2005 Lowell Football Preview:  Re-loading or Rebuilding? Questions abound for defending 4A Sectional 9 champions

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

8-12-2005

LOWELL (8-12-2005) - If you had been 1-9 the last couple of years, you'd be excited about a 5-4 or 6-3. But if you have been the 4A Sectional 9 champion as Lowell has been the last two seasons and you returned 14 players who started last season including the No. 1 player in a 16-team league, you'd be talking about that one step you didn't take. 

"We'd like to be two-time defending regional champions," says 15th year coach Kirk Kennedy. "And if a couple of plays had gone a different way, we would be. Not every team has the realistic expectation of being the sectional or regional champion. We have the bar set high. But with that comes responsibility. You have to work hard every day. Go hard every practice. You either get better or you get worse. You don't stay the same." 

Although a lot of Lowell names stay the same this season, Lowell hopes to roll with some changes as graduation took a half dozen regulars. It's crazy to say that Lowell won't miss all-star tailback Toby Goetz, who almost ran for 2,000 yards in 2004. But running the football will continue to be Lowell's strength. 

"Scott Gray is really running well," said Kennedy. "He's running hard and he's got that change of direction. You can't teach that. I think he's going to have a very good year." 

Gray may have more than just a 'good' year. When this present Lowell senior class were freshmen in 2002, Gray gained 935 yards and 13 touchdowns on 126 carries in nine games. Barring injury, a 1,000-yard senior season would not be surprising. As a freshman, Jeff Clemens was the lead blocker. Now Clemens, who scored 23 TDs in 2004, will be the focus of the defense and junior wrestling star Ethan Winel, who was still in 8th grade in 2002, will be the lead blocker. 

"Ethan Winel will be at fullback," said Kennedy, "He may not get many carries but his biggest value will come blocking and when everybody's looking for Gray and Clemens."

Technically, Lowell has only two returning starters (Ryan King and Jed Travis) in the offensive line but that's a little misleading because Randy Layman (6-1, 235) and Mike Staniewicz (6-5, 253) played part time last season. 

"I think the offensive front was more of a question last year than it is this year," says Kennedy. "We have questions, they're just in other areas." 

The biggest question is on the defensive line where only Jed Travis (5-11, 250) returns. 

"We lost both of our ends and we lost (Larin) Childless and he was a big factor. We've got Jed and Ethan plays there. It's not that we don't have anybody in the line, it's just that we don't know. You plug in last year's holes and see what happens. We've had good lines the last couple of years and now we don't know." 

Long-time Devil worshipers will tell you that Lowell always intends to throw more but it never happens. But is the Devils' coach hinting at changing his conservative ways when he speaks of his pass receivers? 

"Tight end is up in the air," Kennedy says. "We have the two Jacksons, (Justin Jackson and Gerald Jackson) and Chris Lampa," Kennedy says. "Maybe even Ethan (Winel) when he's not at fullback." 

"The wide outs are Clemens, Joe Wojcik and Michael Dowling. We've got a pretty good core of receivers." "I think skill positions we're as good as we've ever been ." "I may have to get a new (play) book." 

The quarterbacks are senior Jimmy Ritter and juniors Jon Cap (6-2, 165) and Josh Kuiper (5-11, 168). Although Kennedy did not name a starter for the season opener, many assume it will be Ritter, who quarterbacked this same group of players to an undefeated 9-0 freshman season in 2002. Under Kennedy, Lowell traditionally gives the senior the first chance at the QB job. 

"Ritter's quick," said Travis, "and he's a good passer. "His height is going to be an advantage for us, too." 

Kennedy adds, "I think Kuiper is starting to come on a bit. I like the way he's starting to take control." 

Ritter, who was largely a linebacker in 2004, ran for 11 TDs as a freshman quarterback and his ball-handling ability will be key to the rushing game. If Ritter can establish himself as a threat and deceive the defense with fakes, the Devils will easily duplicate the 3,000 rushing yards they rolled up in 2004. Lowell was strong at linebacker and somewhat weak in the secondary last season. Kennedy predicts more of the former and less of the latter. 

"If Ritter ends up at starting quarterback," the coach said. "He'll be a quarterback-outside linebacker. Ethan Winel will start at linebacker with Chris Lampa. We're in pretty good shape there. Last year's guys who were the question marks are a year older. Last year's question marks are this year's strengths.   Michael Dowling and Scott Gray on the corners. Clemens at free safety. Zach Zolmer will play back there and (sophomore) Stefan Peck is a name you're going to hear before the end of the year." 

