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No. 11 Lowell (6-3) at No. 4 Concord (9-0) |
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Week
10 - Football Game of the Week Preview|
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No. 11 Lowell (6-3) at No. 4 Concord (9-0) |
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A
USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith
10-21-2010
When:
7:00 p.m. CDT (8pm EDT) Friday, October 22, 2010.
Tickets: $6 each (Note the increase
in ticket prices)
Where: Concord high, 59117, Minuteman Way -Elkhart, Ind.
TV/Radio/Internet: WKIF (92.7) FM, WTMK (88.5) FM, live updates of
all local scores all night on 89.1 FM. All Lowell games are aired live on WKIF
(92.7) and WTMK (88.5). There probably will NOT be highlights on Comcast Cable
Channel 17 at 10:30 p.m., but there will be highlights on WNDU (Channel 16) TV
and WSBT (CHannell) 22 Friday night on the 10 o'clock news and Saturday morning
on the Saturday Morning South Bend News programs.
Enrollment: Concord - 1,425; LOWELL - 1,224
WEATHER: Good and cold. Temperatures may be in the low-60s Friday
which means low-50s by the end of the game. That's good for Lowell, which
doesn't rely on the passing game nearly as much as Concord does. Concord has a
natural grass field.
TICKETS: You can buy $6 tickets today (Thursday) at Lowell from
10-2 p.m. in the school lobby and from 4-7 p.m. at the ticket booth. If you can
find the school, you'll find a place to park. It's a big school. Concord is on
the far east side of Elkhart. If you have not driven there before, stop and ask
for help when you get close. Take it from someone who has been there three times
and got lost every time. You won't find Concord high on your own in the dark.
WHAT's AT STAKE: The entire 2010 season. Lowell's success is
defined by sectional championships. Seven in a row. If the Devils lose, this was
not a good season by recent Lowell standards. The pressure is on, but it works
both ways. There is no worse feeling in prep sports than going undefeated though
the regular season and losing the first playoff game. Concord knows they could
be 48 minutes away from that feeling. On their home field, the Minutemen
absolutely MUST win or this season has a been a major disappointment.
All-time series: Lowell leads the series 3-1. Lowell won last year
60-23 at Lowell.
ELKHART: Concord is one of 16 townships in Elkhart County similar
to Morgan and Washington Township in Porter County. I'm guessing it's named
after Concord, Massachusetts much like Lowell is named after Lowell,
Massachusetts. "Minutemen" (Concord's nickname) were young men during the
revolutionary war in the late 1700s who supposedly could be ready for battle "in
a minute" if the British were coming to places like Concord.
Concord, Indiana is not that different from Lowell. It's a little more suburban like Schererville or maybe Boone Grove but it becomes "country" quickly as you drive south. People see Indiana as a barnyard guy in overalls with six pigs and a chicken. But places like Concord, which is a neighborhood (like Hessville is in Hammond), are 21st century Indiana.
I've traveled around Concord a couple of times
(because I couldn't find this high school). Quiet suburban style communities
spreading away from the city. There are still a lot of wide open places in
Indiana, but there are a lot less than there were 25 years ago. You may be
surprised at what the Concord area looks like. I was. It's not the city and it's
not the country, although is has a touch of both.
Concord is largely a basketball school. Concord has 11 sectional basketball
titles and they had basketball long before they began the football program in
1960. The present seven-year stretch of 63 wins and 18 losses is the best
five-year run in the 51-year history of Concord high school football. Even with
those wins, Concord may have come to the conclusion that the "spread offense"
style of play that is sweeping college football won't work in October and
November in Northern Indiana.
Concord football has been known to be as a finesse
team and they clearly want to dial that back. The Minutemen were very proud when
they dominated Plymouth 27-6 last month throwing just 13 passes and rushing for
221 yards. With tackles Jason Springs (6-6, 231), Coty Brown (6-7, 265), guards
Devon Butler (6-4, 285) and Eddie Warr (6-3, 329) plus center Jacob VanderMolen
(6-4, 240) and fullback DeWhan Alford (6-1, 230), Concord may feel they can
handle Lowell at the line of scrimmage. But is big enough, quick enough? Or good
enough?
I don't think the style of offense Concord played is a winnable style for teams
that play outdoors in Northwest Indiana in late October and November. Just the
same way that Brian Kelly's spread offense simply isn't a winnable offense for a
college (Notre Dame) that plays outdoors in October and November. I think you
have to control the ball with a running game in the late going and that's a
mindset that the spread offense prevents.
