Seven Turnovers Doom Longview in 38-10 Loss to Austin Westlake

MIDLOTHIAN -- More rushing yards. More passing yards. More total yards. More turnovers.

Seven, to be exact.

Longview's 2012 season ended in a 38-10 loss to Austin Westlake at MISD Multi-Purpose Stadium that propelled the Chaparrals to the Class 5A Division II Region II final. Westlake (9-4) plays Plano West (9-4), which survived Lufkin's huge second-half rally, 55-52.

Longview (9-4) outgained Westlake 192-12 in the first half, but trailed 14-7 thanks to two defensive touchdowns and an interception at the goal line as the Lobos tried to tie the game right before intermission. Westlake (9-4) scored its first 21 points on defense to take a 21-10 advantage into the fourth quarter, then picked off Longview sophomore quarterback Dezmond Chumley for the third time before stretching the lead to 31-10 on QB Jordan Severt's five-yard run with 5:09 remaining.

Longview lost three fumbles, threw three picks, and muffed a punt.

An undersized, yet effective Westlake defense smothered Longview's running game, holding the Lobos to 104 yards on 46 carries. The Chaparrals stifled sophomore tailback J'Mycal Hasty, who had 14 carries for 29 yards starting in place of injured senior Tory White. But Longview outgained Westlake 252-162 thanks to a dominant defense that kept the turnover-plagued Lobos in the game well into the fourth quarter. Defensive tackles Zaycoven Henderson and Cornelius Williams had their way inside against Westlake's hefty offensive front to help Longview limit the Chaparrals to 62 yards on 31 rushes.

"Our defense played great. I don't think they scratch if we don't allow them to get points off of turnovers," said Longview coach John King. "We knew that we'd have a chance to hold up inside on their run and give them some problems, and we did. (The defense) got tired there at the end. They didn't get tired in the first half because they weren't out there long. A lot of that was because (Westlake) had two quick scores off turnovers."

Henderson had three tackles for loss, while senior end Tre Allen recorded his 12th sack of the year in his eighth and final game as a Lobo. Williams and end Derodrick Alexander added a tackle for loss apiece.

With Longview trailing 14-10 halfway through the third after Andres Perez' 39-yard field goal, senior safety Corey Bartley had a highlight-reel interception in the end zone, his seventh pick of the year, to negate a muffed punt that had given the Chaps the ball at Longview's 28-yard line.

But two plays later, Westlake's Alec Cohen blasted Chumley for a sack, knocking the ball loose at the 15-yard line, scooping, and scoring from 12 yards for a 21-10 advantage with 4:11 left in the third quarter. Cohen's defensive score followed John Dodd's 35-yard fumble return for a touchdown and Canyon Manske's 35-yard interception return TD, both of which came in the second quarter. Dodd also had the interception late in the first half to halt Longview's potential game-tying drive.

A penalty negated Longview's best shot at a momentum changer.

Henderson was called for roughing the kicker on a punt near midfield that traveled only 10 yards before Longview's Nakia Brown ran it back 62 yards for a touchdown, which would've been his fifth punt return TD of the season. Henderson appeared to tip the punt, which would have made the contact on the kicker legal, but officials ruled that there was no partial block and the automatic Westlake first down stood.

King thought Henderson tipped the ball after being blocked into the kicker, but said the officials disagreed.

"You get that one, things may flip for you," King added.

Westlake scored its first offensive touchdowns of the game in the final 5:09 for the 28-point margin. Cohen had a sack in addition to his defensive touchdown after his sack of Chumley.

Chumley was 8-for-19 for 131 yards and three interceptions. Dorian Leonard caught four first-half passes for 63 yards. Senior fullback Antonius Sanders gave Longview its lone lead of the game on a four-yard touchdown run with 4:48 left in the first quarter. Sanders had 32 yards on 11 carries, while senior Damion Russell added 39 yards on nine carries.

Longview seniors Colin Jeter and Justinn Spady combined for four catches for 68 yards. Longview held Severt to 100 yards and an interception on 8 of 13 passing.

Longview's tumultuous season ended in the same round it did in 2011. The Lobos dealt with the loss of senior QB Bivins Caraway to a knee injury in a season-opening loss to Coppell, as well as significant injuries to White and fellow senior Jalen Porter, both of whom were lost in last week's 57-25 blowout of Dallas Jesuit.

"I just told them how proud I was of the team, particuarly the 27 seniors and what they've had to endure throughout the year," King said. "Tonight wasn't our night. We didn't protect the football and we were our own worst enemy. The only thing that's gonna heal this is time. I know they're hurting right now, but in time they'll get over it. Great group of kids."

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Class 5A Division II Region II
Semifinal

Austin Westlake 38, Longview 10

Don Floyd Field at MISD Multi-Purpose Stadium
Midlothian

Austin Westlake -- 0 14 7 17 -- 38
Longview -- 7 0 3 0 -- 10

First quarter
LON -- Antonius Sanders 4 run (Andres Perez kick) -- 4:48
Second quarter
WES -- John Dodd 35 fumble return (Michael Barden kick) -- 7:23
WES -- Canyon Manske 35 interception (Barden kick) -- 7:07
Third quarter
LON -- Perez 39 field goal -- 6:38
WES -- Alec Cohen 12 fumble return (Barden kick) -- 4:11
Fourth quarter
WES -- Barden 48 field goal -- 8:58
WES -- Jordan Severt 5 run (Barden kick) -- 5:09
WES -- Chris Canter 10 run (Barden kick) -- 3:21

                                       WES                    LON
First downs                       10                        15
Total yards                       162                      252
Rushes-Yards                 31-62                 46-104
Pass yards                       100                      148
Comp.-Att.-Int.               8-13-1                 9-21-3
Penalties-Yards               3-12                    5-52
Fumbles-Lost                    1-1                      7-4
Punts-Avg.                      5-36.8                 5-31.2

INDIVIDUAL
Rushing -- Austin Westlake: Sean Rollings 4-22, Keith Carter 9-18, Chris Canter 4-13, Jordan Severt 6-10, Alex Chavez 7-1, TEAM 1-(-2). Longview: Damion Russell 9-39, Antonius Sanders 11-32, J'Mycal Hasty 14-29, L'Darrius Peterson 3-12, Justinn Spady 1-9, Stephon Dunn 2-(-5), Dezmond Chumley 6-(-12).
Passing -- Austin Westlake: Jordan Severt 8-13-1 100. Longview: Dezmond Chumley 8-19-3 131, Stephon Dunn 1-2-0 17.
Receiving -- Austin Westlake: Brandon Box 3-59, Alec Cohen 1-11, Sean Rollings 1-10, Patrick Elliott 1-9, Chris Canter 1-7, Jon Rhoads 1-4. Longview: Dorian Leonard 4-63, Colin Jeter 2-35, Justinn Spady 2-33, Chris Pellum 1-17.