PREVIEW: Longview Crosses State Lines to Face Ruston (La.)
No. 6 Longview Lobos (3-0)
vs.
Ruston (La.) Bearcats (2-1)
7 p.m. Friday
W.O. "Hoss" Garrett Stadium, Ruston, Louisiana
Coaches
- Longview: John King
- Ruston: Jerrod Baugh
Last week
- Longview: def. John Tyler, 41-13
- Ruston: def. Airline (La.), 37-19
Next week
- Longview: at Rockwall, Sept. 28
- Ruston: at West Ouachita (La.), Sept. 28
Players to watch
Longview
- QB Haynes King, Jr., 6-3, 185 (36-of-55, 687 yards, 6 TDs; 9 carries, 147 yards, 2 TDs)
- RB Jessie Anderson, Sr., 5-11, 225 (23 carries, 142 yards, 4 TDs; 5 catches, 107 yards, TD)
- WR Kamden Perry, Sr., 6-0, 180 (19 catches, 332 yards, 2 TDs)
- WR Kaden Kearbey, Jr., 6-1, 175 (6 catches, 140 yards, 2 TDs)
- OL Marcus Williams, Sr., 6-6, 290 (committed to TCU)
- RB Keilyn Williams, Sr., 5-5, 145 (42 carries, 288 yards, 3 TDs; 2 catches, 33 yards)
- DB Jephaniah Lister, Sr., 5-9, 155 (20 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 recovery)
- DB Tannique Taylor, Sr., 5-11, 160 (4 tackles, 5 PBUs, 2 INTs)
- LB Ja'Vontae Writt, Sr., 5-9, 190 (24 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 recovery)
- LB Tyshawn Taylor, Jr., 5-9, 195 (25 tackles, 1 for loss)
Ruston
- RB Hashan Jackson, Jr., 5-5, 140 (43 carries, 279 yards, 2 TDs)
- QB Eric Outley, Sr., 5-7, 140 (21-of-33, 219 yards, 3 TDs; 32 carries, 208 yards, 5 TDs)
- TE Ray Parker, Sr., 6-6, 275 (5 catches, 98 yards, 1 TD)
- WR Cam Crowe, Jr. (6 catches, 70 yards, 1 TD)
- DL Jhakobion Sears, Sr. (8 tackles, 2 for loss, 2 sacks)
Just the facts
- Longview and Ruston have not met since 2002, when Longview won, 14-0. The Lobos hold a 6-4 lead in the series all-time.
- Longview is 131 miles from Ruston.
- The Lobos outscored their opponents 101-27 in the past two weeks.
- Jessie Anderson and Keilyn Williams have combined for 430 yards rushing and seven touchdowns through three games.
- This is the first time Longview will travel out of state to play an opponents since 2015 when the Lobos played Shreveport Byrd in Shreveport, Louisiana.
- Ruston is holding opponents to 18 points on average this season.
Key matchup: Longview defense against the Ruston rushing attack. Ruston has a couple of threats on the ground in Hashan Jackson and Eric Outley, who have combined for just shy of 500 yards on the ground.
Meanwhile, Longview gives up only 124.7 yards rushing per game. Both Jackson and Outley weigh a mere 140 pounds, and could run into issues against a defense the size of Longview. If the Lobos can force Ruston to pass more, they will have an even clearer path to victory.
Don't be surprised if: Longview runs away with this one. Outside of Lufkin in Week 1, Longview has yet to face a challenge this season. Ruston, at least on paper, doesn't appear to be the team to provide that. The Longview offense has been clicking behind the passing of Haynes King, who has found a favorite target in Kamden Perry. The defense has looked dominant in the past two weeks and should keep that trend going into Week 4. Expect a big Lobo victory.