PREVIEW: No. 5 Longview Hosts Surprisingly Winless Mesquite Horn

DISTRICT 11-6A

Mesquite Horn Jaguars (0-6, 0-2)

vs.

No. 5 Longview Lobos (5-0, 1-0)

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

Coaches

Horn: Mike Overton
Longview: John King

Last week

Horn: lost to Rockwall, 41-35
Longview: idle

Next week

Horn: idle
Longview: at Rockwall-Heath

Players to watch

Horn

RB Esaias Taylor, Sr., 5-10, 190 (60 carries, 353 yards, 4 TDs; 4 catches, 43 yards, 1 TD)
QB Jermaine Givens, Sr., 6-0, 186 (43 of 96, 623 yards, 2 TDs, 7 INTs; 123 carries, 603 yards, 4 TDs; committed to Lamar)
DB Larry Donnell, Sr., 5-11, 179 (48 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 PBUs)
LB Quavon Grant, Jr., 5-10, 200 (63 tackles, 6 for loss, 1 QB pressure, 2 forced fumbles, 1 PBU)
DB Larry Cooper, Sr., 5-11, 190 (55 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 PBU)
LB Nick Garcia, Jr., 6-0, 205 (62 tackles, 5 for loss, 3 sacks, 6 QB pressures, 1 fumble recovery)
LB Kendrick Blackshire, Soph., 6-2, 245 (55 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 fumble recovery)
WR Cameron Jackson, Jr., 5-8, 155 (9 catches, 144 yards)

Longview

QB Haynes King, Jr., 6-3, 185 (70 of 99, 1,346 yards, 14 TDs, 0 INTs; 14 carries, 203 yards, 2 TDs; 1 catch, 20 yards, 1 TD)
WR Kamden Perry, Sr., 6-0, 180 (33 catches, 636 yards, 7 TDs)
RB Keilyn Williams, Sr., 5-5, 145 (80 carries, 547 yards, 3 TDs; 6 catches, 151 yards, 1 TD)
RB Jessie Anderson, Sr., 5-11, 225 (43 carries, 268 yards, 6 TDs; 10 catces, 160 yards, 2 TDs)
DB Jephaniah Lister, Sr., 5-9, 155 (39 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 recovery)
DL Sawyer Goram-Welch, Jr., 6-4, 270 (16 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble)
LB Ja'Vontae Writt, Sr., 5-9, 190 (37 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 recovery)
LB Robert Pierce, Jr., 5-9, 190 (17 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, 2 INTs, 2 PBUs, 1 blocked punt)

Just the facts

This is the 12th meeting between Longview and Mesquite Horn. Longview leads the all-time series, 9-2.
Mesquite Horn defeated Longview, 52-34, last season, one of just six district losses for Longview coach John King.
Horn is averaging 21.5 points and 342.2 yards per game -- 234.7 rushing and 107.5 passing.
Horn's first six opponents Allen, Highland Park, Cedar Hill, Arlington, Mesquite, and Rockwall have a combined 26-4 record in 2018.
Horn is allowing 37 points per game, and has 10 sacks, while forcing two turnovers -- no interceptions and two fumbles.
Longview is averaging 46.8 points and 543.6 yards per game -- 266.4 rushing and 277.2 passing.
Lobos senior running back Keilyn Williams is averaging 8.1 yards per touch.
Longview is allowing 23.6 points per game, and has seven sacks, while forcing 11 turnovers -- five interceptions and six fumbles.

Key matchup: Horn rushing attack vs. Longview defensive front. The Jaguars have had their troubles with their passing game this season as quarterback Jermaine Givens comes into Friday's game with seven interceptions to just two touchdown passes. On the other hand, Givens has been tremendous on the ground, averaging right at 100 rushing yards per game. As a team, Horn is averaging more than 230 yards on the ground per game. In addition to Givens, running back Esaias Taylor has been solid, averaging almost six yards per carry in 2018. If Horn has success on the ground, which would keep Longview's high-flying offense off the field, it would lessen the chances of Givens being forced into mistakes that have plagued the offense all season.

Longview has had its issues on defense this season. The Lobos are allowing almost 24 points per game, and Horn's offense does present some unique challenges with the dual-threat capabilities of Givens. Through six weeks, Horn has been most effective on the ground, and with Givens in particular. If Longview can keep the Jaguars quarterback in front of them and shut off his ability to make plays with his feet, the Lobos' strong pass rush and secondary can go to work.

Don't be surprised if: The first quarter sets the tone. It's been a tough start to the 2018 season for Horn. While true that the Jaguars may have played the toughest schedule of any team in 6A, they are still winless, and have yet to reap the benefits of playing such a challenging slate. Fifth-ranked Longview presents another big challenge for the Jaguars, and if Horn gets off to a bad start, the "here we go again" factor may come into play. However, if the Lobos allow Horn to hang in early, confidence might return to a talented Horn team that has yet to catch a break this season.