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Logansport (7-2) at 4A No. 5 Lowell (8-1) |
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Week
10 - Football Game of the Week Preview|
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Logansport (7-2) at 4A No. 5 Lowell (8-1) |
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A
USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith
10-19-2007
When:
Friday, October 19, 2007
Where: Lowell High School - 2051 E. Commercial AVE (Route 2), Lowell, IN.
Tickets: $5 - (for everybody).
Kickoff:
7:00 p.m.
Radio-TV:
WTMK (88.5) FM.
Weather: Low 50s, wet field. Good chance of rain at some time during the game.
Freshmen:
Andrean at Lowell (season
finale) Thursday, Oct. 18 - 6:00 p.m.
Parking: I would think a large crowd
would follow Logansport to Lowell but I
don't know. Logansport might also have fan
buses (outside of Lake County, they still do
that) and that would ease the parking
crunch. You don't really get the overflow
crowds until later in the playoffs when a
couple hundred schools have been eliminated.
The series: This is the first meeting of Lowell and Logansport, which is a city of about 20,000 about 75 miles southeast of Lowell on the Wabash river in Cass County. Since the start of the 2004 season, Logansport high school is 36-8 in football. In the eight years before that, they were 22-61. What changed? A familiar name to Northwest Indiana, old Lake Central coach Elmer Britton moved to town and installed a power running attack like the kind he had at LC in the Indians' glory years of the early 1990s.
Assistant Bucky Kramer (15-4) took over in 2006 and the wins have kept coming, including an 8-2 season last year that ended with a loss to powerful Bishop Dwenger. What immediately jumps out at you is the fact that Logansport, a 4A school, plays four Class 5A teams: Huntington North, Anderson, Richmond and Kokomo. Richmond and Anderson were not great this year, but Huntington North (8-1) and Kokomo (8-1) are both very good and are the two teams to defeat Logansport. Those are the only two big winning teams Logansport has played. Anderson (5-4), which is listed elsewhere as having a 4-5 record due to a forfeit, is the only winning team Logansport has beaten.
Logansport's athletic teams are called the Berries, for reasons that are not obvious. The schools mascot is Felix the Cat, the oldest mascot in the state of Indiana, who reportedly will make the trip to Lowell Friday. I can only assume that the Logansport mascot is a cat because they couldn't find any kids willing to get into a berry costume. What cats and berries have to do with a town on the Wabash River is not immediately obvious. There is such a thing as a Loganberry, a cross between a Raspberry and a Blackberry. But Loganberrys were and are bred in California wine country.
Logansport, Indiana is named after a
Shawnee Indian scout: Chief Logan, who
helped the US in the war of 1812. When the
town on the Wabash River was established in
1826, they called it 'Logan's port'. Unless
they were drinking wine at the time, the
berries had nothing to do with it.
Logansport high is a baseball school that
has has won four state baseball crowns. In
the 34 years of the state football
tournament, the football team has never
survived the regional. Like Lowell, they don't know what they're doing in Sectional 10, either. Logansport was in Sectional 11 last year
with the Fort Wayne schools and Columbia
City. Bishop Dwenger has eliminated
Logansport from the football playoffs three
times in the last four years.
The Berries are probably happy they can't see Dwenger until the semistate, but it would be
inaccurate to say they want to drive almost
two hours on the big yellow bus to play at
Lowell.
Logansport is looking for a breakthrough win. They play in a basketball league and Logansport has had trouble stepping out of that image once the playoffs begin. So, to upset the 2005 state champions (that is certainly how they look at Lowell) on the Devils' home field could propel them to heights that no cat or berry has previously reached.
Class 4A Lowell (8-1)
Coach: Kirk Kennedy (127-65, 16 years)
Enrollment: 1,247
2006 record: 7-6*
Sectional titles: (7) 1992, 1994, 1999,
2003, 04, 05, 06
Regional titles: (3) 1994, 1999, 2005
Semistate titles: (1) 2005
State titles: (1) 2005
*Lost 33-14 to 4A state finalist Concord in
the regional championship game
Lowell Red Devils (8-1, 5-1)
(W) 23-14 Crown Point (7-2)
(W) 3-0 at Morton (5-4)
(W) 38-0 at Kankakee Valley (3-6)
(L) 28-29 (OT) GRIFFITH (6-3)
(W) 39-0 HIGHLAND (0-9)
(W) 10-7 at HOBART (6-3)
(W) 24-0 Hammond (8-1)
(W) 37-19 at MUNSTER (2-7)
(W) 31-3 ANDREAN (6-3)
4A Sectional (10)
10-19 (F) Logansport (7-2)
10-26 (F) at Plymouth (5-4)
11-2 (F) at Concord (5-4)
SECTIONAL WATCH: Lowell might as well buckle
up because they got only one break in the
state tournament draw. The Devils do open up
at home. Even there, they drew Logansport (7-2), a
foe very much like Griffith and Hobart, to
start the post-season. It's tough to saddle
up and drive 50 to 100 miles every Friday
night in the post-season. But the Devils
face such a formidable foe in Logansport,
they can't worry about anything beyond that.
