Red Devils 'corral' Wilcats' Turner, run wild over Hammond 42-21
A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

Friday, Sept. 20, 2002 - 72 degrees, damp in Lowell

Scoring Summary:

1st Q: HAMMOND   (7-0)   Mike Brown, 18-yard pass from Juwaan Turner.  Jose Vasquez kick - (57-yard drive, 9 plays w/ 8:58 left)
LOWELL (7-7)  Josh Huseman (1st TD), 10-yard pass from Chuck Thompson (4th TD pass). Tim Sova kick. (55-yard drive, 10 plays w /0:41 left)

2nd Q: LOWELL (14-7)  Chuck Thompson, 45-yard option run (2nd TD).  Tim Sova kick (54- yard drive, 3 plays w/ 11:04 left)
HAMMOND (14-14)  Thomas McGee, 54-yard TD pass from Juwaan Turner.  Jose Vasquez kick (73-yard drive, 10 plays w/ 6:53 left)
LOWELL (21-14) Toby Goetz, 60-yard run (4th TD). Tim Sova kick.  (68 yards, 3 plays w/ 5:22 left)
LOWELL (28-14)  John Giglio (1st career TD) 5-yard pass from Chuck Thompson (5th TD pass). Tim Sova kick. (82 yards, 12 plays w/ 0:04 left)

4th Q: LOWELL (35-14) Justin Henley, 8-yard run (6th TD). Tim Sova kick. (43 yards, 8 plays w/ 10:23 left)
LOWELL (42-14) Justin Henley, 42-yard run (7th TD). Tim Sova kick. (69 yards, 6 plays after Chris Garza intercepted Juwaan Turner at the Lowell 31 w/ 6:58 left)
HAMMOND (42-21) Darrian Turner, 3-yard run. Jose Vasquez kick. (40 yard drive, 6 plays)


LOWELL  (9-20-2002)  As long as Lowell can run the ball, they're not going to have a losing team. That showed up again last Friday as the Red Devils survived an early passing barrage by Hammond star Juwaan Turner and then ran the visiting Wildcats into the muddy Lowell stadium turf, rolling up a solid 42-21 victory.

The Devils chased Turner, Hammond Division I college prospect, while Juwaan tossed TD passes to Mike Brown and Thomas McGee, creating an early 14-14 tie. But Lowell got it going on the ground to the tune of 400 yards on 60 carries as the Devils defeated Hammond for the third time in two years.

Turner, who completed 10 of 30 for 152 yards (2 TDs, 2 INTs) out of the 'shotgun' formation, got frustrated as the night went on as the Devils didn't stop him. They only hoped to contain him.

"Our defensive philosophy was to contain and corral," said 12-year coach Kirk Kennedy. "and that takes a lot of patience for us because that's not really our philosophy. It's our way to attack and be aggressive but tonight, realizing the kind of athlete he (Turner) is and the things he can do. We just thought we'd contain and corral and, for the most part, we did that."

Trailing 7-0, Lowell got a break when Turner fumbled to Devil linemen Eric Raszewski at the Lowell 45-yard line with 7:08 left in the first quarter.  The Devils' junior-dominated offensive line opened some holes for starting running backs Justin Henley and Ed Overdorf and Lowell moved to the Hammond 10-yard line. Then, QB Chuck Thompson rolled  his left and tossed a 10-yard scoring pass to 5-foot-5 senior Chad Wietbrock to tie the game.

After a 3-play Hammond series, Lowell got a short punt and Thompson broke two tackles on an option run and rumbled 45 yards to give the home team a 14-7 lead in front of a moist homecoming crowd.

Hammond drove to tie the score with the help of a spectacular 30-yard pass from Turner to Mike Brown, but Lowell got a pivotal play  on the next series. Toby Goetz, the LHS fullback who was injured in week three against East Chicago and had to have his ankle in a light cast for 10 days, entered the game in the second quarter and blocked for a few Henley runs.

Then, Thompson made a short pitch to the 198-pound fullback who broke through the line, hurdled a defender and rambled 60 yards for the 21-14 score. Henley, who gained an unofficial 215 yards on 30 carries, has been consistently productive since the start of the season but, with Goetz along side him (or blocking and running in front of him), the Red Devils have an offense that can tear up teams that aren't strong against the run.

"You see the difference in our lineup with Toby in there," said Kennedy. "We were careful with him not to risk re-injuring his ankle. Him and Henley are quite a pair."

