Preseason all-state wide receiver Malcolm Kelly added the onslaught with three receptions for 103 yards and two TDs as the Lobos made their home debut at Lobo Stadium with a 42-13 rout of Lake Highlands.

It was the first time the Lobos played on their new synthetic turf surface. They ground out 331 yards on the ground and passed for an additional 251.

Unfortunately, Longview may have lost senior quarterback Qunicy Grant, who injured the same knee he had surgery on last year to repair a torn ACL. He left with 1:04 left in the first quarter, having already connected for an 80-yard touchdown play to Gordon Freeman. Grant was 1-for-1 passing and had one carry for no gain.

Carlin Freeman started the game and finished it, throwing for 171 yards while completing 5 of 11 passes with three touchdowns.

Kelly, who injured an ankle early in the first quarter of the season opener against Marshall and then did play last week’s game at Monroe Neville, played like the standout he was last year where he caught 27 passes for 826 yards and six TDs. Chris Ivory had two catches for 70 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 81 on six carries. Jarvis Pippins added 82 yards on six carries in a backup role.

After struggling on their opening series, Longview took advantage of the first of two costly fumbles by the Wildcats. Kelcie Oliver fell on the ball at the Lake Highlands’ 44. Eight plays later on fourth-and-goal from the 2, Carlin Freeman tossed a slant pass to Kelly for touchdown at the seven-minute mark. Willie Cloyd added the first of his six extra points.

Lake Highland would get an early gift from Longview, by way of a fumble, only to have Kyle Humphreys miss a 36-yard field goal attempt. It was his first miss after opening the season by going 3-for-3, including a 52-yarder.

The Lobos needed just one play after the missed field goal to go 80 yards and Gordon Freeman caught a pass over the middle from Grant, who had come into the game, and outran the Wildcat defense into the end zone.

The Wildcats finally put six points on the scoreboard as Bryson Porter scored on a 4-yard run as they marched 52 yards in four plays with 10:24 showing in the second quarter. Humphreys was wide left on the point-after try.

Longview then put up two more scores before halftime as Carlin Freeman threw up a pass toward the left sideline to Kelly, who then beat the one-on-one coverage for an 80-yard touchdown.

McGee (18-126) added the first of his two TDs on a 10-yard run with 10 seconds left before halftime. The drive started at the Lake Highlands’ 30 as Keith Johnson recovered a Wildcat fumble.

Ivory pushed the lead to 35-6 on the Lobos’ first possession of the second half. He took a short pass from Carlin Freeman and tip-toed his way down the left sideline.

Lake Highlands then mustered the most time-consuming drive of the game, driving 96 yards in nine plays with Evan Fentriss catching a 22-yard scoring strike from Patrick Sedder, who was 11 of 20 for 190 yards passing. This time, Humphreys successfully split the uprights.

The drive followed a Lobo fumble at the Wildcat 4.

Longview then answered, again with a quick scoring drive, as McGee picked up 16 yards, Ivory followed with 18 and McGee finished it off with a 40-yard scoring scamper. Cloyd’s extra point made it 42-13 with 1:28 remaining in the third quarter.

The Lobos take on Evangel Christian Academy next Saturday at Independence Stadium in Shreveport. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. It will be the final tune-up before District 12-5A play begins on Sept. 24 at Lobo Stadium against Mesquite.