has 17 sacks, and has forced 17 turnovers -- five interceptions and 12 fumbles.

Key matchup: Longview rushing attack vs. Mesquite defensive front. The Lobos are about as balanced as could be on the offensive side of the ball this season. Longview averages 281 yards on the ground and 255 through the air, which makes life difficult for opposing defenses. That balance is one of the reasons Longview enters Friday's game averaging more than 50 points per game, and is outscoring teams by an average of 35 points. Longview's offensive line is big and physical and will be a challenge for most teams, and the backs the Lobos have behind it compliment each other well. Keilyn Williams is the team's leading ground-gainer, and is surprisingly hard to bring down despite his small stature. Fullback Jessie Anderson is a load to contend with in short-yardage and goal-line situations, and tailback Kaden Meredith has sprinter speed and is capable of going the distance every time he touches the ball.

Perhaps the most impressive attribute of Mesquite is its defensive line. Senior linemen O'Tay Baker and Osaretin Obadeyi have enough size and physicality to penetrate opposing backfields and disrupt the running game. If the Skeeters are to have any change of pulling off the upset, the defensive front must keep Longview's backs from having a major impact in the game.

Don't be surprised if: Longview continues its dominance in district. The Lobos not only have won every game they've played this season, but they've dominated the opposition. Aside from a pair of one-possession games against Lufkin and Rockwall, Longview hasn't been challenged at all. If those two games are taken out of the equation, the Lobos have outscored opponents, 381-85, on the year.