Mansfield Timberview’s magical run ends against top-ranked Longview in regional final
Mansfield Timberview was enjoying one of its best seasons in program history.
The Wolves had their best start to a season, most wins overall, most district wins and their first undefeated district championship since 2014, and they came into Friday night’s game undefeated at 13-0.
But the magical year came to an end at the hands of running back Taylor Tatum and the top-ranked Longview Lobos. Tatum scored five times with four on the ground as the Lobos beat the Wolves 37-21 in the Class 5A Division 1 Region 2 final at Mesquite Memorial Stadium.
Longview (14-0), No. 1 in the final 5A D1 state rankings, advances to the state semifinals for the first time since 2018. The Lobos will play Saturday’s winner between Aledo and Burleson Centennial.
Aledo and Centennial will play at 2 p.m. at the Ford Center in Frisco.
Timberview, No. 2 in the final state rankings, ends the season at 13-1.
The Wolves were in the regional final for the first time since 2011.
Longview showcases one of the best defenses in the state, but can also score in a bunches making the team a tough match up. The Lobos came into the game having allowed 116 points in 13 games, an average of 8.9 points per contest. The most points they had allowed in a single game was 19 in Week 8 against North Mesquite.
But on this night, it was the Tatum show. He accounted for nearly 200 yards, including over 160 yards rushing and four scores. His fourth TD run gave Longview a 37-21 lead midway through the fourth.
Tied at 14-14, Longview opened the third quarter with a nice return to the Timberview 40. Four plays later the Lobos led 21-14 on a 24-yard Tatum catch from quarterback Jordan Allen.
Four plays from scrimmage later and there would be 14 more points added to the scoreboard.
First on the ensuing Timberview drive, Jarvis Reed made a move down the Timberview sideline and scored from 60 yards to tie the game at 21 with eight minutes left in the third.
But that was the final points for the Wolves.
It was answered on the next play from scrimmage when Tatum scored on a 58-yard TD run.
Longview made a stop and added three more when Michael Fields nailed a 36-yard field goal to extend the Lobos lead to 31-21 five seconds into the final quarter.
Reed led Timberview with 162 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries.
Cameron Bates added 35 yards on the ground and 184 through the air with two total touchdowns.
Timberview fumbled on the opening drive of the game and Xaryus Sheppard recovered for the Lobos at the Wolves 24. Six plays later and Tatum rushed in a 3-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead with 7:34 left in the first quarter.
After Zuric Humes started at quarterback for Timberview, Bates came in on the second drive and scored on a 29-yard touchdown run. The Wolves went 75 yards on nine plays and converted three third downs. The first came on a Longview off sides penalty which was followed by a 19-yard Bates to Titus Evans pass.
After the extra point, the game was tied at 7 with 2:55 to go in the opening period.
The teams continued to trade touchdowns when Longview capped off a 7-play 64-yard drive with Tatum’s second touchdown run, from 12 yards out, to give the Lobos a 14-7 lead with 11:08 left in the second.
Timberview gifted Longview with two first downs on the drive when the Wolves were called for defensive pass interference. But the Wolves offense would respond again on the ensuing drive.
The Wolves went 76 yards on eight plays.
Bates hit Evans for 17 to the Lobos 43 and Reed rushed for 15 to the 25. On the next play, Bates tossed a 25-yard touchdown to Savion McKinnon to tie it at 14 with 7:31 left in the half.
Longview was then forced to punt after a three-and-out, but the Lobos were able to pin Timberview down at the 1. However, the Wolves managed a long drive, getting 24 yards on an Evans’ one-handed grab. Timberview got to the Longview 32 before Bates picked up a big gain inside the red zone, but a holding pushed the ball back to the 44 and the Wolves had to punt on fourth-and-22 before the half came to an end.
This story was originally published December 2, 2022 at 9:38 PM.
