3A Griffith "roughs up" Red Devils in 35-0 shutout of 4A defending state champ Lowell

A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith

9-02-2006

Friday, September 1, 2006,  68 degrees, dry in Griffith - LAC Black Division

1st Qtr:  GRIFFITH (7-0)  Corey Nash, 17-yard run (4th-and-3).  56-yard drive, 8 plays.  Nate Vaughn kick.  4:52 left.
2nd Qtr:  GRIFFITH (15-0)  Doug Ashenbaugh, 2-yard run.  57-yard drive, 10 plays.  Ashenbaugh run.  0:35 left.
3rd Qtr:  GRIFFITH (21-0)  David Alexander, 98-yard kickoff return.  Kick wide.  11:42 left.
GRIFFITH (28-0)  David Alexander, 35-yard run.  Nate Vaughn kick.  0:45 left.
4th Qtr:  GRIFFITH (35-0)  David Alexander, 94-yard run.  Nate Vaughn kick.  8:13 left.

GAME TOTALS (Unofficial Numbers)

TOTAL YARDS:

LOWELL 203, Griffith 370

RUSHING:

LOWELL (33-98, 2 fumbles)  Steffan Peck (HB) 19-68, Josh Kuiper (QB) 4-16, 2 fumbles; 

Danny Remboski (FB) 2-8; Chris Briggs (HB) 2-6, Max Znika (HB) 1-2; 

Andrew Eldred (HB) 1 (-1); James Zelenka (HB) 1 (-1)
GRIFFITH ( 36-292, fumble, 4 TDs)  Doug Ashenbaugh (FB) 14-70 yards; David Alexander (HB) 9-164, 2 TDs; 

Corey Nash (QB) 8-34, TD; Derek Hitt (QB) 1-7; Austin Guzior (HB) 1-6; Josh Davis (HB) 2-14;
Rex Cullen (HB) 1 (-3).

PASSING:

GRIFFITH - Corey Nash (QB) 7-10, 78 yards,  

LOWELL - Josh Kuiper (QB) 2-8, 18 yards; Zach Porras (QB) 3-4, 40 yards, one interception; 

Danny Remboski (FB) 0-1;  Doug Lang (P) 1-1, 47 yards.

RECEIVING:

GRIFFITH - Brandon Brown (WR) 2-40 yads; David Alexander (HB) 2-11; Nate Lehman (TE) 2-19, Ryan Galiher (WR) 1-8.

LOWELL - Dean Frigo (TE) 3-40 yards; Lukas Palmer (WR) 1-47, Eric Roadruck (WR) 1-15, Jeff Barker (TE) 1-3.

TURNOVERS:

GRIFFITH -  0;  LOWELL - 3 (2 fumbles)

GRIFFITH (9-01-2006) - When  you go to Griffith, you know that this can happen.  For a few years now, Lowell has been very competitive with Griffith, splitting the last eight games from 2002 to 2005.  But you know that if things go their way and you are a little hesitant in your play, that the Panthers can drop a bomb on you.  That's what happened to Lowell Friday.  The Devils weren't tough enough and the 3A No. 2 Panthers were plenty rough.  Griffith had long runs and long drives, while Lowell had a long drive home, losing 35-0.

Lowell is 31-10 in their last three seasons and in none of those 10 losses were they physically whipped like they were in this contest.  Forget David Alexander (6-3, 170), a future all-area star who carried eight times for 159 yards and scored three touchdowns.  Forget Corey Nash, who did a nice job of running the option and hit 6-of-8 passes for 79 yards, just enough by Griffith standards.  This was not like most of Lowell's recent losses where they fumbled the game away.  Lowell turned it over three times, but that's not why they lost.

The Griffith High School marching band and cheerleaders line up in front of the inflatable Panther tunnel moments before the Panther football enters the field prior to the Lowell game, 9-01-06.

Griffith QB Corey Nash #9 prepares to take the snap from center to lead the Panthers wishbone offense. Nash went 7-10 and 78 yards passing and had 8 carries for 34 yards in Griffith's 35-0 win over Lowell, 9-01-06.

Lowell defenders Ben Rigby #4, TJ Lukasik #7, Kaleb Layman #51 and Daniel Remboski close in on Griffith's Dre Cobb #8 in Griffith's 35-0 win at the "Boneyard", 9-01-06.

