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4A No. 1 Bishop Dwenger
(13-0)
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Week
14 - Football Game of the Week Preview|
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4A No. 1 Bishop Dwenger
(13-0)
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A
USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith
11-16-2007
When:
Friday, November 16, 2007
Where: Lowell High School - 2051 E. Commercial AVE (Route 2), Lowell, IN.
Tickets: $7 - (Remember ticket prices go up for the semistate. It'll be $10 next week.)
Kickoff:
7:00 p.m.
Radio-TV:
WTMK (88.5) FM, WJOB (1230) AM.
Weather:
Upper-30s, windy, light rain or snow flurries. Hard on the fans and tough on passing
teams.
Bring every method of keeping warm that you
know. You will need it. You know
how sometimes you get to the game and you say,
'Hey. Its not as cold as I thought it was!?'
That's just not going to happen Friday. Can we be blunt? The worse it gets. The
better it is for Lowell.
Parking: We don't know how many fans are
coming from Fort Wayne. Some private schools don't have a lot of fans and Fort Wayne to
Lowell is a tough drive on a Friday evening. But
this is a private school with well-held moms and
dads. You may see some state-of-the-art RVs roll
into Lowell about 5:00 p.m. But I cannot imagine
that more than 500 fans at best will drive 100
miles on a weekday to stand outside in freezing
weather.
On the other hand, to steal the catch phrase
from the Region Sports Network, which will air
the game on WJOB, this is the only game in town. Many from other schools will drop by to see if
Lowell can reach the state finals. The Red
Devils are going to need all their fans and
anyone who wants to jump on the bandwagon
against the state's No. 1 team.
Next week: With all due respect to undefeated Reitz (13-0) which reportedly has a wonderful team, the winner of Friday's game at Lowell heads for Indianapolis to face (most likely) six-time state champ Cathedral high school of Indianapolis for the 2007 4A state title on Nov. 24 at 2:30 p.m. This will be the final high school state championships to be held in the RCA Dome. The 65,000-seat Lucas Oil Stadium, the new home of the Indianapolis Colts and the football state tournament, opens just south of the RCA Dome in 2008.
35th State Football Tournament
Class 4A Semistate
Championships
No. 1 Bishop Dwenger (13-0) at No. 6 LOWELL
(12-1) - Fri, 11/16 @ 7:00 p.m., CST
No. 4 (Indy) Cathedral (11-2) vs. No. 2
(Evansville) Reitz (13-0) - Sat, 11/17 @ 7:00 p.m. (EST)
at the University of Indianapolis*
*The
Dwenger-Lowell winner will not know who they are playing until Saturday night,
but they can go watch the finalist emerge.
I'm not telling you
who to root for, but Cathedral is about 100
blocks from the RCA Dome. Reitz is about 100
miles from the RCA Dome.
The Series: This is probably the first meeting of Lowell and Dwenger in any team sport. Bishop Dwenger is one of the most traditionally dominant schools in all of Indiana high school football. The Saints are 14-time regional champions, three time state winners and two-time defending champions of the 10-team Summit Athletic Conference.
One of the forgotten ironies in Lowell's 2005 Class 4A state championship was that Lowell got to play and defeat Fort Wayne South 16-14 at Lowell in the Northern Semistate championship game only because South upset a 10-1 Dwenger squad 23-13 the week before. Had Dwenger beaten South, Lowell would have had to play the semistate game in Fort Wayne and the entire championship scenario might have been different.
Bishop Dwenger is a 45-year-old Catholic high school school much like Andrean on Fort Wayne's far north side. Tuition is $4,975 and the school is apparently doing very well even with the presence of Bishop Luers, another Catholic school and Concordia Lutheran in the same city.
Joseph Gregory Dwenger (1837-1893) was the second Bishop assigned to the area that included the city of Fort Wayne and he held that post for 20 years. John Henry Luers was the first. The sixth bishop of the Fort Wayne-South Bend area (the two cities were later grouped together) was John Francis Noll, for whom Hammond's Bishop Noll high school is named. Luers is loosely the south side Fort Wayne Catholic school while Dwenger is the north side Fort Wayne Catholic school.