I think that's why Lowell jacked up Concord last year and coach Tim Dawson saw that and that's why he changed. The Concord team Lowell will see this Friday is a result of what Lowell did to them last year. This game may define Concord football one way or another for years to come.
LOWELL (6-3)
Coach Keith Kilmer (1st year)
2009 record: 13-2
10 sectional titles: 1992, 1994, 1999 last 7 in a row (2003-2009)
6 regional titles: 1994, ‘99, 2005, ‘07, ‘08 ‘09
3 semi state titles: 2005, 07, 09
State titles (1) 2005
Last 5 seasons: 57-14
8-20 (L) 6-37 at Crown Point (6-3)
8-27 (W) 40-26 Morton (8-1)
9-3 (W) 43-0 KV (1-8)
9-10 (L) 14-17 at Griffith (6-3)
9-17 (W) 42-3 at Highland (1-8)
9-24 (L) 41-42 Hobart (5-4)
10-1 (W) 51-20 at Hammond (3-6)
10-8 (W) 24-17 Munster (6-3)
10-15 (W) 35-28 (OT) at Andrean (6-3)
Class 4A Sectional 10
10-22: at Concord (9-0)
10-29: vs Plymouth (7-3) or (SB)Washington (7-3)
Concord (9-0)
2009 record: 8-4
5 sectional titles: 1979, 1984, 1998, 2005, ‘06
3 regional titles: 1984, 1998, 2006
3 semistate titles:1984, 1998, 2006
Last 5 seasons: 47-15
8-20 (W) 31-14 East Noble (7-2)
8-27 (W) 20-7 at Elkhart Memorial (5-4)
9-3 (W) 34-6 at Northwood (4-5)
9-10 (W) 28-6 Wawasee (6-3)
9-17 (W) 17-14 Goshen (3-6)
9-24 (W) 15-12 at Jimtown (7-2)
10-1 (W) 27-6 Plymouth (6-3)
10-8 (W) 38-0 at Northridge (3-6)
10-15 (W) 35-14 Warsaw (1-8)
Class 4A Sectional 10
10-22: at Concord (9-0)
10-29: vs Plymouth (7-3) or (SB) Washington (7-3)
CONCORD Update:
ELKHART (10-22-2010) Concord has changed their focus dramatically this
season. Senior QB Anthony Yoder has thrown for 1,000 yards LESS than he did in
2009. The Minutemen have held all nine foes to 14 points or less and I don't
think it's because of their defense. Their offense does not leave the defense on
the field 60% of the time anymore. Yoder (5-11, 165), a track sprinter, is 86 of
167 for 1,418 yards and he has also run for 530 yards and six TDs. You have to
go get him on every play. Concord passed for 2,669 yards last year and ran for
1,578. This year, its 50-50.
End Logan Draus (5-9, 165) caught 51 passes for 1,000 yards in 2009. His numbers
are down but they may need him to catch 10 against Lowell. But sophomore
fullback (converted tight end) DeWhan Alford (6-1, 230) allows the Minutemen to
control the ball more. Most plays end with Yoder running or throwing but they
now have the capacity to ball control, something they typically do not have.
Concord's line averages 260 pounds per man, but the question is: Do they have
the run blocking mentality where they can drive as a team down the field on 12
running plays in a row? The hole in the 'spread offense' teams is that the
linemen think 'pass block' first. It's why the Indianapolis Colts can't run the
ball. They pass 60% of the time so the linemen don't have the run-block
mentality.
Defensively, the Minutemen have quality defensive backs in Logan Draus (5-9,
165) back-recever in Alex Stith, who has eight interceptions and a good junior
linebacker in Jarrett Settles (12 tackles for loss). Last year, Concord gave up
2200 yards rushing in 12 games. In 2010, they have allowed 1,371 yards rushing
in nine games. The question here is: Is the Concord defense better or does the
offense simply possess the ball more and make the defense 'seem' better?
Concord has a top flight kicker in Nick Wysong who has seven field goals,
including a 48-yarder against Goshen.
LOWELL Update:
LOWELL (10-22-2010) Lowell is playing their best ball of the season with
three wins in a row and a lot of positive feeling. The Devils are 2-0 against
ranked teams after a 35-28 road win at 3A No. 9 Andrean. Lowell's attack is led
by a veteran offensive line in front of senior track star Cole Midgett (5-8,
155), who has 1,386 yards and 21 TDs on 177 carries.