Lowell senior QB Josh Kuiper #14 rolls out as senior lineman Michael Staniewicz #67 blocks a Griffith would-be blitzer, 9-01-06.

Griffith's wishbone offense generated nearly 300 yards rushing, led by QB Corey Nash #9 and Dre Cobb #8. Pursuing on the play for Lowell are Luke Palmer #10 and Jeffrey Barker #34, 9-01-2006.  (All photos by Mark Smith.)

"We had lapses on both sides of the ball," said Lowell coach Kirk Kennedy.  "Our guys do not know what it takes to win at this level."

This level is Griffith's level.  The Red Devils seemed intimidated much of the time against one of their most traditional rivals.  Lowell has played Griffith every year for 71 years.  They weren't surprised by the Panthers' aggressiveness.  One thing you can't miss down on the field is the angry nature with which Griffith plays.  It's something you either meet or you will meet defeat.  Some games are closer than the final scores indicates.  On a perfect September evening in Lake County, this was not one of those games.

Lowell coach Kirk Kennedy.

"The physical effort doesn't matter," Kennedy continued, "if you are not mentally ready to play.  We needed our guys to step up mentally coming in here and they didn't. Griffith did whatever they wanted."

The Panthers scored on the first possession of the first period, on the last possession of the half, on the second half kickoff and again with 45 seconds left in the third quarter.

"They were 3-and-out on their first possession," recalled Griffith coach Russ Radtke.  "Then we had that drive that took up most of the first quarter.  So we started this game a lot better than we did last week.  We ran a lot of time off the clock and that was definitely good for us."

The Panthers (3-0), who were 13-1 last season, trailed Chesterton 14-0 after one quarter before winning 35-34 in week two.  But they never trailed on this night after QB Corey Nash's 4th-and-3 option run around left end carried 17 yards to the end zone for a 7-0 lead with 4:52 left in the first frame.

The Panthers stopped Lowell's running attack after a couple of first downs and drove to the Lowell 19 where Nate Vaughn missed a 35-yard field goal.  Then came Lowell's only chance to stay in the game.  On a 3rd-and-1, Lowell junior Steffan Peck took an option pitch and rambled 28 yards to the Griffith 43-yard-line.  But on the next play, Peck and QB Josh Kuiper had a mix up on the hand off and a fumble was recovered by Griffith's Beau Leimback.  The Panthers then drove 57 yards on 10 plays and scored on Doug Ashenbaugh's two-yard run 35 seconds before halftime.  Ashenbaugh ran the exact same fullback dive off left guard and tackle into the end zone for the two-point conversion and a 15-0 halftime lead.

The second half kickoff was devastating for Lowell.  Alexander (6-3, 170) fumbled Doug Lang's boot and picked it up at the 2-yard-line.  The tall junior cut back to the home side of the field and then sliced directly down the middle of the gridiron 98 yards to make it 21-0.  On the play, Lowell junior two-way player Caleb Layman appeared to be hit from behind and suffered a knee injury.  Layman, who was a defensive regular on the 2005 4A state championship team, had to be helped off the field and later to the locker room.  Everyone was careful not to guess at the severity of the injury, but it was not good.  Lowell will certainly have to go without Layman for the near future at least.

Down 21-0, Lowell dug deep into the trick bag.  On a 4th-and-6 at the Red Devil 33-yard-line, Lowell punter Doug Lang fired a 47-yard pass to junior Lukas Palmer who carried it to the Griffith 20.  But the Panthers' defense led by big Ben Geffert (6-5, 253) and tackle Jake Gazarkiewicz (5-11, 271), stuffed Lowell in three plays and Lang's attempted 35-yard field goal was blocked by Griffith corner back Kyle Najar.

After another punt by Lowell, Griffith drove 70 yards to make it 28-0 with Alexander going 35 yards with a pitchout in the final minute of the third period.

In the fourth quarter Lowell drove 54 yards in 11 plays to the Griffith 11.  But on 3rd-and-8 Kuiper was hit trying to scramble for a first down and his fumble was recovered by linebacker Eric Ritter((6-2, 215) at the Panther 6-yard-line.  On the next play Alexander cut a pitchout up field and ran through the Lowell defense 94 yards for the final touchdown.