Class 4A
Logansport (7-2)
Coach: Bucky Kramer (15-4, 2 years)
Enrollment: 1,313
2006 record: 8-2*
Sectional titles: (3) 1986, 1988, 2004
Regional titles: (1) 2004
Semistate titles: (0)
State titles: (0)
*Lost 14-0 to Bishop Dwenger in the
Sectional 11, quarterfinals last year.
Logansport Berries (7-2)
(W) 21-7 at Twin Lakes (3-5)
(W) 38-0 Peru (3-5)
(W) 42-0 at Richmond (1-7)
(L) 16-35 at Huntington (8-1)
(W) 48-27 Anderson (5-4)
(W) 37-21 at Marion (2-6)
(W) 51-0 Muncie Central (1-7)
(L) 29-36 at Kokomo (8-1)
(W) 50-22 New Castle (3-6)
4A Sectional (10)
10-19 (F) at Lowell (8-1)
10-26 (F) at Plymouth (4-5)
11-2 (F) home vs. Concord (6-3)
SECTIONAL ANALYSIS: Logansport also
got a bad draw. They drew the only
state-rated team in their sectional on the
road in the quarterfinals, and should they
win, they'll be on the road again in
Plymouth. Logansport is in an even worse
position than Lowell in Sectional 10. They
are two counties away from ANY of the other
seven schools. The truth is, there are no
other 4A schools within 40 miles of them. Logansport is always going to be on the bus.
They'd just as soon be on the bus to
Northridge, though.
Logansport (7-2) (regular season statistics)
Scoring: 35.8 points per
game (44 TDs) No. 2 in NCC.
LOGANSPORT
Rushing offense: 384 carries, 2,568 yards
(6.8 per carry, 35 TDs) No. 1 in NCC.
Passing: QB - Sam Starbuck (5-11, 185), 43
of 76 (56%), 630 yards, 9 TDs.
Receiving: WR - Jacob Weinstein (6-2, 190)
20 catches, 271 yards, 5 TDs.
Rushing: FB - Matt McIntire (6-2, 220) 143
carries, 958 yards (6.7 per carry) 18 TDs.
HB - Derrick Rowe (5-9,
165) 46 carries, 376 yards (8.1 per carry) 3 TDs.
QB - Sam Starbuck (5-11, 185) 102 carries,
695 yards (6.8 per carry) 9 TDs.
Tackles: LB - David
Hayden (5-11, 190), 79 tackles (30 solos)
LB - Grant McCloskey
(5-11, 185), 63 tackles (25
solos)
DE - Luke Zinsmaster, 73 tackles
(40 solos), 5 QB sacks
DT - Bailey Allen (6-4, 230),
40 tackles, 3 QB sacks
Punts: Cam Foster, 9-302
yards (33.6 per punt)
Punt returns: Derrick Rowe, 7-82 (11.7 per
return)
Sagarin
computer ratings: Lowell by 14
LOWELL
(10-19-2007) -
I
think this spread is a little high because of both teams' style of play.
Logansport returned 15 starters from last year's 8-2 team. Logansport
clearly plays a two-man game involving Matt McIntire (6-0, 220) and the QB with
the space age name Sammy Starbuck (5-10, 185), who have scored a combined 27 TDs
with 1,600 yards rushing. The Berries appear to run the ball most of the
time behind veteran lineman Matt Reef (5-11, 220), Joel Kunkle (6-4, 220) and
Max LoPosser (5-10, 230).
Coach Bucky Kramer is the offensive coordinator and the run-pass ratio (384-80) indicates clearly that Logansport has won the battle at the line of scrimmage in most games. If they believe they can wear teams down and have done it most of the year, it is unlikely the Berries will change that strategy early in Friday's game. Defensively, Logansport is anchored by defensive tackle Bailey Allen (6-4, 230) and senior linebackers Grant McCoskey (6-1, 185) and Brooks Ledger (6-1 190). What is worrisome for Logansport is that they gave up 36 points to Kokomo, the No. 2 rushing team in the North Central Conference and 35 to Huntington North, the No. 4 rushing team in the NCC. The Berries clearly have to hog the ball to win, meaning they have to possess it more than half the game.
