2006
Lowell Football Preview: Defending 4A State Champions again aim for
Sectional Title as goal2006
Lowell Football Preview: Defending 4A State Champions again aim for
Sectional Title as goal2006
LOWELL
Head Coach: Kirk Kennedy
School Address: 2051 Commercial Ave. - Lowell
Years as Head Coach: 15 (115-59) 11-4 in 2005
League:
Lake Athletic Conference (LAC) Black Division (final season)
Offensive Coordinator: Brad Stewart
Defensive Coordinator: Jim Carlson
Assistants: Keith Kilmer. Jim Kiechle, Trent Staggs, Ed Miracle, Denny Cripe,
Mark Dekiski,
Bob Wragg and Shane Tucker
Offensive Scheme: Multiple I, Defensive Scheme: 4-4
Championships
SECTIONALS (6) `92, `94, '99, 2003, 2004, 2005
REGIONALS (3) 1994, 1999, 2005
SEMISTATES (1) 2005
STATE TITLES (1) 2005
Returnees
Sr - Josh Kuiper (S-LB) 73 tackles, 2 sacks
Jr - Jeff Barker (DE) 66 tackles, 5 sacks
Jr - Kaleb Layman (DE) 18 tackles
Sr - Mike Staniewicz (DT) 41 tackles
Jr. - Steffan Peck (RB) 75 carries, 417 yards, 4 TDs
Sr. - Max Znika (RB) 41 carries, 219 yards, TDs
LOWELL
(8-8-2006) - The
best thing about being the state champion is the off-season when you wear your
ring, sing the praises of your school and accept congratulations. The
worst thing about winning the title is coming back to defend it. Everybody
thinks they're facing the championship team and you need to be able to play like
them at least some of the time.
But this is a new Lowell team, which will put the rings away and go back to the traditional Lowell goal, which is simply to win the Sectional championship. Lowell will break out a largely new backfield with quarterback Josh Kuiper and running backs Steffan Peck, Max Znika and Danny Remboski. Kuiper (6-0, 187) played a little at QB last season, but was a regular on defense. It was Kuiper's interception that set up the winning touchdown against Roncalli last November.
Peck (5-7, 164) played regularly and gained over 300 yards, although he didn't get the ball nearly as much as he will now. Znika (6-0, 174), a varsity wrestler, was a productive backup, while Remboski (6-0, 193) battled through an injury-plagued season where he played mostly linebacker.
"Josh has got some moxie," said Kennedy. "He'll do okay for us."
"He was coming up to the line and stopping on his blocks," said Kennedy of his new fullback's early practices. "I don't know why. But now, he's accelerating on contact and knocking people down and he's not little."
Kuiper, Lowell's baseball catcher, throws the ball and, while he isn't fast, he's not a bad runner. If Barker and Jon Cap (6-1, 177) can catch the ball consistently, Lowell will move the ball and score points, because Peck is a steady, if not spectacular ball carrier and Znika has good strength. Layman, Wentworth, Andrew Steuer (6-0, 222) and kicker David Lang (6-0, 206) have to be able to get the quick hitting blocks that Lowell runners traditionally have popped through. Lang should make kicking a Lowell strength. He's been in six playoff games so kicking against Calumet won't scare him.
Lowell's defensive line should be a strength with Kaleb Layman (5-10, 188), Mike Staniewicz (6-7, 264) and Jeff Barker (6-5, 187) all back from last year, although Layman may drop to linebacker. The Devils have a little more height than usual with linemen like Joe Carlson (6-2, 186) and Geno Wentworth (6-2, 225). That will help them on the pass rush. Barker, who reportedly has been clocked in a 4.6 40-yard dash, and Staniewicz have to be active enough to draw double teams from offensive lines to allow others to get to the ball carrier or passer.
The secondary will include Peck, probably Lukas Palmer (5-11, 160) and a deep back to be named later like juniors Zack Porras (6-0, 150) or TJ Lukasik (5-7, 165). With Peck taking some break time because of his ball carrying duties and with multiple offense teams like Morton, CP and Andrean lined up, Lowell will need good play from new defensive backs. Everybody will try to throw on Lowell. Kuiper will be a linebacker in Lowell's 4-4-3 defense along with Remboski and Znika or Layman. By mid-season, this will be a good defense.
