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4A No. 3 Lowell
(9-0)
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Week
10 - Football Game of the Week Preview|
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4A No. 3 Lowell
(9-0)
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A
USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith
10-24-2008
When:
Friday, October 24, 2008
Where:
School Field, South Bend
Tickets: $66
TV/Radio: WKIF
(92.7) FM, WTMK (88.5) FM
ENROLLMENT: Washington
- Class 4A, enrollment - 1,465; LOWELL -
Class 4A, enrollment - 1,254
PARKING: School field is a
large seat city-owned stadium on the
west side of South Bend.
Washington plays this Friday night. Adams plays Saturday night. Note. You need directions. School Field is
NOT at Washington high school.
School Field first opened in 1929
and, at one time, had a capacity of
15,000. It has been remodeled
several times since the early days
but it is still the main stadium for
South Bend public schools. There should be plenty of room for
all comers. Washington was 0-10
last season so I don't know how much
of a following they have. Remember,
the game is at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time
so it starts at 7:00 p.m. Lowell time
just as all other games have this
season.
If WASHINGTON wins: They play
on the road at either Concord (8-1)
or Plymouth (9-0).
If LOWELL wins: They play on
the road at Concord (8-1) or they
host Plymouth (9-0).
The Series: This is the
first-ever meeting of Lowell and
South Bend Washington. The two
schools have virtually nothing in
common and I'd bet that neither
understands why they are in the same
football sectional. Washington won the first Class
3A Indiana state championship in
1973 when they were 12-0 but they
have not won a sectional since 1979,
largely because they were a 5A
school and Penn blocked their path.
Washington's Panthers were 10-0-1
in 1939, 10-0 in 1943, 9-0-1 in 1944
and 10-0 in 1953.
I have absolutely no faith in the old "mythical" wire service state championships that were given out before the state tourney began in 1973. The Panthers were chosen as the Associated Press (AP) state champions of Indiana in 1969, 1939 an 1937. They were chosen as the old United Press International (UPI) state champs in 1943, 1944 and 1953. If you want to know how the different wire services could pick them No. 1 in different years, join the club. Word is, those pre-tournament state champs depended a lot on where your school was and who your coach knew.
South Bend has a long history in high school football. South Bend Central, which closed in 1969, played football in 1892 and is considered the first Indiana team to play high school football. There is some confusion about Washington. The school's web site says it opened in 1960 but Northern Indiana Football.com has game-by-game scores going back to 1936. The 1937-1939, Washington annually played White Plains, New York in a series that I can't explain. In 1941-42, Washington played Evansville Reitz, which is 200 miles away. The Panthers also played Evansville Memorial and Bosse in those days.
Washington was a very prestigious football school in the middle of the 20th Century. But after a 10-2 season in 1977, Washington's program began to decline, probably due to shifts in population to the outskirts of South Bend. For the next 30 seasons (the Panthers won eight games in 1989 and 1990), Washington won six games or less 28 times. 2008 is Washington's first winning season since 2001 and this is only the third winning season for the Panthers since 1990.
Obviously, the South Bend scene is dominated by Notre Dame football and the coaching change, bringing in a former Notre Dame player, clearly has inspired the program. The 'spread offense' the Panthers use might not be the best way to play football in Northern Indiana in October and November but it probably is a style that the school's best athletes, largely basketball players, wish to play. If Washington ran the ball 50 times a game like Lowell did they might not have as many players.
Washington is like Hammond
high in that their greatest years
came before the state tournament
began. The Panthers surge also
resembles Hammond's rise from 2-10
in 2006 to 9-2 in 2007. Washington
has gone from 0-10 in 2007 to 7-2 in
2008 so they will see this game as a
potential trip to the mountain top.
Friday night might be the time when
we all know if 'the surge' has been
a success.