Dwenger is a gymnastics powerhouse with four state championships, including three in the last five years. They have finished second at the state meet six times. But athletically, this high school is known for football. They have only seven losing records in 43 seasons. This is the 14th time in 30 years that Dwenger has won 10 games or more and the Saints senior class is 35-4 in the last three seasons.
Traditionally, Bishop Dwenger has had strong rushing teams. The spread offense they use is a recent development and they may or may not continue it beyond this season. The flow of talent is obviously pretty steady and that's what tradition does. I don't know much about Dwenger basketball and that speaks for itself. Football is clearly a great source of pride there. Let's understand what the Devils are up against here. Private schools dominate the state tournament. The Saints are the undefeated champions of their league and their town. No one has come within four touchdowns of them in the post-season and their goal is to go to the state finals this year because it probably is every year. Any post-season victory over Bishop Dwenger any year is probably an upset.
4A No. 6 Lowell (12-1)
Coach: Kirk Kennedy (131-65, 16
years)
Enrollment: 1,247
2006 record: 7-6*
Sectional titles: (8)1992, 1994, 1999, 2003, 04,
05, 06, 07
Regional titles: (3) 1994, 1999, 2005
Semistate titles: (1) 2005
State titles: (1) 2005
*Lost 33-14 to 4A state finalist Concord in the
2006 regional championship game
Lowell Red Devils (12-1)
(W) 23-14 Crown Point (8-3)
(W) 3-0 at Morton (5-5)
(W) 38-0 at Kankakee Valley (4-7)
(L) 28-29 (OT) GRIFFITH (9-4)
(W) 39-0 HIGHLAND (1-10)
(W) 10-7 at HOBART (8-4)
(W) 24-0 Hammond (9-2)
(W) 37-19 at MUNSTER (3-7)
(W) 31-3 ANDREAN (9-4)
4A Sectional (10)
(W) 54-13 Logansport (7-3)
(W) 14-8 at Plymouth (5-6)
(W) 31-21 at Concord (8-4)
4A Regional
(W) 20-13 at Griffith (9-4)
4A Semistate
11-16 (F) vs. Bishop Dwenger (13-0)
LOWELL 1,000-yard
rushers - single season
1. Scott Gray
(2005) 323 carries, 2,336 yards
2. Michael Pickett (1994) 339 carries,
2,256 yards
3. Toby Goetz (2004) 276
carries, 1,939 yards
4. Matt Pernick (1996) 229 carries,
1,827 yards
5. Michael Pickett (1993) 273 carries,
1,687 yards
6. Justin Henley (2002) 147 carries,
1,552 yards
7. Brandon Grubbe (2007) 241 carries,
1,525 yards
8. Justin Henley (2003) 227 carries,
1,413 yards
9. Mike French (2000) 220 carries,
1,382 yards
10. Matt Pernick (1995) 175
carries, 1,349 yards
Steffan Peck has 833 yards on 185 carries. In
the state tournament era (1973-present), Lowell
has never had two 1,000-yard rushers in the same
season.
4A No. 1 Bishop Dwenger (13-0)
Coach: Chris Svarczkopf (63-15) 6 seasons
Enrollment: 1,069
2006 record: 12-2*
Sectional titles:(17) including 2002, 2003 and
2006
Regional titles: (15) including 2002, 2003 and
2006
Semistate titles: (5) 1983, 1990, 1991, 1996 and
2002
State titles: (3) 1983, 1990 and 1991
*Lost 48-21 to Concord in the 4A Northern
Semistate on Nov. 17, 2006.
