Posted: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:45 AM - 11,198 Readers
By: Rick Kretzschmar
Longview's football team averages 39.0 points per game while its Lake Travis counterpart scores at a 49.1 clip. The odds are against both teams scoring points at that same pace during Saturday's Class 4A Division I state championship game at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco, creating the possibility of the game coming down to one play.
That one play may not come from the offense or defense, but from special teams.
It would be an interesting scenario if such a case came down for the Lobos. Sometimes this season, Longview's special teams have been outstanding. Other times, Longview's special teams has been denied chances to make plays.
PlacekickingLongview kicker Kyle Jenkins could be among his team's unsung heroes. On extra-point attempts, Jenkins is 71-for-72, with his only miss against Marshall on Oct. 17. Jenkins has also made seven field goals, with a long of 40 yards against Tyler Lee on Sept. 5.
However, Jenkins has not made a field goal since Longview's bi-district playoff win over Whitehouse. In the last two weeks, Jenkins hasn't had a chance, with the Longview offense rolling for 14 touchdowns. Jenkins said he is aware that he could have a chance — in Super Bowl terms — of being an Adam Vinatieri or a Scott Norwood.
"I'm sure I would be a little nervous, but it would be fun to put it in," Jenkins said. "I have thought about it a little, but I definitely don't sit around thinking about it."
Sam Krider handles kickoffs for Longview. While Krider has been solid in his length, coach John King said he has been somewhat disappointed in kickoff coverage this season.
Krider has the range for touchbacks, but weather could work against him. The field at Floyd Casey Stadium has a west-to-east layout, and kicking into a strong wind from the west could be a challenge.
"Wind might be a factor," Krider said. "If the wind conditions are good, it's fun to see how far you can kick it."
Lake Travis appears to have a strong-legged kicker in Kramer Fyfe. Fyfe has kicked 81 extra points this season and 12 field goals, with a long of 47 yards in Lake Travis' season opener against Austin Westwood on Aug. 28, but hasn't kicked a field goal since the bi-district round against Austin Crockett. On 121 kickoffs, 60 have been touchbacks.
PuntingLongview quarterback Aaron Johnson has handled the punting chores since Chase Reed suffered a season-ending knee injury against Marshall. Johnson has averaged 32.2 yards on 12 punts and is a constant threat for a fake, although blocker LaDarrin Robertson pulled off a fake run for a first down against Denton Guyer last week.
Jake Patton has averaged 34.8 yards on 18 punts this season for Lake Travis.
Kickoff returnsWill Lake Travis kick deep to the Lobos? Recently, not many teams have, and when they do, it's at their own risk.
Longview receiver Carey Fortson has averaged 29.3 yards on 12 kickoff returns, including a 99-yard return for a touchdown to open the Hallsville game on Oct. 23, but most kickoffs to the Lobos recently have been pop ups to blockers.
"Guyer kicked it to us deep. It felt like that was the first time since the Hallsville game," Fortson said.
Against Guyer, Longview pulled a trick commonly used by NFL teams in the playoffs, such as when the Washington Redskins would send All-Pro cornerback Darrell Green to return punts in the 80's. Aaron Johnson had a rare kickoff return against Guyer, and it went for 63 yards, setting the table for his own 11-yard touchdown to ice a 49-28 victory.
"Will they send me back to return a kickoff against Lake Travis? Probably not," said Johnson, cracking a slight smile. "It was the first one I did this year. You have to have the right time."
Lake Travis' Andy Erickson, the team's top rusher, could be a big weapon in kick returns. Erickson averages 48.9 yards on seven returns, including a 101-yard return against Hutto on Oct. 2.
Punt returnsPunt returning is an area both teams have yet to tap for a big play yet this season. Addison McGee averages 9.2 yards on six returns for the Lobos while Joe Brown averages 8.6 yards on eight returns. Taylor Wrinkle has averaged 10.5 yards on 14 returns for Lake Travis.