Clemens is a solid punter and Justin Jackson or David Lang (5-10 1/2, 195.5), a sophomore. will be the placekicker. But Clemens, who is considered to be a member of the receiving core and a member of the backfield, clearly feels there's going to be a lot more extra points than punts in 2005. 

"We're going to have a mixed offense," he explains. "If they key on any of us, they (the coaches) are going to move us around. Our defense is so quick, the only problem might be that we overrun people. But we can fix that. We'll be explosive. It'll be hard to stop our offense because its so quick and it will be hard to stop the defense for the same reason." 

Sounds like next year is here. 

DEVIL NOTES:  Lowell knows that Crown Point will be a formidable test. 

"We talk about skill position players that we have but they really have good skill positions," said Kennedy. "(Matt) Jansen throws the ball so well and he's so fast. If he turns up field he's gets 10 yards before you can get to him. They have a lot of quick guys who can catch the ball." 

Kennedy likes the idea of his 4A team meeting their Class 5A neighbor in the season opener every season. 

"It keeps us grounded during two-a-day (practices)," he explained Friday. "The big rivalry game right off the bat gives the boys something to shoot for. I think it's good for us. We've won the last two so I know how much they want to beat us." 

Jed Travis agrees. "I know some of their (CP's) guys," he said Friday. "We hang out up there and sometimes we see them down here. I know they want to come here and beat us this time. They're working hard, I'm sure. As freshmen, Lowell was 9-0, outscoring the opposition 297-48. Lowell beat Crown Point 22-15 at the freshman level in 2002 but it should be noted that CP offensive stars Matt Ernest and Jon Sertich were in 8th grade then. That was the closest game Lowell had that season. The 2002 freshman team shut out four foes. They did not play Hobart because Lowell's varsity did not play Hobart at that time.

LOWELL (2005)

 Coach Kirk Kennedy (104-55, 14 years) 

Sectional titles: (5) 1992, 1994, 1999, 2003, 2004 

Regional titles: (2) 1994, 1999

2004 Record: 9-4 (lost the regional championship game at home 28-21 to state 4A runner-up Wawasee) 

LOWELL - 2004 Record 

8-20 (W) 25-15 at Crown Point (4-7) 

8-27 (W) 57-0 Calumet (2-8) 

9-3 (L) 20-21 at Griffith (9-3) 

9-10 (W) 52-21 Morton (4-7) 

9-17 (L) 28-35 Andrean (13-2) 

9-24 (W) 47-14 at Hammond (2-8) 

10-1 W) 36-7 Munster (4-6) 

10-8 (L) 6-9 Hobart (9-2) 

10-15 (W) 42-6 at Highland (6-6)

4A Sectional 9 

10-22 (W) 57-12 at Lew Wallace (1-8) 

10-29 (W) 13-10 Hobart (9-2) 

11-5 (W) 48-7 at Highland (6-6) 

4A Regional 11-12 (L) 21-28 Wawasee (13-2) 

LOWELL 2005 Schedule 

*8-19 (F) Crown Point (5A) 

8-26 (F) at Calumet (3A) 

*9-2 (F) GRIFFITH* (3A) 

9-9 (F) at MORTON (4A) 

*9-16 (F) ANDREAN* (3A) 

*9-23 (F) HAMMOND* (4A) 

9-30 (F) at MUNSTER (4A) 

10-7 (F) at HOBART (4A) 

*10-14 (F) HIGHLAND (4A)

* Key losses from 2004: TB Toby Goetz (276 carries-1,954 yards, 27 TDs), DL Larin Childress (9 QB sacks), QB Scott Schulz, C-LB Randy Lukasik (71 tackles) 

Key returning players for 2005: (WR-RB-S-P) Jeff Clemens (16-302 yards receiving; 61-751 yards rushing; (23 TDS: 5 receiving, 11 rushing, 4 on interceptions, 2 kick return TDs, one fumble return TD) 6 interceptions, 73 tackles, 31 punts (36.5 avg.), (OT-DT) Jed Travis, (OG-LB) Ryan King (73 tackles); (TB-DB) Scott Gray (50-381 rushing, 5TDs); (LB-FB) Ethan Winel.

For The Record

LOWELL RED DEVILS

Coach: Kirk Kennedy (104-55, 14 years)

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Revised: August 17, 2005 .