-023.jpg) |
| Lowell's quarterback Kurt Monix (2) and wide receiver Jake Belt (8) make a great passing/receiving combination on offense. (All photos by Mark Smith) |
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| Lowell QB Kurt Monix rolling out against Hammond High earlier this year. Lowell has won 15 consecutive sectional playoff games. |
Lowell Red Devils (9-0)
Coach Kirk Kennedy,
143-67 in (18th year)
8-22 (W) 7-0 at Crown Point
(3-6)
8-29 (W) 47-20 Morton (6-3)
9- 5 (W) 42-0 Kankakee Valley (3-6)
9-12 (W) 27-12 at GRIFFITH (5-4)
9-19 (W) 55-7 at HIGHLAND (0-9)
9-26 (W) 35-32 HOBART (8-1)
10-3 (W) 63-0 at Hammond (6-3)
10-10 (W) 24-7 MUNSTER (6-3)
10-17 (W) 35-6 at ANDREAN (3-6)
Sectional 10 Quarterfinals
Oct. 24 (F) at (South Bend)
Washington (7-2)
Oct 31 (F) Sectional 10 semifinals
vs either Plymouth (9-0) or at
Concord (8-1)
Nov. 7 (F)
Sectional 10 finals
Nov. 14 (F) 4A Regional final
Nov. 21 (F) 4A Semistate
Nov. 29 (S) Class 4A state final -
Lucas Oil Arena (4 p.m. EST)
downtown Indianapolis
Coach Antwon Jones(1st year)
8-22 (W) 20-19 at (Mishawaka)
Marian (3-6)
8-29 (W) 22-20 Michigan City (4-5)
9-5 (L) 6-17 at Elkhart Central
(2-6)
9-12 (W) 24-14 (SB) Adams (3-6)
9-19 (W) 38-28 (SB) Clay (4-5)
9-26 (W) 28-0 East Chicago (4-5)
10-3 (W) 13-10 (SB) St. Joseph's
(7-2)
10-10 (L) 13-24 at (SB) Riley (3-6)
10-17(W) 13-7 Mishawaka (6-3)
Class 4A Sectional 10
Quarterfinals
Oct 24 (F) Lowell (9-0)
Oct 31 (F) at Concord (8-1) or at
Plymouth (9-0)
Nov. 7 (F) Sectional 10 finals
Nov. 14 (F) 4A Regional
Nov. 21 (F) Northern 4A Semistate
championship
Nov. 29 (S) 2008 Class 4A title game
- Lucas Oil Arena (4 p.m. EST) in
Indianapolis
SOUTH BEND (10-24-8)
I cannot explain how Washington beat St. Joseph's and Mishawaka, but loses
to sub-.500 squads Riley and
Elkhart Central.
I cannot totally explain how
Washington was 0-10 last year and is
7-2 now.
That's why Lowell has to
take this team seriously. Apparently
some well-known South Bend football
schools (like St. Joe, Mishawaka and
Marian) chose not to this season and
they got beat.
Some teams pass a little. Some teams
pass a lot. Washington, coached by
Notre Dame alum Antwon Jones in his
head coaching debut, threw 292
passes in their first nine games. The starting quarterback is junior
Pat Borlik but his sophomore brother
Tate Borlik also may play. Against
Riley, in a 24-13 loss, the Borlik
brothers completed 19 of 53 passes
for 287 yards. They seem not to care
if the passes are incomplete. They
accept a couple of interceptions. The Panthers had scored 22 TDs
through eight games and only three
were rushing TDs.
They line up
senior Jarrett Fleming (6-5, 225)
and junior Troy Franklin (6-1, 190)
who have combined for 16 touchdowns
and they throw whether you are
stopping them or not.
No one has run for more than 200
yards on Washington's defense, even
though the Panther offense clearly
does not eat up the clock. Why? Tackles Darren Fisher (6-0, 260) and
Aaron Cruz (5-9, 240) are big
defenders, but I don't know how many
good running teams they've played.
Jesus Mercado has two field goals
from 28 and 39 yards. One thing to
note. Mercado has had an extra point
blocked in each of the last two
games. Washington is only about
50-50 on extra points.
Washington has run for less than 500
yards all season, but I cannot tell
if that's because they prefer to
throw or because they simply don't
have the offensive line to run
block. Probably both. It is hard to
see how they'll win playoff games
without rushing the football
effectively.
But the Panthers' defense might be
better than the numbers show because
they have to be on the field quite a
bit. Some suggest that South Bend
football is at the level of Gary or
Hammond football, but there's nobody
in Gary or Hammond that could beat
Mishawaka as Washington did. Washington does not
allow the sustained drives that
Lowell lives on.
4A Lowell Red Devils (9-0)
Enrollment: 1,254
2007 record: 13-2
4A Sectional titles: (9) 1992, 1994,
1999, 2003, 04, 05, 06, 07.
