The cause had nothing to do with the situation at hand, which at the time found the Lobos in control over cross-town rival Pine Tree, 17-0. What sent the bench on fire was word of Marshall's 14-3 upset win over Texas High, which gave Longview the District 14-AAAAA championship and a berth in the state playoffs.

Oh, by the way, the Lobos went on to take the mythical city championship here at Pine Tree Stadium Friday night, 23-0.

The win, Longview's fifth shutout in loop play, gave the Lobos outright possession of the district title after entering the contest tied with Texas High for first place.

And what a decisive victory it was as the ''Mean Green'' defense completely obliterated Pine Tree's offense, holding the Bucs to just 38 yards on the night and three first downs. In the first half alone, Pine Tree managed but 22 offense yards and one first down and crossed into Longview's side of the field just once all night following a fumble recovery at the end of the first quarter.

Other than that, it was all Longview, which moved at will between the 20-yard lines in amassing 300 yards offense and 19 first downs.

The Lobos threatened to break the game wide open early, driving into scoring position three times in the first half. But a fumble an a muffed field goal attempted stopped Longview twice to keep Pine Tree in the game at the half trailing 6-0.

Longview finally broke the ice midway into the second quarter after a nine-play drive moved the ball down to the four where Ronnie Hunter followed a block by left tackle Cedric Stephens and scored untouched. The point after attempt by Michael Rosborough was blocked by Scott Smith, and although holder Jones caught the ball in mid air and ran into the end zone, the play was whistled dead.

Longview's second points of the evening were donated by way of a fumble at the Pirate 21 on the third play of the second half as Nathan Harris recovered his second one of the night. Three plays later Hunter went in from 20 yards out and then tacked on the two-point run for a 14-0 advantage.