Red Devils contain Mustang offense for 21-7 Class 4A, Section 9 semifinal win

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Lowell (10-1)	0	14	0	7	21
Munster (8-3)	7	0	0	0	7

Friday, Oct. 31, 2003, 55 degrees in Munster

1st Q: MUNSTER (0-7) Prince Kwateng, 1-yard run. 84 yard drive, 9 plays, Jon Caddick kick. 3:29 left.
2nd Q: LOWELL (7-7) Chuck Thompson, 10-yard pass to Toby Goetz. 80-yard drive, 14 plays, Korey Klidaras kick. 8:08 left.
LOWELL (14-7) Justin Henley, 6-yard run. 18-yard drive, 3 plays (after Munster's Mike Less fumbled the kickoff) Korey Klidaras kick. 6:54 left.
3rd Q: No Scoring.
4th Q: LOWELL (21-7) Justin Henley, 1-yard run. 12-yard drive, 4 plays (after Jeff Clemens returned an interception 33 yards o the Munster 12) Korey Klidaras kick. 1:34 left.

MUNSTER (10-31-2003) - It wasn't an impressive victory for Lowell in a lot of respects but in a lot of respects it was. If that matters. Which it doesn't. Lowell moves on and Munster is gone after a defense-oriented Red Devils' 21-7 Sectional 9 semifinal victory.

Lowell, at 10-1 for just the third time in school history, hosts Hobart (5-6) next Friday (Nov. 7) for the Section Nine title and a probable match with top-ranked East Noble in the regional. The Red Devils, who beat Munster 22-20 on Oct. 3 in Munster, survived three second half turnovers by dominating the Mustangs' 30-points per game offense. The Mustang offensive line was almost helpless against Lowell's pass rush, led by Jim Jeffries, Chris Marzotto and Larin Childress, which sacked the Munster senior quarterback six times.

"Pass defense isn't all coverage," said Lowell coach Kirk Kennedy. "Our defensive line did a great job. We got great pressure on Wally Cirafesi. Credit the whole defensive line because sometimes one guy flushes the quarterback out and another guy gets the sack. We got a much better effort out of our defensive backs, too.
I was proud of our entire team tonight, especially the defense."

Munster quarterback Wally Cirafesi, who threw 9-of-15 for 202 yards and two TDs in the first meeting, was 6-of-16 for 113 yards and two fourth quarter interceptions. After Munster drove 84 yards for a TD on the Mustang's initial first quarter possession, Lowell defended the perennial Lake County power as well as anyone had all year. This is the first time that Lowell has ever beaten Munster twice in the same season in the 38 years Munster has played varsity football.

"They're always well-coached," said Kennedy. "They always have a great effort. It says a lot for our kids who we had coming back, our seniors. That we can come into a hostile environment and do this in front of a hostile crowd. They're a proud program. It's not an easy thing to do."

Munster (8-3) was a problem in the first quarter using their traditional double wing misdirection running attack, a throwback to the 50s and 60s. On a 50-degree night, the red-clad home team blitzed Lowell for 82 yards in nine plays including a 28-yard run by senior halfback Brian Hayes (5-10, 188) and a three-yard TD run by junior halfback Prince Kwateng (6-0, 202) with 3:29 left in the first quarter.

Lowell came back strong, going 80 yards in 14 plays. Senior quarterback Chuck Thompson tossed two 10-yard roll out passes to fullback Toby Goetz, the last one tying the game with 8:08 left in the half.

Then, the key play of the game. Munster senior Mike Lee ran up to grab the ensuing kickoff and dropped it without anyone touching him. Lowell coverage leveled Lee and Corey McKinney grabbed the ball at the Munster 18-yard-line.

That was enough for Lowell to win. The Devils drove 73 yards in the final four minutes of the half in the effort to score again but Kildaras's 38-yard field goal attempt fell about three yards short on the final play of the half.
To be honest, the second half left a lot to be desired from an offensive standpoint.