4A Regional titles: (4) 1994, 1999,
2005, 2007
4A Semi state titles: (2) 2005, 2007
4A State Titles (1)
2005
LOWELL (10-24-2008) Lowell will run the ball 25-30 times with junior halfback Brandon Grubbe (191 carries, 1,160 yards). Lowell has two other smaller halfbacks Cody Midgett (24 carries, 242 yards, 6 TDs) and Deron Johnson (48 carries, 291 yards, 6 TDs) who have consistently reached the end zone and fullback Bryan DeSomer (51 carries, 252 yards. 5 TDs) who runs behind the quick offensive line, which includes center Ryan Russnak (6-3, 175) with Justin Juarez (6-3, 227), Brian DeMario (6-3, 232), Nick Schultz (6-0, 238), and David Eastling (6-0, 213).
Playing a team they have never seen on a field where they have never played, it may take a couple of series for the Devils to get started. I don't know what the condition of the turf at School Field is, but Lowell's running game is based on footwork and speed. That's why its worrisome to play on the road.
Senior Jake Belt (5-8, 160) has caught 15 passes for an unreal 385 yards (25.6 per catch), while Midgett (10 catches, 184 yards) has added another threat for QB Kurt Monix (50 of 80, 1,091 yards, 8 TDs) who threw his first interception last week. Lowell throws less than 10 passes a game and that wont change because incomplete passes will give Washington more possessions. The Panthers also have a quality defensive secondary, probably because they practice so much against a passing offense.
Lowell has allowed less than 900 yards passing all year. I wouldn't be surprised to see Brandon Grubbe begin the game in the secondary. Grubbe is a quality defensive back, but he doesn't play there because he runs the ball so much. He may be more valuable on defense in this game.
But the key will be the pass rush and junior defensive end Nate Cleveland (6-4, 200) has been a factor with four sacks in the last two games. With Joe Bell (6-3, 190), who has five sacks this year, on the other side, the Devils are getting the pass rush they lacked early in the year. The defensive line needs to be ready Friday because part of Washington's game plan is to wear them out.
Kicker Matt Berkos has two field goals (21, 27 yards) and he has made 28 extra points in a row since missing a point boot against Griffith on September 12th. Lowell has allowed just 36 points in the first half all season and they have outscored eight foes 145-14 in the second quarter.
Lowell's back-to-back games with Andrean and Munster should make them ready for this test. But I suspect the Panthers keep a back or two in the backfield and throw 'jump ball' type passes to their tall receivers. The Devils haven't seen anything like that since they faced Hobart and Bobby James in September.
4A, No. 3 LOWELL (9-0) at S.B. Washington (7-2)
At School Field - South Bend - Capacity: 5,000 - Sagarin computer ratings: Lowell by 19
SOUTH
BEND
(10-24-2008) -
None of us know exactly what the Red
Devils are walking into here so
Lowell will be very conservative in
the early going.
The Panthers will try to strike
early on a pass-and-run TD from Pat
Borlik (6-2, 190) to Jarrett Fleming
(6-5, 225). That's what they do
every game and they apparently don't
hide it.
Washington apparently throws the ball to him whether he's covered or not. They want to create one-on-one coverage and they expect Fleming, a Division-1 caliber pass catcher, to go up and get it over smaller defensive backs. In the first quarter, he will to give the Panthers a 7-0 lead.
The Devils will respond on defense
when Ryan Russnak intercepts a pass
and takes it back for a game-tying
TD.
Washington will stop the run early,
but a blocked punt will lead to a
short drive and Lowell fullback
Bryan DeSomer will break through for
a TD to give the Devils a 14-7 lead
before halftime.
When you throw the ball 15-20 times
a game, you are trying to find a
weakness and exploit it. When you
throw 30-35 times a game you are
trying to wear the other team out so
they'll make a mistake and give you
a TD or two. Lowell has to be
disciplined to not play the
scoreboard. Whether they are up 14
or down 14, the Panthers will play
the same game. They do not have a
running attack.
From a distance, the Panthers look like a slightly upgraded version of last year's Hammond high team which lost 20-0 at Lowell. I believe that Washington will tie the game in the third quarter, but Lowell will get 12-15 possessions for the game and the Devils will pull away in the late going with three interceptions. Washington can't control the clock and their kicking game is not strong.
Lowell will be the first team to rush for 300 yards on Washington with most of it coming late on breakaway runs by Brandon Grubbe and Cody Midgett.
This will be a long night for Lowell but they will eventually prevail, improving to 10-0 for the first time since 1993.
LOWELL 38, Washington 21