Preview:  Hammond  (2-2, 0-1 LAC) at

                 Lowell (2-2, 0-1 LAC)

Friday,  Sept. 20, 2002  at Lowell

Game Time:  7:00 p.m.
Tickets:  $5
Long-range weather:  Low 60s, windy
Radio-TV:  None

Parking:  Everybody in Lowell could come.  Hammond does not bring many fans even though their team is pretty entertaining.

History:  Lowell beat Hammond twice last year, 28-7 in Lowell and 35-32 in Hammond but the Cats eliminated Lowell 7-0 in the sectional semifinals in 2000.

LOWELL:  Hammond is led by Jawaan Turner (6-0, 185), a Division I WR-DB prospect. Turner plays quarterback for Hammond and he dominated last week's 38-7 win over St. Francis DeSales with over 400 yards of total offense.  Hammond has five returning starters in the offensive line and that's their hope.  They want to give Turner the run-pass option on every play and live with the results.  The Cats use fullback Thomas McGee (5-9, 180) to take the heat off Turner, who will throw to Michael Brown (5-7, 175), who has caught 4 TDs in four games, or Keonte Aaron (6-6, 190) a basketball player.  Defensively, Hammond does not stop the run.  Highland gained 361 yards rushing in a 27-20 victory on Sept. 6 and Morton gained 316 yards rushing in a 33-28 win over Hammond on Aug. 23.

The Devils will rush Turner from the outside to make him throw or run up the middle.  Linebackers like Lowell's Mike Marzotto will key on Turner on every play.  You want him to throw, not run.  Especially on a windy night, as is expected.  I'd blitz Turner in his face because he's not a true quarterback and if you hurry him, he'll throw interceptions.  If he runs, Lowell doesn't have anybody who can catch him from behind.

Lowell will probably go without injured sophomore fullbacks Toby Goetz and Randy Lukasik and soph fullback Chris Garza still has the cast on his hand which will limit him to defense.  Halfback Justin Henley (60 carries, 472 yards) will get plenty in this game but he'll need help from junior Ed Overdorf, who will probably team with Henley in a two halfback set.  Lowell linebacker Mike Marzotto (6-2, 223) will probably play fullback in short yardage situations but they need Mike on defense against Turner.

There is also a possibility that a freshman can be called up to play on the varsity this week.  Hammond is not a tough team to run against and pass blocking is not a problem because Lowell rarely throws.

Lowell's defense did an excellent job last week, allowing less than 250 yards even though the Devils turned the ball over six times.  Junior Chuck Thompson (6 of 16, 13 yards, 4 INTs, 3 TDs) has not competed a pass in two road games, but he's thrown for 3 TDs at home and is a confident option runner (30 carries, 103 yards).  Hammond will bring nine men to the line of scrimmage to stop the Devils but Lowell's offensive line is relatively healthy and traditionally Hammond wears down as the game goes along.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN:  This game should be worth seeing if only to see how Lowell defenses Turner, who threw for three TDs in last October's 35-32 playoff loss to the Devils.  I think Hammond scores early and may go ahead by 14 points. Lowell's pass rush isn't strong enough to bother Turner without blitzing and blitzing will leave somebody open.  The Devils will begin to run the ball successfully and Lowell's punting game should gain field position.  Henley will score three TDs but the Red Devils will be chasing Hammond all night.

Hammond has no depth but Lowell doesn't have much either.  The Devils' offense line has to beat up on the Cats' defenders.  Traditionally, Hammond wears down as the game gets into the second half.  Hammond doesn't have a field goal kicker so Tim Sova gives Lowell the edge there, too.

In what should be a very dramatic game, I see Thompson scoring late or throwing to Jim Jeffries to put Lowell ahead in the fourth quarter.  Last year's playoff game was 35-32.  This match-up will be a lot like that one and Lowell is much better in front of the home fans than they are on the road at this point.

LOWELL 31, Hammond 24

Here's a look at the 5-year history of meetings between these two teams:

Oct. 20, 2001

HAMMOND: Sean Anderson's 47-yard run with 4:05 to play gave Lowell a 35-32 win in the 4A Sectional nine semifinals.  Hammond rolled up 438 total yards and Jawaan Turner completed 13 of 24 passes for 252 yards but Hammond fumbled three times losing a 20-13 half-time lead. Hammond gained 16 first downs and never punted in the game.

Sept. 14, 2001

HAMMOND:  Cody VanDeursen gained 131 yards on 14 carries as the Devils led 21-0 at the half  of a 28-7 victory.  Jawaan Turner  hadn't been switched to QB as of yet and Lowell held him to 30 total yards. Lowell rushed for 331 yards including 22 if 121 by Sean Anderson.

Oct. 27, 2000

LOWELL:  Lowell played without suspended rushing leader Mike French and lost 7-0 in the 4A sectional semifinals. Michael Coles hit a 14-yard pass to Anthony Gause with 1:17 to play to break a scoreless tie. Lowell gained only 191 yards but they had the ball inside the Hammond 40-yard-line four times without scoring.

Sept. 15, 2000

HAMMOND:  Mike French ran for 3 TDs as the Red Devils dominated Hammond 39-7 in Hammond. Lowell rushed for 350 yards and led 25-0 in the middle of the second quarter. Hammond's Michael Coles completed 15 of 33 for 134 yards. Lowell had 17 first downs and never punted.

Sept. 17, 1999

HAMMOND:  Hammond's Byron Dennis returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a TD but Lowell dominated after that and won 35-14. Joe O'Connell threw two TDs to Matt Van Deursen and the Devil defense intercepted four passes. Lowell collected 18 first downs and rolled up 362 total yards including 254 on the ground.

Sept. 19, 1998

LOWELL:  Hammond's Justin Hutton booted a 35-yard third quarter field goal to give Hammond a 9-7 victory. Lowell was held to 131 yards rushing.  Hammond gained just 164 total yards and punted six times.  Lowell got a 47-yard run by Nathan Kersey in the first quarter but could not score again.

Oct. 31,  1997

HAMMOND:  Hammond's Mike Caston scored on a QB sneak late in the fourth quarter to give the Cats a 24-20 win in the Sectional 9 championship. Adam Hudak ran for a two-yard TD and kicked Lowell field goals of 22 and 29 yards. Lowell gained just 70 yards rushing and Caston completed 14 of 18 for 245 yards.