But as the teams traded fumbles and interceptions in the final 30 minutes, the constant was Lowell's defensive speed which Munster could not handle.

"Did you think it was going to be easy?," asked Marzotto, who has helped his team sack the quarterback 43 times in 11 games. "They're a good offensive line but we just tried to use our quickness. We talked about penetration all week and we worked on it. Obviously, it worked."

"It's like a mind game. It's like a game of chess. I come out with a plan and if it doesn't work and they stop it and then you spin off of it" added Marzotto. "Sometimes you get the pressure and our teammate gets the sack. It's all good."

Munster had three chances after Lowell turnovers in the second half. After Brent Banach intercepted Chuck Thompson at the Munster 11-yard-line with 2:57 left in the third quarter, Lowell's defense forced a punt in three plays. After Henley, who carried 36 times for 181 yards, fumbled at the Munster 42, Randy Lukasik intercepted Cirafesi at the Lowell 21-yard-line.

When Thompson fumbled at the Munster 33-yard-line, Cirafesi was sacked and fumbled to Lukasik at the Mustang 23. Lowell finally put the game away after Jeff Clemens ran back another interception to the Munster 12-yard-line with 3:30 to play.

Lowell must do a better job offensively to continue in the state tournament. Thompson had just 10 yards passing, Korey Klidaras missed two field goals the Devils got nothing on kick returns. But if you are still playing in November in Indiana high school football, you are either lucky, very good or both. "We didn't take care of the football real well either," said Kennedy. "A lot of times when seemingly we had gotten the final turnover to seal the game, we'd give it right back to them."

"We just made a few more plays than they did. Our defensive effort was the difference in this game."

DEVIL NOTES: Lowell's game against Hobart will be the third state tournament meeting and the second matchup between the two schools this year. Lowell won 21-7 at Hobart on Oct. 17.

"They won't be the same team we saw two weeks ago," said Coach Kirk Kennedy of Hobart. "I'm sure they're going to be hearing all week that all the pressure's on Lowell. They're in the same situation we were in coming in here tonight. They've got nothing to lose."

Lowell used Justin Henley as a safety to help double-team Munster wide receiver Bart Banach, who had 44 catches for 915 yards in 10 games with 16 touchdown receptions. Banach caught only three passes for 57 yards in his final game Friday.

With Justin Henley playing safety last week, he manned his fourth position this season. The rushing star had played halfback, cornerback, linebacker and safety. Senior Chris Marzotto has played guard, tackle, center and defensive end.

"We don't have any depth so we have to create our own depth. Henley is a competitor," said Kennedy. "He wants the football. Munster's defense was geared to stop him and a lot of times they were able to do that. It's not like he got anything easy." Henley has 216 carries for 1,318 yards.

Munster's wing offense is something that no one else in Lake County uses.

"I kind of compare this to playing Griffith," said Kennedy. "Its not a familiar offense. We see it every year but with different personnel. Once we adjust to game tempo, we do a better job of reading our keys and getting to the football. On the first series, we were tentative, we played a little too high (standing straight up). After that, I thought the defense was outstanding."

IHSAA Football Results from Friday, Oct. 31, 2003

CLASS 5A Sectional semifinals

1 Portage 24, Valparaiso 14                                    MERRILLVILLE 21, Chesterton 14
2 Elkhart Memorial 56, South Bend Riley 7                 Penn 40, Elkhart Central 22
3 Homestead 31, Huntington North 7                       Snider 35, Northrop 21
4 Carmel 47, Noblesville 0                                      Hamilton Southeastern 16, Lafayette Jeff 14
5 North Central (Indianapolis) 17, Franklin Central 13;        Warren Central 19, Lawrence North 7
6 Ben Davis 48, Indianapolis Manual 0                      Perry Meridian 23, Southport 7
7 Bloomington South 20, Brownsburg 7                    Center Grove 14, Terre Haute North 7
8 Evansville Harrison 53, New Albany 47                   Evansville Reitz 23, Evansville North 6

