2007 Lowell Football Preview:  15 returning starters hope to improve on 7-6 record from 2006

A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith
8-14-2007

2007 LOWELL FOOTBALL
Head Coach:  Kirk Kennedy
School Address:  2051 Commercial Ave. - Lowell
Years as Head Coach:  16 (122-65) 7-6 in 2006

League:  Northwest Crossroads Conference (NWCC) (first season)

Championships
SECTIONALS (6) `92, `94, '99, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
REGIONALS (3) 1994, 1999, 2005
SEMISTATES (1) 2005
STATE TITLES (1) 2005

2007 LOWELL FOOTBALL
Aug. 17 (F)  Crown Point (12-1)
Aug. 24 (F) at Morton (5-5)
Aug. 31 (F) at KANKAKEE VALLEY (8-2)
Sep. 7 (F) GRIFFITH (10-1)
Sep. 14 (F) HIGHLAND (3-8)
Sep. 21 (F) at HOBART (10-2)
Sep. 28 (F) Hammond (2-10)
Oct. 5 (F) at MUNSTER (5-5)
Oct. 12 (F) ANDREAN (8-3)

2006 SEASON (7-6)
Aug. 18  (L) 0-17 at Crown Point    
Aug. 25 (W) 63-6 Calumet  
Sep. 1 (L) 0-35 at Griffith    
Sep. 8 (L) 17-21 Morton  
Sep. 15 (L) 0-17 at Andrean    
Sep. 22 (W) 35-12 at Hammond  
Sep. 29 (W) 15-14 Munster  
Oct. 6 (L) 0-7 Hobart    
Oct. 13 (W) 47-14 at Highland
4A Sectional (9) Nine
Oct. 20 (W) 24-6 Kankakee Valley
Oct. 27 (W) 58-6 Gary Roosevelt
Nov. 3 (W) 31-28 at Hobart (OT)
4A Regional Championship
Nov. 11  (L) 14-33 Concord

2005 SEASON (11-4)
Aug. 19 (L) 6-16 Crown Point
Aug. 26 (W) 61-14 at Calumet
Sep. 2 (L) 0-21 Griffith
Sep. 9 (L) 13-32 at Morton
Sep. 16 (L) 0-7 Andrean
Sep. 23 (W) 41-6 Hammond
Sep. 30 (W) 48-7 at Munster
Oct. 7 (W) 14-7 at Hobart
Oct. 14 (W) 41-14 Highland
4A Sectional (9) Nine
Oct. 21 (W) 41-6 at Gary Roosevelt
Oct. 28 (W) 41-6 Kankakee Valley
Nov. 4 (W) 32-6 Hobart
4A Regional
Nov. 11  (W) 30-23 at Concord
4A Semistate
Nov. 18  (W) 16-14 (FW) South
4A Championship
Nov. 26 (W) 28-27 (Indianapolis) Roncalli

LOWELL (8-14-2007) - There's not much not to like about Lowell high school football right now.  They were the 2005 Class 54A state champions.  They have won four Class 4A Sectional Nine titles in a row.  And they have 15 returning starters for the year 2007.

But 2006 wasn't perfect.  While the Devils won the sectional title and that most certainly is and should be the goal of every Indiana high school team, the final Lowell won-loss record a 7-6.  The team was young.  They had some injuries.  But 7-6 is 7-6.  You always want to win more games than you lose and, had they not come up with a dramatic rally in the sectional title game for a memorable 31-28 victory over Hobart, the Devils would have finished at 6-6.  Ouch.

But that rebuilding season is over.  I can't promise you that Lowell will even get to play 13 games this season because the switch of the Devils from Sectional Nine to Sectional 10 makes predicting the post-season almost impossible.  But if they do play 13 times, I can promise you Lowell will not be 7-6 again.

Even though they figure to face at least three Top-10 teams in their nine games, Lowell does not figure to be outmanned in any game.  If everyone is healthy, the Devils would be favored to win the first title in the new Northwest Crossroads Conference (NWCC).

"We didn't have a lot of holes at a lot of positions," said 17th year head coach Kirk Kennedy at the annual photo day earlier this month.

The quarterback would appear to be junior wrestler Kurt Monix (5-9, 155), who has fine running speed but absolutely no experience.  Senior Zach Porras did not return to the team this season but wrestler and quarterback Mark Puskar, who did not play in 2006, did return.  That shuffle pretty much leaves Monix, who might have the strongest throwing arm of any Lowell quarterback in 10 years, as the presumptive starting QB.  Keeping in mind that Lowell traditionally runs the ball 90% of the time, Monix is going to keep the opposition's secondary at a respectful distance because he can throw accurate spirals 30-40 yards downfield.

Two beneficiaries of Monix's throwing ability will be returning WR Eric Roadruck (5-8, 155) and tight end Jeff Barker (6-4, 205).  Barker caught 17 passes for 301 yards last year and it would not be a surprise to see him double those numbers in 2007.  Senior Lukas Palmer, Lowell's leading tackler in 2006, had four interceptions and he could be utilized as a wide receiver in 2007.  It would not be surprising to see Lowell get invested in the medium range passing game, especially early in the year in good weather.

