They’re not district rivals anymore, but you better believe Longview and Lufkin are still rivals when they clash every September.

The latest edition of an old all-East Texas rivalry serves as a Sept. 21 district warmup at Lufkin's Abe Martin Stadium for both teams as they visit tough league opponents the following week: Mesquite for Longview, College Station A&M Consolidated for Lufkin.

This series is about is even as one can get. Lufkin leads 35-33-4 despite a 14-3-2 Longview run from 1980-98. Then Lufkin took over, reeling off nine in a row from 1999-2007. Longview has since stemmed the tide somewhat, splitting four contests with the Panthers.

The last 20 Lufkin vs. Longview tilts saw John Outlaw on the Panther sideline, so this game won’t feel the same at first with the late coach not patrolling the Abe Martin Stadium turf. Outlaw was 14-6 against Longview.

What you will see is a strong Panther defensive line led by seniors Demontrai Lewis and D’vante Botley giving chase to Division I FBS-bound Longview quarterback Bivins Caraway, who threw for more than 2,400 yards in 2011 and is committed to ULM. Stopping senior tailback Tory White, who ran for almost 800 yards a year ago, will be a high priority for Lufkin as well.

Longview vs. Lufkin is always a battle and usually a good game, at least recently. Fifteen of the last 16 meetings have been decided by no more than 14 points.

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