Dallas South Oak Cliff Bears (1-1)

vs.

Longview Lobos (2-0)

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

 

Coaches

  • South Oak Cliff: Jason Todd
  • Longview: John King

 

Last week

 

Next week

  • South Oak Cliff: vs. Dallas Carter, Sept. 23
  • Longview: at Mesquite Horn, Sept. 22

 

Playmakers

South Oak Cliff

  • DB Kanion Williams, Sr., 6-2, 180 (committed to Oklahoma State)
  • DL Steven Parker, Jr., 6-3, 220 (committed to Texas Tech)
  • OL Anthony Faz, Soph., 6-5, 308
  • DB Jon Davis, Soph., 6-1, 165
  • DB Ra'Kwuan Pinkston, Soph., 5-10, 190
  • DB Deondre Dansby, Jr., 5-11, 180
  • QB/ATH Sean Simms, Jr., 6-2, 214
  • DB Phillip Dixon, Sr., 6-2, 165

 

Longview

  • RB Jessie Anderson, Jr., 6-0, 225 (27 carries, 205 yards, 3 TDs)
  • DB Jephaniah Lister, Jr., 5-9, 155 (16 tackles, 1 INT)
  • QB A'Darius Carter, Sr., 6-4, 205 (5 of 10, 68 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs; 8 carries, 28 yards, 3 TDs)
  • OL Marcus Williams, Jr., 6-6, 250
  • RB Keilyn Williams, Jr., 5-4, 137 (5 carries, 96 yards, 0 TDs; 2 catches, 11 yards)
  • TE Jaylin Brown, Sr., 6-3, 205 (3 catches, 110 yards, 1 TD)
  • DL Ke'Andre Mauldin, Sr., 6-0, 205 (7 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack)
  • DL JC Blakemore, Sr., 6-0, 210 (8 tackles)

 

Just the facts

  • This is the seventh meeting all-time between Longview and South Oak Cliff. Longview leads the series, 5-0-1.
  • The previous meetings occurred in 1956, 1958, 1962, 1990, 1991, and 2016. Longview won last year's game, 62-14.
  • South Oak Cliff defeated Ennis, 29-28, on the last play of the game in Week 1, but was routed by Lancaster last week, 56-20.
  • The Bears finish non-district play next week against Dallas Carter.
  • South Oak Cliff has reached the playoffs in each of the last 10 seasons.
  • Longview has not begun a season 3-0 since 2009.
  • The Lobos have played three quarterbacks -- Jordan Lawson, A'Darius Carter, and Haynes King -- in both of their games this season.
  • Longview opens District 11-6A play next week at Mesquite Horn.

 

Key matchup: Longview rushing attack vs. South Oak Cliff defensive front. The Lobos are already in midseason form when it comes to running the football. In its two wins over Lufkin and Marshall to begin the season, Longview has averaged 274.5 yards on the ground. The Lobos have gotten key contributions from a handful of players, including senior running back and leading rusher Jessie Anderson.

Longview RB Jessie Anderson. (© Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
Longview RB Jessie Anderson. (© Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
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In the first two games, Anderson has rushed for 205 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries. Keilyn Williams, Paul Hutchins, Jason Roundtree, and quarterback A'Darius Carter have rushed for at least 40 yards or one touchdown.

The performance in the running game has helped Longview ease into finding a permanent starter at quarterback. Seniors Carter and Jordan Lawson, and sophomore Haynes King have all played in the Lobos' first two games. The trio has combined to pass for 287 yards and two touchdowns.

Longview QB A'Darius Carter. (© Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
Longview QB A'Darius Carter. (© Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
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South Oak Cliff, despite dropping a 36-point decision to Lancaster last week, actually improved its rush defense from Week 1 to Week 2. In the opening win over Ennis, the Bears allowed 270 rushing yards and an average of almost seven yards per carry. However, Lancaster managed only 138 yards on 52 attempts last week. The problem SOC had was on offense, where it turned the ball over four times. If the Bears can maintain the same level of run defense and cut out the turnovers, they can hang with Longview.

Don't be surprised if: Longview settles on a starting quarterback by the conclusion on Friday's game. The Lobos begin district play next week, and it seems unlikely they will enter the most crucial point of their season without having a full-time starter at quarterback.

The South Oak Cliff defense might have a big say in who ultimately takes over the job permanently. If the Bears can force Longview into obvious passing situations by containing the ground game, the Lobos might find their quarterback with trial by fire. Whichever signal-caller performs the best Friday night should be in line for the gig.

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