But there is no indication that Lowell won't run the ball nine out of 10 times in November because they have a squadron of running backs returning, including two-year starter Steffan Peck (5-8, 185), who looks to follow graduated Max Znika as Lowell's next 1,000-yard rusher after gaining 995 yards on 198 carries in 2006.

With Danny Remboski (6-0, 205) and Johnny Black (6-2, 195) blocking and starting cornerback TJ Lukasik running counters or misdrection plays, Lowell should roll on the ground.  When you talk about Lowell running backs this year, the danger is leaving anybody out.  An amazing 13 players who got carries from scrimmage on the varsity last year return for 2007.  But the real promise for Lowell in 2007 lies in the offensive and defensive lines.

"I've told them that, talent-wise, everyone of you have the ability to succeed," said Kennedy.  "But it's about what happens from the neck up.  As talented as you are, we can't give away the ball and be stupid."

Joe Carlson and Barker are the ends with Trevor Kersey supplying the backup there.  Tackles are (Geno) Wentworth (6-2, 230), (Jon) Sgouroudis (6-1, 250) and Logan Wright (5-11, 240); he's a big strong kid like Jed Travis (2006).

"We're looking for a corner," added Kennedy.  "TJ's back.  Our safety (Lukas Palmer) is back.  Cody Midgett is back there.  (Brandon) Grubbe, (Chris) Thompson.  We have some answers."

Lowell's key to gridiron success has traditionally been the offensive line and they appear to have the makings of a better-than-average line.

"On the offensive line we've got Geno Wentworth (6-2, 240), David Lang (6-0, 206), Josh Hayden (5-11, 210), Brian Demario (6-3 222) and Matt Haebel (5-9, 190). Justin Juarez (6-4, 221) and Jon Sgouroudis (6-1, 260) could fill in there, too," said Kennedy.

Wentworth would appear to be the key, but Barker at tight end will be the focus for opposition's defenses, which could assume that most Lowell plays will be passes to Barker or runs in his direction.  A sprinter on the track team, Barker runs the 40-yard-dash in 4.6 seconds.

"I think he enjoys the blocking," said Kennedy.  "The physicality of it all.  He understands his position on the team."

Kennedy encourages his boys to play both ways, especially when they are seniors.  So it would not be a surprise to see cornerback TJ Lukasik adding speed to Lowell's backfield this year.

"Coach may put in some power back (formations)," said Lukasik, who had six interceptions on the corner last year.  "I like that. (Steffan) Peck, (Danny) Remboski and me.  Nobody knows which one of us is going to get the ball.  If Danny could get on the field, he could be awesome with his size and speed."

Lowell needs two people on the 58-man roster to get and stay on the field for the team to be complete.  Senior Danny Remboski (6-0, 210) truthfully has played little on the varsity because of assorted injuries.  Always a promising player, Danny was unable to go in the intra-squad scrimmage due to an ankle problem.  A fullback-linebacker, Remboski could be the key to senior halfback Stefan Peck gaining 1,000 yards or more.

The other player is Caleb Layman, who suffered a serious knee injury in week three of the 2006 season and has not totally recovered.  Layman (5-9, 176) was a late season sophomore starter in 2005.  He played in the 28-27 win over Roncalli in the RCA Dome, but suffered a season-ending knee injury at Griffith last August.

"He had a knee injury last year and he's had a setback," said coach Kirk Kennedy.  "We don't know how bad it is.  And it's tough because he wants to play so badly.  I think he'll be back this year."

As hard as the pre-season heat (85-95 degree temperatures for two weeks solid) was, it may help the Devils in the long run.  Lowell wants their best players to play on offense and defense and you need to be in condition for that.

"Two a days are tough," said Kennedy, who seemed to appreciate not having a lot of holes to fill.  "The training atmosphere is difficult.  We're dragging a little.  But I think we're going to be OK.  We'll see."

DEVIL NOTES:  Lowell's football field has been re-sodded and the new grass is doing so well it will take some clipping before the Aug. 17 season opener.  The Red Devil turf should remain in better condition this year because the boys and girls soccer teams now have a field immediately west of the football stadium.  There are no lights on the soccer field so games will still be played in the stadium.  But the double and triple use of three varsity teams in the stadium should be lessened.

The Devils traveled 75 miles to Monticello to face Twin Lakes in the annual scrimmage on Friday, Aug.10, but there were no reports on the matchup in any newspapers.  Last year, Lowell competed in a scrimmage at Lafayette Jefferson.  The Devils have not had a consistent scrimmage partner since Clark dropped them in 2006 to play neighbor Hammond.  Scrimmage results mean less than nothing because they are misleading.  The only thing that matters is injuries and Crown Point suffered none during their scrimmage at Highland.  Highland running back Emilio Covarrubius, expected to be their top runner, had knee surgery last week, so he may miss the game at Lowell on Sept. 14.

The majority of Lowell games will be aired on Regional Radio Sport Network (RRSN) outlet WTMK (88.5 FM). but Lowell-CP will again be aired on four stations including WWLO (88.1 FM). which airs all CP football, along with Internet Radio USA-365.com.

The Northwest Crossroads Conference has adopted the initials NCC for its logo.  In the vast majority of the state of Indiana, NCC stands for the famed North Central Conference, the all-time dominant basketball league in Indiana.

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Revised: August 15, 2007 .