If Logansport scouted Lowell last week, they certainly didn't go home overconfident. The Devils' 31-3 win over Andrean marked the sixth time this season they have held the opposition to seven points or less. Lowell had six quarterback sacks last week, including two by senior defensive end Joe Carlson (7 sacks) and two by defensive end Jeff Barker (6.5 sacks). Lowell has 23 QB sacks in nine games.
The Devils allowed 94 yards rushing last week, mostly on wide runs and they intercepted two more passes, giving them 11 for the season.
Logansport will certainly try to hit Lowell up inside the tackles the way Griffith did in the Panthers' 29-28 win at Lowell in September. Lowell's linebackers like Ben Rigby, Justin Juarez, David Eastling and Bryan DeSomer will get tested by the Logansport option attack. This might be a game where Lowell uses Danny Remboski (6-0, 190) as a cornerback, knowing that the Berries will try to get outside with the QB and halfback. Remboski, a true linebacker, might be a better match for Logansport's Jacob Weinstein (6-2, 190) in coverage and in the run game. Logansport wants the fullback McIntire to control the ball for them and they'll dare Lowell to stop him.
Lowell did not fumble or throw an interception last week, which was a good sign. It would not take more than two fumbles to lose to a team like Logansport, which definitely shortens the game. The Berries are unlikely to throw much into the all-senior Red Devil secondary of TJ Lukasik, Lukas Palmer and Chuck Thompson. They have to know that's a strength for the Devils.
Kicker David Lang has seven field goals for Lowell and there's no way he won't be a factor on this night.
On offense, the 1-2 punch of senior three-year Steffan Peck (144 carries, 610 yards) and sophomore Brandon Grubbe (148 carries, 931 yards) will certainly get plenty of chances Friday. But Lowell has gotten through the entire season successfully without throwing the ball much to tight end Jeff Barker (13 catches, 250 yards). I can almost guarantee that will not continue. Junior QB Kurt Monix (36-of-64, 662 yards) also has a new receiver in Remboski, who has four catches in the last two games. Peck is also a good pass catcher out of the backfield. The Devils might use a man in motion to spring a running back on a questionable field.
Lowell's offensive line has undergone many changes during the season. But this particular Red Devil offense has an unusual amount of weapons and the line simply has to avoid costly penalties. Lowell rushed for 249 yards and three TDs last week and they have to be confident playing in front of the home crowd. Lowell's line will also know what the field conditions are a long time before Logansport does. That's the real home field advantage.
LOWELL -
We're
looking at a scoreless first quarter where neither side wants to risk a passing
turnover. But the Devils should start to move the ball once they get some
familiarity with Logansport's agile defensive front. Early in the second
quarter, Lowell runs a reverse to TJ Lukasik that breaks for a big gain in the
second period. After a couple of rushing first downs, Brandon Grubbe scores the
first TD of the game from about 10 yards away. Both teams remain
conservative in passing situations and the score remains 7-0 at the half.
In the third period, a screen pass to Steffan Peck gets the Devils started on a
long drive. If the Berries only have recent tapes of Lowell they may not
know of Peck's halfback history and may ignore him after they've seen Grubbe run
a few times.
Converting on a couple of fourth down runs, Lowell moves inside the 10-yard-line again where a naked bootleg by quarterback Kurt Monix gives Lowell a 14-0 lead. It's possible, but I don't see Logansport coming all this way and getting shut out. Big fullback Matt McIntire, held in check in the first half, breaks off consecutive first down runs. Logansport QB Sam Starbuck fakes to McIntire and fires a TD pass to Jacob Weinstein to cut Lowell's lead in half late in the third period.
After three plays fail to get a Red Devil first down, Logansport starts putting first downs together again, with halfback Derrick Rowe running the ball inside the Lowell 20-yard-line. On a 4th down play, McIntire breaks through the line to score the tying TD with less than 10 minutes to play. Lowell strikes back on a play-action pass to Jeff Barker who races across the Logansport 40-yard-line. Monix gets 10 yards on QB sneak but three more running plays fall short of another first down. David Lang lifts a 41-yard field goal through the uprights and four final Logansport passes fall incomplete.
This is a very difficult playoff opener and Lowell will be pushed hard. Logansport sounds like a perfect bad weather team and they will perform well. The fact that they have played in close games (Logansport has not really had any), plus the presence of an experienced field goal kicker is the difference on this night. Welcome to Sectional 10.
Lowell 17, Logansport 14