Longview Gets One-Loss Beaumont West Brook in First Round

CLASS 6A DIVISION II
Region II Bi-District Playoff

Longview Lobos (8-2)

vs.

Beaumont West Brook Bruins (9-1)

7:30 p.m. Friday
Thomas Center, Beaumont

Coaches

• Longview: John King
• West Brook: Kevin Flanigan

Last week

• Longview: def. Mesquite, 62-7
• West Brook: def. Conroe, 48-19

Next week

• Winner faces Garland Lakeview Centennial or Lake Highlands, Class 6A Division II, Region II area-round playoff.

Playmakers

Longview

• RB Kendrevian White, Sr., 5-9, 215 (183 carries, 1,170 yards, 16 TDs)
• RB D'Crayvan Polk, Sr., 5-9, 180 (108 carries, 849 yards, 10 TDs; 6 catches, 99 yards, 1 TD)
• QB Gaylon Wiley, Sr., 6-4, 185 (63 of 120, 1,337 yards, 18 TDs, 5 INTs; 48 carries, 202 yards, 2 TDs)
• TE Jaylin Brown, Jr., 6-3, 205 (14 catches, 361 yards, 9 TDs)
• WR Eric Timberlake, Jr., 5-10, 165 (13 catches, 341 yards, 4 TDs)
• S Traveion Webster, Sr., 6-0, 202 (69 tackles, 2 for loss, 3 forced fumbles, 1 recovery, 2 INTs, 7 PBUs, 1 blocked kick)
• S Jephaniah Lister, Soph., 5-9, 155 (80 tackles, 5 for loss, 5 forced fumbles, 1 recovery, 1 INT, 2 PBUs)
• DL Jadarrion Blakemore, Jr., 6-0, 220 (49 tackles, 15 for loss, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 recovery)

West Brook

• OL/DT Dan Moore Jr., Sr., 6-5, 316 (committed to Oklahoma State)
• WR Kandin Robertson, Sr., 6-0, 185 (48 catches, 1,043 yards, 10 TDs)
• QB Marcus Johnson, Jr., 5-10, 190 (69 of 105, 1,104 yards, 10 TDs, 3 INTs)
• QB L'Ravien Ella, Soph., 6-0, 164 (49 of 79, 748 yards, 7 TDs, 2 INTs; 141 carries, 973 yards, 11 TDs)
• RB Joel Denly, Sr., 5-8, 185 (149 carries, 1,199 yards, 12 TDs)
• DB Deonte Henson, Sr., 5-9, 160 (2 INTs)
• DB Chris Bishop, Sr., 6-2, 180
• LB Jorge Ochoa, Sr., 5-10, 200

Just the facts

• Longview is averaging 45.1 points and 461.2 yards per game -- 321.2 rushing and 140 passing.
• The Lobos are allowing 25.8 points and 368.3 yards per game -- 213.3 rushing and 155 passing.
• Longview is in the playoffs for the 16th consecutive season. The Lobos are 11-1 in the bi-district round under coach John King.
• The cumulative record of the Lobos' 10 opponents this season is 54-46.
• West Brook is averaging 39 points and 513.8 yards per game -- 316.2 rushing and 197.6 passing.
• The Bruins are allowing 27.8 points and 303.1 yards per game -- 178.5 rushing and 124.6 passing.
• West Brook's last playoff win came in 2010.
• The cumulative record of the Bruins' 10 opponents this season is 43-57.

Key matchup: Longview rushing attack vs. West Brook defensive front. The Lobos have been running almost at will this season as they come into Friday night's bi-district playoff game averaging more than 320 rushing yards per game. Tailbacks Kendrevian White and D'Crayvan Polk do most of the damage with a combined 2,019 yards and 26 touchdowns, but Longview employs a two-man rotation at fullback that can be troublesome for opposing defense in short-yardage situations. The duo of Jessie Anderson and Trajan Bush have combined to rush for 590 yards and five touchdowns, but what makes the two of them unique is their unexpected explosiveness. Often times, after repeated rushing attempts from the tailback, a defense begins looking past the fullback, naturally assuming his job is exclusively as a blocker. That's when Longview will put the ball in the upbacks' hands. Collectively, Anderson and Bush average almost nine yards per carry -- higher than both White and Polk.

The West Brook defense, despite allowing almost 28 points per game, has been solid for most of the season. The Bruins yield only 303 total yards per game, and have kept opposing ground games in check to the tune of 178. One of the biggest reasons for the success against the run is the defensive line anchored by tackle and Oklahoma State commit Dan Moore Jr., who is a nightmare for opposing offensive linemen at 6-5, 316 pounds. Because of Moore's presence on the interior, we might see Longview spread out its running game, keeping plays from going right into the teeth of the West Brook defense.

Don't be surprised if: Friday's game is high scoring. West Brook led District 12-6A in total offense during the regular season, averaging well over 500 yards per game. Its two-quarterback system of Marcus Johnson -- a pass-first option -- and L'Ravien Ella, who specializes in running, has baffled defenses for much of the year. Despite averaging less than 200 passing yards per game, West Brook has an extremely productive receiver in its arsenal with senior Kandin Robertson, who has already eclipsed the 1,000-yard plateau and averages an impressive 21.7 yards per catch. Longview's offense not be as explosive, but it's nearly as productive. Lobos quarterback Gaylon Wiley averages more than 21 yards a completion, while the pass-catching duo of tight end Jaylin Brown and receiver Eric Timberlake have combined for 13 touchdowns on only 27 catches.