But it all comes down to how well the offensive line does and, with former guard
Dominick Rebesco (6-0, 250) switching positions with former center Tim McGinnis
(5-10, 200), the group of Jay Trappani (6-2, 220), Luke Mitrisin (6-3, 290) and
Jake Hayden (6-0, 275) have the whole world in their hands. If the Lowell line
can control the ball with 10 and 12 play drives, it does not matter what Concord
thinks they can do on offense.
Lately fullback Jeremy Crocker (6-2, 215) has done some short yardage work. The
Devils have used end Jason Parker (5 carries, 58 yards on wingback counter plays
and Nick Hamilton (5-8, 155) can fill in if Midgett, who plays five positions
(halfback, cornerback, punter, placekicker, kick returner) has to miss a series.
What was exciting for Lowell last week was QB Chris Sekuloski (6-3, 175), who
completed 6-of-10 passes for 97 yards and a TD. If you have to respect the pass,
and you can only use a seven man front against Lowell, you will have a long
night on defense. Sekuloski (24 of 60, 447 yards, 3 TDs, 4 interceptions)
hitting a half dozen passes forces the defense to drop at least four or five
guys into the secondary (especially against Lowell's speed) and makes Lowell
almost unbeatable by 4A teams.
On defense, the Devil pass rush had been missing injured end Tyler Wright (out
for the season), but senior wrestler Jay Trappani (6-2, 220) had a career high
14 tackles last week and he has a team-leading five sacks. His play has been
noticeably better in the second half of the year.
Lowell's secondary of Midgett, Nick Hamilton, Jason Parker and sophomore Joey
Gruszkowski was OK (but not great) against Munster's Mark Strbjak and Andrran's
Demitri Blanco the last two weeks. Concord has a big tight end in Franko House
(6-5, 230), but they don't throw to him much. Lowell will have to chase the
halfback coming out of the backfield. Concord will try to establish the fullback
between the tackles and then get outside with the halfback or Yoder.
That creates a lot of issues for senior
linebackers Jordan Juarez and Mike Sekuloski (team-leading 8 tackles), both of
whom started against Concord in 2009. They can't get fooled by Yoder, a shifty
faker.
Lowell's Midgett has become a quality placekicker with four field goals (longest
- 37 yards) and 35 of 40 extra points.
The biggest thing Lowell has is history. They faced a similar situation in the
4A Sectional 10 quarterfinal against then-unbeaten Plymouth in 2009. But when
Lowell drove the length the field to score in the first quarter, Plymouth was a
little stunned and Lowell won 14-6.
Concord has trailed this year and they have a much better offense than Plymouth
had. But Lowell has spent a generation running the football and controlling the
game. If they get the lead, especially early, how does Concord react?
No. 11 LOWELL (6-3) at No. 4 CONCORD (9-0)
Sagarin computer ratings:
Concord by 14-1/2
Elkhart
(10-22-2010)
WHAT WILL HAPPEN: Concord will be able to move the ball early with the running of the sophomore fullback DuWhan Alford and the quarterback Anthony Yoder. They'll jump to a 10-0 lead after two sustained drives. Cole Midgett will score on a kickoff return to cut the lead to 10-7 and the Devils' defense will shut down the run. A long pass and run combination by Yoder and senior end Logan Draus will lead to a second Concord TD and a 17-7 halftime advantage.
Concord, which has allowed just 79 points all
year, will play very conservatively and fight off a couple of third quarter
threats by Lowell in a scoreless third period. In the fourth period, Lowell will
mount a drive alternating Midgett and Jeremy Crocker as they start to wear down
the Concord defense. Crocker will score to cut the lead to 17-14.
At this point, Lowell can take over if they get a turnover. Concord can't fall
behind in the second half because too much history is on Lowell's side.
But Alford, Concord's rookie fullback, who has four 100-yard games this season,
will gobble up key yards on a game-deciding drive that will eat up much of the
fourth quarter. Lowell needs Concord to turn the ball over three or four times
for an upset here and the Minutemen have not been doing that. I'd like to be
wrong here, but traveling almost 100 miles and defeating a Top-10 team on the
road on a Friday night seems to be way too much to ask.
Concord 24, LOWELL 14