The TD that broke the game open came in the final two minutes of the half. Henley and Goetz alternated runs before Thompson rolled out and tossed a short dart to John Giglio on his knees in the end zone for a 28-14 lead with :04 seconds left Lowell drove to the Hammond 35 and later to the Wildcat 25 in the third quarter but failed to score. Then Henley, who is on pace to be Lowell's eighth, 1000-yard rusher in 11 years, gained 28 yards on four carries including a 1-yard run for a 35-14 lead. After a Chris Garza interception, Henley gained 57 yards on four carries including a 42-yard TD run with 6:08 left in the game.

The game was encouraging, despite two more Lowell turnovers (they've made 16 in 5 games) because Lowell again controlled the ball and blocked well.

Lowell has 1,176 yards rushing in five games and they manhandled more talented but less physical squads from East Chicago and Hammond high.
While it will be tough to go  2-2 the rest  of the way against Griffith (3-2), Kankakee Valley (3-2), Munster (3-2) and Andrean (5-0), Lowell will be pretty much at full strength for the first time since week two when they head to Griffith next week, probably regaining valuable fullback-linebacker Randy Lukasik (5-7, 185). The Devils have developed better secondary play with underclassmen Chuck Thompson, Scott Schulz and Ed Overdorf gaining experience.

We'll know about 10 p.m. next Friday night but this felt like a pivotal game. After winning 3-of-their-last 4, the best is yet to come.

DEVIL NOTES:  The shocking arrest of long time Lowell trainer Kent Lindsay Wednesday on child abuse charges did not appear to affect the team, even though Lindsay was a key part of the Red Devil football program for almost a decade.

"In a strange way," said Kennedy. "We dealt with it by not dealing with it. I told them 'You just play football. Don't be a part of the problem. Be mature about this and act like men.  He's innocent until proven guilty but what one man chooses to do, we can't control that. Obviously, we feel for his kids and his wife."

Lowell had a substitute trainer from Lake Central, there were no changes on the sidelines no player was at risk in any way.

"Mr. (athletic director) Bales and the administration did a great job," said Kennedy. "You talk about 'the show going on'. They were the reason it went on. They closed the ranks and made the adjustments they had to make."

Lowell's offensive line included  seniors CJ Hall (6-3, 255) and Mike Marzalek (6-0, 195) plus juniors Matt Storey (5-11, 215), Eric Raszewski (5-11, 186) and Chris Marzotto (6-2, 224). It's hard to tell but big juniors Adam Holley (6-0, 238) and Justin Wiler (6-0, 258) did not appear to play much. No injuries were mentioned after the game and it is not unusual for Lowell to make changes in the offensive line.

The field was very slick after heavy rain late Thursday and early Friday. That clearly benefited Lowell, the physically stronger team, over Hammond, the faster team. Another hopeful sign for Lowell is the change of seasons. Teams like Lowell and Griffith that don't need to throw to win are boosted when the field is muddy and the ball is wet.

Lowell again got hurt at the box office as Hammond brought 25 fans in support of their team. This season has been a nightmare financially for Lowell football even though the home stands have been full three times.  East Chicago, Lake Station and Hammond  didn't bring 200 fans total.

Blond senior Amanda Gasparovic was named Lowell's homecoming queen at half-time and the team recognized the 'Class of 1957' in a ceremony at half-time.

       GRID GRADES

DEFENSE   (B)

I see improvement, (if not excellence as of yet) in the secondary  with Ed Overdorf adding to the mix at cornerback with Josh Huseman and Justin Henley.  Both Lowell quarterbacks, Scott Schulz and Chuck Thompson are logging significant time at safety. Kennedy does not want to do that but both are fine athletes and, with a 39-boy roster, the Red Devils don't have much choice.  Lowell needs to get a better pass rush although the muddy field may have hurt the charging linemen.

Chris Garza, who missed three games with a broken hand, adds a lot at linebacker and the comebacks of Goetz and Lukasik along with team leader Mike Marzotto, turn that position to a strength.  Lowell still hasn't give up 300 yards or as many as 24 points in any game this season but both of those marks will be tested against rival Griffith and their powerful running game in week six.

OFFENSE   (C)

Solid offensive line play and the trio of Thompson, Goetz and Henley (90 carries, 687 yards) makes Lowell a threat to win any week. The Devils aren't getting the ball to 6-foot-3 tight end Jim Jeffries like they will need to and they still must work on fumbles. Senior kicker Tim Sova has made 14 extra points in a row.  I know Highland and Crown Point are better than EC, Hammond and Lake Station but this until needs to prove they can go on the road and execute their offense.