CLASS 4A Sectional semifinals

9 Lowell 21, Munster 7                                    Hobart 44, Kankakee Valley 9
10 Plymouth 10, Dekalb 0                               East Noble 38, Wawasee 36
11 Bishop Dwenger 35, Logansport 7                Columbia City 23, Bellmont 14
12 Muncie Central 16, Delta 9                          Muncie South 36, Jay County 12
13 Zionsville 31, Plainfield 6                             Indianapolis Roncalli 28, Harrison (West Lafayette) 7
14 Greenwood 37, Franklin 14                          Mooresville 32, Bloomington North 28
15 Columbus East 20, Shelbyville 14                 East Central 28, Seymour 7
16 Floyd Central 38, Evansville Central 24          Vincennes 42, Jasper 7

CLASS 3A Sectional semifinals

17 ANDREAN 35, Morton 6                       Griffith 60, Gavit 18
18 Twin Lakes 28, Tipton 8                     Hamilton Heights 27, Frankfort 0
19 NorthWood 32, New Prairie 17            South Bend St. Joseph's 35, Tippecanoe Valley 12
20 Norwell 31, Bishop Luers 15               Whitko 22, New Haven 19
21 Yorktown 35, Elwood 0                       Blackford 27, New Palestine 18
22 West Vigo 38, Beech Grove 10           Bishop Chatard 48, Crawfordsville 0
23 Edgewood 52, North Harrison 22          Batesville 17, Salem 16
24 Evansville Memorial 40, Sullivan 21      Heritage Hills 21, Evansville Mater Dei 14

Sectional Championship Match Ups

CLASS 5A

ø1: MERRILLVILLE [7-4] at Portage [10-1]
ø2: Penn [10-1] at Elkhart Memorial [11-0]
ø3: Snider [10-1] at Homestead [8-3]
ø4: Carmel [7-3] at Hamilton Southeastern [8-3]
ø5: Warren Central [9-2] at North Central (Indpls.) [5-6]
ø6: Perry Meridian [7-4] at Ben Davis [10-1]
ø7: Bloomington South [6-5] at Center Grove [9-2]
ø8: Evansville Harrison [5-5] at Evansville Reitz [11-0]

CLASS 4A

ø9: Hobart [5-6] at LOWELL [10-1]
10: Plymouth [8-3] at East Noble [11-0]
11: Columbia City [7-4] at Bishop Dwenger [6-5]
12: Muncie South [4-7] at Muncie Central [10-1]
13: Zionsville [10-1] at Indianapolis Roncalli [8-3]
14: Greenwood [11-0] at Mooresville [9-2]
15: East Central [9-2] at Columbus East [7-4]
16: Vincennes [10-1] at Floyd Central [10-1]

CLASS 3A

17: ANDREAN [11-0] at Griffith [7-4]
18: Twin Lakes [11-0] at Hamilton Heights [9-2]
19: South Bend St. Joseph's [8-3] at NorthWood [8-3]
20: Norwell [5-6] at Whitko [7-4]
21: Yorktown [6-5] at Blackford [8-3]
22: Bishop Chatard [10-1] at West Vigo [10-1]
23: Batesville [7-4] at Edgewood [4-7]
24: Heritage Hills [11-0] at Evansville Memorial [7-4]

2003: LOWELL (10-1, 6-1 LAC)
COACH: KIRK KENNEDY, 94-50 in 13th year at Lowell

8-22: 20-13 Crown Point (5-5)
8-29: 42-0 at Calumet (2-8)
9-5: 33-0 Griffith (7-4)
9-12: 42-7 at Morton (5-6)
9-19: 7-21 Andrean (11-0)
9-26: 53-6 Hammond (1-9)
10-3: 22-20 at Munster (8-3)
10-10: 21-7 at Hobart (5-6)
10-17: 23-13 Highland (4-6)
10-24: Sectional 9 quarterfinal 58-21 Lew Wallace (4-6)
10-31: Sectional 9 semifinals 21-7 Munster (8-3)
11-7: Sectional 9 championship Hobart (5-6) (7 p.m.)