As
for new boys, sophomore Cody Midgett (5-8, 140) isn't very big, but he's
reportedly been a productive running back throughout youth football.
Kennedy likes soph QB Kurt Monix (5-10, 145), calling him a natural signal
caller. The coach hints that you will most definitely see Monix sooner
rather than later.
Kennedy says that he does not know who will excel in the early going and who
will not, because a lot of players will be making their varsity debut August 18
at Crown Point.
"We
just need people to step up into the roles of varsity players," he
explains. "There will be a transition. When you're a JV kid,
you are told what to do all the time. Get out there and make a
tackle. Go over here and block that guy. You are told what to do all
the time. On the varsity you have to show some initiative and in some
cases, leadership. There's a transition period there. You've really
got to participate. On Friday night we're (the coaches) not going to be
out there, although they may be
able to hear us. They've got to be able to listen to each other and fix
things."
Lowell is not blessed with upperclassmen, carrying just 11 seniors to lead 23 juniors and 23 sophomores. The Red Devils know this is a rebuilding year, but they have enough players to win the sectional championship.
"This
was always a light class," said Kennedy. "Some of our juniors
did play last year, but we are going to need a lot of people to step up."
DEVIL NOTES: Lowell travels to Lafayette Jefferson
(6:30 CDT) for Friday's scrimmage. Clark hosts Hammond in a 4:00 p.m.
scrimmage Saturday (8-12-2006), which makes a lot more sense for them than it
did to come to Lowell every year. Clark never hosted Lowell in the
scrimmage.
Lowell's date with Jefferson is an emergency situation.
"That's just a one-time thing," said Kennedy. "Starting next year, we'll play a home and home with Twin Lakes."
Lowell has had six 1,000-yard rushers (Michael Pickett twice, Mike French twice, Justin Henley and Scott Gray) wear the number six and it has become a symbol of Lowell rushing success. Junior Steffan Peck chose the number 13 instead.
"Its a family thing," he said. "My birthday is on the 13th. My grandfather has '13' tattooed all over him. My parents were married on the 13th. It's just my number."
The number six was given to promising sophomore running back Cody Midgett (5-8, 140), who will start the season on the junior varsity.
This is the alternate year where Lowell will do poorly at the gate. Not only is the scrimmage out of town, but Lowell has only four home games and the teams are Morton, Hammond, Calumet and Hobart. Only Hobart traditionally brings a decent crowd.
Lowell surprised coach Kennedy last week when they didn't complain about the 99-degree heat.
"They just dealt with it," he said. "They didn't moan and groan. They did their job."
Lowell's
annual pig roast, normally held at the scrimmage, will take play at the Calumet
game on August 25.
2006
LOWELL Football
Coach
Kirk Kennedy
Aug 18 at Crown Point
Aug 25 Calumet
Sep 01 at GRIFFITH
Sep 08 MORTON
Sep 15 at ANDREAN
Sep 22 at Hammond
Sep 29 MUNSTER
Oct 06 HOBART**
Oct 13 at HIGHLAND
**radio broadcast on WTMK (88.5) FM
2005
LOWELL (11-4)
Aug 19 (L) 6-16 Crown Point (11-1)