Bishop Dwenger Saints (13-0)
(W) 21-7 Concordia Lutheran (9-4)
(W) 38-13 at Harding (5-5)
(W) 43-3 (FW) North (6-4)
(W) 22-14 at (FW) Northrop (2-8)
(W) 52-14 (FW) Elmhurst (0-10)
(W) 40-8 (FW) Wayne (3-8)
(W) 35-5 at (FW) South (4-7)
(W) 32-13 at (FW) Snider (11-2)
(W) 28-21 Bishop Luers (9-4)
4A Sectional (12)
(W) 42-8 (FW) Elmhurst (0-10)
(W) 42-7 at Columbia City (1-10)
(W) 52-20 DeKalb (7-5)
4A Regional
(W) 42-14 Jay County (8-5)
4A Semistate
Bishop Dwenger centers around senior John
Goodman (6-4, 185), a Division I wide receiver
recruit (he's going to Notre Dame) who plays
quarterback for the Saints. Through 12 games,
Goodman was 77-of-143 for 1,336 yards and 12 TDs.
Halfback Jemarkis Willis (5-9, 175) had 159
carries for 1,315 yards and 26 touchdowns while
the top receivers are Tyler Eifert (6-3, 180)
who has 25 catches for 449 yards and Matt Eppard
(6-0, 165) who has 19 catches for 332 yards.
This is basically Concord with better skill
position players.
Goodman is the key. He caught 40 passes for
815 yards last season as a wide receiver, a
position he's played since his freshman season
and a position he will play next season at Notre
Dame. But the word is that Goodman was a
quarterback before that. So, it isn't surprising
he's led the Saints to an undefeated season in
2007.
What Lowell does not know is how tough he is to
tackle. No doubt the Devils will get there and
make some hits. But we wont know if they can
tackle the all-stater until the kickoff. We also don't know if Willis will play. Dwenger's leading
scorer left last week's game with an ankle
injury. This is a major loss. While Lowell did a decent job against Concord's spread passing
attack, they did not handle the one back running
out of that formation. Willis is the one back in Dwenger's spread
attack. I'm sure they have a quality backup, but
I'm also sure Bishop Dwenger's play-calling
changes without their star halfback.
The line is big, led by two-year starters in
tackle Ryan Myers (6-2, 270) and center Stephen Fiacable (6-2, 245).
The numbers indicate that the Saints don't throw
much, even though they use a passing formation.
Unlike Concord, Dwenger will run some series out
of a conventional pro-set formation with Goodman
lining up behind Fiacable. Any way you look at it, you need to 'spy'
Goodman, assign a player to go get him on every
play. You can try a conventional defense, but I'd
suggest that 13 teams (12, cause they creamed
Elmhurst twice) have tried conventional defenses
and all of them are at home now.
Goodman is not a high percentage passer, so on a
cold night, blitzing him and forcing quick
throws may be the answer.
But he is a very dangerous scrambling
quarterback.
Greg Svarczkopf (5-9, 190), is an undersized
defensive end who has nine QB sacks and five
fumble recoveries. Mike Mentzer (6-2, 280), who is listed as a
linebacker, clearly anchors the defense and Alex
Cuttia (6-2, 235) and Aaron Hendricks (6-1, 190)
are veteran defensive ends who have combined for
16 sacks. John Goodman roams the secondary with Nick
Yates (6-4, 185) and David Swinehart (5-11,
170), who has six interceptions. You get the feeling this can be a very
formidable group at times, but the nature of the Dwenger offense may leave them on the field or
put them in field position. I don't think
you go 80 yards for a TD against Dwenger very
often.
Kicker Dan Korshid has five field goals. This
is a complete team. The seniors are 25-2 in the
last two years. The only thing you don't know is
how they would react to falling behind. Clearly,
they haven't been behind very often. Oddly,
they were eliminated 48-21 by Concord last year
the week after Lowell lost to Concord 33-14.
The Devils were held to 83 yards rushing
last week and that can't happen again. But it
probably won't. Griffith gambled against the
Devils, bringing nine men to the line to stop the
run. The Panthers largely succeeded, but that
might have been because they know Lowell very
well. Griffith also got burned with two long TD
passes by Lowell QB Kurt Monix, but the Saints
feel they can answer most scores so I expect
them to dare Lowell to throw the ball.