Griffith head coach Russ Radtke.

"He's the key to our offense," says Radtke.  "He's only at running back because our No. 1 back (senior Matt Alvarez) is injured.  When we get him back, we'll really have something."

Griffith does a lot of talking on the field and plays with a fire defensively that they seemingly are able to maintain week after week.  Radtke talked about how they get that done.

"We had a 32-page scouting report for this game," the coach revealed.  "They boys have to know it.  To the point where some of them don't get to play if they don't remember.  Maybe that (knowledge of the other team's offense) is why they can play so hard."

The Devils were beaten more decisively than they were in the season opening 17-0 loss at 5A No. 7 Crown Point (3-0).  What Lowell is going through is not totally unexpected.  They are paying for the 'sins' of 2005.  Everyone they see is facing the state champions.  Teams are pointing to them and unless they can jack up the intensity, there are more whippings ahead.  The game next week against Morton is now pivotal.  Late season foes Munster and Hobart are stronger than they were in 2005.  Lowell cannot go 1-4 again and expect to come back this season.

"We're not even kicking off where we want to," said Kennedy.  "What stops you from kicking off correctly?  Nothing.  That's just you.  We don't finish.  We don't start.  Until they understand about mental effort, this is going to keep happening."

DEVIL NOTES:  Lowell has 11 turnovers in three games and they have been shut out twice.  Lowell lost junior linebacker and guard Caleb Laymen to a knee injury during David Alexander's second half kickoff return.  When Alexander fumbled the ball and picked it up to return it across field, Layman got caught in the misdirection and was chopped down inadvertently.  No diagnosis was made immediately, but the injury to the junior two-way player was thought to be serious.

Griffith is known for being rowdy.  They picked up a couple of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and there was a lot of trash talk.  Lowell offensive coordinator Jim Carlson said he doesn't like the language, but he does know the Panthers.

"They back it up," he said.  "When you act that way, you have to back it up and they do.  I don't really mind the way they play."

Griffith coach Russ Radtke still says that speedy junior David Alexander, who scored three TDs as a halfback and kick runner Friday against Lowell, is out of position at running back.

"What we really want to do is get him out on the perimeter," said the 15-year coach. "He's a much better wide receiver than he is a running back.

Lowell's Jeff Barker (6-5, 187) dropped a TD pass that could have made it 21-7 in the middle of the third quarter Doug Lang's field goal was blocked two plays later.  Palmer could have scored on the 47-yard fake field goal pass from Lang.  The last defender, Alexander, made the stop.

Coach Radtke confirms that Griffith will play 5A superpower Merrillville in 2007.  

"Chesterton doesn't want to play us anymore," Radtke says.  "We're playing Merrillville next year and we're playing Valparaiso the year after that.  We've got some tough kids here.  We want to play those teams."

Reminded that few teams truly request nonconference games with 2300-kid Merrillville and their 115-man roster, Radtke says, "I know we may not win, but we want to play them.  Northwood was 9-6 and they beat us and won the state title last year.  They play (three) 5A schools.  We're not afraid to play them.  We scrimmage Merrillville, but I don't think we've ever played them a real game."

Lowell's next opponent is Morton (2-1), a 21-6 loser at Home to Andrean Friday night.  Lowell's week five opponent is Andrean (3-0).  Everyone remembers that Lowell started the season with a 1-4 record in 2005 before rallying to win the sate 4A title.  But that team was senior dominated and this one has just 11 seniors on the entire roster.

Lowell's old friends at Concord are off to a monster start.  Concord massacred Northwood 59-0, the same Northwood that won the 3A state title in 2005.  Concord is the team that Lowell upset in Elkhart 30-23 for the 4A regional title in 2005.  Concord in 2006 has defeated East Noble 42-18, 5A Elkhart Memorial 49-7 and now Northwood 59-0.

In the Catholic showdown in Indianapolis, Bishop Chatard crushed 8-time state champ Roncalli 41-7.  That's an ominous sign for anyone coming out of the north in 3A.  Chatard had won state titles in years they have LOST to Roncalli.

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Revised: September 04, 2006 .