Aug 26 (W) 61-14 at Calumet (4-6)
Sep 02 (L) 0-21 Griffith
(13-1)
Sep 09 (L) 13-32 at Morton (8-4)
Sep 16 (L) 0-7 Andrean
(8-2)
Sep 23 (W) 41-6 Hammond (1-10)
Sep 30 (W) 48-7 at Munster (3-7)
Oct 07 (W) 14-7 at Hobart
(6-6)
Oct 14 (W) 41-14 Highland (4-6)
4A State Tournament
Oct 21 (W) 41-6 at Gary Roosevelt (3-6)
Oct 28 (W) 41-6 Kankakee Valley (7-4)
Nov 04 (W) 32-6 Hobart
(6-6)
Nov 11 (W) 30-23 at Concord (9-4)
Nov 18 (W) 16-14 FW South (11-3)
Nov 26 (W) 28-27 vs Roncalli (12-3)
2006 LOWELL
Varsity roster - as of 8-5-2006
2. Kurt Monix (5-10, 145) QB-DB (soph)
3. Zach Porras (6-0, 149) QB-DB (junior)
4. Ben Rigby (5-10, 163) LB-WR (junior)
5. Johnny Underwod ( 5-7, 147) DB-WR (junior)
6. Cody Midgett (5-8, 139) DB-RB (sophomore)
7. Timothy (TJ) Lukasik (5-7, 165) DB-RB (junior)
8. Jacob Belt (5-8, 153) DB-QB (sophomore)
9. Eric Roadruck (5-7, 145) DB-WR (junior)
10. Luke Palmer (5-11, 160) DB-WR (junior)
12. Jon Cap (6-1, 177) DB-WR (senior)
13. Steffan Peck (5-7, 164) DB-RB (junior)
14. Josh Kuiper (6-0, 187) LB-QB (senior)
18. Chris Jacobsen (5-6, 139) DB-WR (senior)
20. Max Znika IV (6-0, 174) LB-RB (senior)
21. Josh Grah (5-8, 152) DB-WR (senior)
22. Chris Briggs (5-9, 165) LB-RB (senior)
23. Dustin Warren 6-2, 158) DB-WR (junior)
24. Matt Garton (5-8, 152) DB-WR (junior)
25. Tyler Overdorf (5-111, 130) DB-WR (senior)
26. Josh LoFrano (5-7, 148) DB-WR (junior)
29. Ryan Cotner (5-8, 147) LB -WR (sophomore)
30. Chris Thompson (5-9, 165) DB-WR (junior)
31. Bryan DeSomer (5-10, 160) LB-RB (sophomore)
32. James Zelenka (5-8, 147) DB-WR (sophomore)
33. Dean Frigo (5-10, 176) LB-TE (junior)
34. Jeff Barker (6-5, 187) DE-TE (junior)
35. Jonothan Heabel (5-10, 135) DB-WR (sophomore)
37. Thomas Moore Jr. (5-11,167) DE-TE (sophomore)
40. Joe Carlson (6-2, 186) DE-TE (junior)
42. Danny Remboski (6-0, 193) LB-FB (junior)
43. Dave Eastling (6-0, 187) LB-FB (sophomore)
44. Andrew Eldred (5-11, 172) LB-RB (sophomore)
45. Steve VaBaber (5-9, 169) LB-RB (sophomore)
46. Chris Hernthaisong (5-8, 152) LB-WR (sophomre)
50. Eugene (Geno) Wentworth (6-2, 225) DL-OL (junior)
51. Kaleb Laymen (5-10 188) LB-OL (junior)
52. David Lang (6-0, 206) LB-OL (junior)
53. Craig DuBord (5-10, 193) DE-OL (sophomore)
54. Ryan Russnak (5-11, 163) LB-OL (sophomore)
56. Nick Traficanti (5-6, 214) DL-OL (senior)
57. Dave Steuer (6-2, 162) DE-OL (senior)
58. Nick Schultz (5-110,200) LB-OL (sophomore)
60. Andrew Steuer (6-0, 222) DL-OL (senior)
61. Lewis Chrsitensen (5-9, 211) DL-OL (sophomore)
62. Evan Munjas (5-10, 146) DE-OL (sophomore)
64. Matt Heabel (5-9, 184) DL-OL (junior)
66. Logan Wright (5-11, 242) DL-OL (sophomore)
68. Kyle Osburn (6-0, 214) DL-OL (sophomore)
69. Josh Hayden (5-10, 185) DL-OL (junior)
72. Jon Sgouroudis (6-1, 247) DL-OL (junior)
75. Brian DeMario (6-3, 203) DL-OL (sophomore)
76. Mike Staniewicz (6-7, 264) DL-OL (senior)
78. Justin Juarez (6-4, 197) LB-OL (junior)
79. John Black (6-2, 187) DE-OL (junior)
82. Trevor Kersey (6-1, 208) DE-TE (sophomore)
84. Jacob Gill (6-0, 189) DE-TE (senior)
95. Robert Stluka (5-9, 168) DE-RB (junior)
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2006 USA-365.com and Meyer
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reserved.
Revised: August 11, 2006
.