Scots Travel to Longview to Play the Lobos Friday Night

by Kirk Dooley

If you’ve found yourself whining about the lack of district competition for the Scots the past few years, just hop in your car Friday evening and drive 137 miles to Longview. Make sure your seat belt is buckled, even after you get there.
The Longview Lobos, who are recent 6A state champions, dropped down to 5A this season and are picked to win district 7-5A D-I, with Highland Park picked as the runner-up. Some sportswriters pick Longview to beat the Scots this Friday. The Lobos come into the game averaging more than 50 points per game in district play. If you yearn for top competition for the Scots, you’ve come to the right place.
Highland Park is ranked second in state and Longview is ranked third. How’s that for some district competition? And these two teams aren’t just good every once in a while. They are competitive all the time and are two of the winningest high school football programs in America. As of this week, Highland Park is the 10th winningest program in nation, with 843 all-time wins. East Texas powerhouse Longview is the 64th winningest program in the nation with 737 all-time wins.
Last year Longview went 11-1 and this season is currently 5-1, including two big district wins. The Lobos beat West Mesquite 49-24 two weeks ago and then last Friday they pounded Wylie East, 52-17.
What makes the Lobos go? Their offense begins with a star running back named Kaden Meredith (#7), who is a power runner with sprinter speed. Last year he ran for 1,646 yards and found the end zone 20 times. This season he is averaging 113 yards per game. While he’s no Don or Joe or Jake or Josh Meredith, his 4.4 speed could be the difference in the game. So while the Scots defense focuses on Meredith, another running back, Markevion Haynes (#17) is a 100-yard RB who averages two running TDs per game. Last week he averaged 20 yards every time he touched the ball.
Sophomore quarterback Jordan Allen (#12) is averaging just 75 yards per game in the air, so the Lobo passing game is not yet where it will be come playoff time.
Another Lobo speciality is explosive special teams. Shannon Jackson II (#32) had a 93-yard kickoff return against West Mesquite. And wide receiver Cedric Hopkins (#6) is a very dangerous kick returner who also caught an 88-yard touchdown pass two weeks ago.
Yes, the Scots got an upgrade in district competition. And Longview has played twice as many games as the Scots this season. On paper you would call the Scots inexperienced at this point, but Coppell and Rockwall would beg to differ. Today, both 6A teams are undefeated except for their losses to Highland Park.
For the Scots, that’s gaining experience the hard way, but the quickest way.