But the Lobos - veterans of three previous comebacks in 1997 - simply buckled down and turned the final 46 minutes of the contest into a showcase for Fred Talley's offensive skills.

Talley rushed for 175 yards and a pair of touchdowns as Longview outscored the archrival Mavericks 40-7 the rest of the way en route to a 40-21 victory. The win sent Longview into the postseason with a 10-0 record and the knowledge that a team building an early cushion against the Lobos was simply setting itself up for a monumental letdown.

Longview trailed at halftime against Killeen in week two, Lufkin in week six and John Tyler in week nine before Marshall put in its upset bed in the final week of the season by scoring on passes of 81 and 19 yards just 64 seconds into the game.

Just as it had against Killeen, Lufkin, and John Tyler, Longview's defense said "enough is enough." The Lobo offense took its due and turned things over to Talley, who turned the game into a track meet by scoring on runs of one and 50 yards to go along with a 37-yard touchdown reception.

The turnaround began for the Lobos as it did so many times in 1997 - with the defense turning in a big play.

This time it was lineback Jacob Pierce falling on a fumble to halt a Marshall drive at midfield. With four solo tackles, two fumble recoveries, and three broken up passes, the third-year senior had his best game since returning from a season-opening broken leg.

Ten plays later, Lobos quarterback Jay Hurst put Longview kon the scoreboard with a two-yard run.

After forcing a Marshall punt, Longview mounted perhaps its most impressive drive of the season - taking over at its own seven and marching 93 yards in 14 plays to tie the game on a one-yard run by Talley. Talley carried 10 times for 67 yards on the game-tying march.

Longview took the lead for good just before intermission when Talley turned a short screen pass into a 37-yard touchdown. His 50-yard scoring journey in the second half gave the Lobos a 26-14 lead.

Marshall cut the deficit to 26-21, but two defensive stars got into the scoring act late for the Lobos to turn the game into a rout.

Lion Bell, the team's leading tackler from his middle linebacker position, entered the game on offense in the Lobos' short-yardage package - scoring from one yard out with 9:48 to play for a 33-21 lead. Shawn Brysong latere capped the scoring when he picked off a pass and went untouched for 49 yards to makke the final 40-21.