The Devils want this to be a short game and
they'll run sophomore halfback Brandon Grubbe
(5-10, 170) and senior fullback Steffan Peck
(5-6, 175), who have combined for almost 2600
yards and 35 touchdowns. Lowell simply wants to
keep the clock running and the Dwenger offense
on the sidelines. I think screen passes work against this
team, because I'm not sure how much speed they
have at linebacker. But anything deep has to
get past Goodman, one of two 6-foot-4 defenders
for the Saints.
Lowell's offensive line, including Josh
Hayden (5-11, 210), Geno Wentworth (6-2, 240),
Nick Schultz (5-11, 230) and others has to open
up a small hole where the Devils' quick backs can
squirt through.
The Devils have to get the ball into the hands
of tight end Jeff Barker (6-4, 205), who scored
the winning TD last week, even if they have to
simply hand it to him. Expect to see TJ Lukasik
get some chances. And don't be shocked if the Devils go for the
home run ball again to Chris "Rudy" Thompson,
who in the 11th hour of his senior year, caught
his first career pass last week, a 67-yard TD
against arch-rival Griffith. Most of the
defensive attention will obviously go to Barker.
This will be the final home game for half of
Lowell's state class defense, led by safety
Lukas Palmer (7 interceptions, 4 interceptions),
defensive end Joe Carlson (10 sacks), corner TJ
Lukasik (67 tackles), speedy linebacker Ben
Rigby (73 tackles) and Barker (8-1/2 sacks), the
all-area defensive end. One of the keys to this game may be
all-purpose Lowell senior Danny Remboski who coud
be used on the perimeter against Eifert,
Dwenger's big receiver. He could also be the
player who shadows Goodman. Lowell also hasn't
thrown to Remboski in recent weeks and Dwenger
may not know that is an option.
On a cold windy night, the Devils are fortunate
to have senior David Lang (10 field goals),
kicking in his 15th playoff game. Lang (6-0,
206) is Lowell's version of the undertaker
because when you see him late in a game, you
know you're dead. Lang has kicked two game-winning field goals
this year (Morton, Hobart) and his three-point
kicks of 38 and 41 yards were crucial in the
regional win over Griffith. Two years ago
Sunday, Lang's 32-yard field goal with 8:11 to
play rallied Lowell to a 16-14 win over Fort
Wayne South in the 2005 Class 4A Northern Semistate game in Lowell. And Lang was 4-for-4 on extra points,
including the boot that broke a 27-27 tie late
in the fourth quarter as Lowell won a timeless
28-27 victory over eight-time state champion Roncalli in the state championship game one week
later.
Lowell is relatively healthy, although it has
not been said enough that Lowell has gone the
entire season without Kaleb Layman (5-9, 176),
who played on the 2005 state championship team. Layman suffered what has turned out to be a
career ending injury in August of 2006.
Also, no Lowell player wears No. 33 because that
number belongs to outside linebacker Dean Frigo,
who made 47 tackles on last year's sectional
championship team.
Frigo was killed in a car
accident last winter and his parents still
attend games. The number '33' is painted on the
Lowell sidelines in his memory. Those names will come up this week and when
Lowell takes the field late Friday, they'll want
to win the last home game not just for
themselves.
In the 35 years of the Indiana state
tournament, the list of Northwest Indiana
football programs that has been to the state
finals twice in three years include North
Judson, Hobart and Andrean.
That list could be expanded by one about 9:00 p.m.
Friday.
Lowell will get the second half kick and they
will get a field position drive going. On the
second possession, Brandon Grubbe breaks a long
touchdown run to give the home team the lead. I think Goodman gains 100 yards on this
night. Mostly on QB scrables, unscripted plays
where he simply takes off running.
Goodman will answer with a third quarter TD for
the Saints to tie the game 17-17.
Lowell will then create another long,
time-consuming drive using Grubbe late in the
game after the Dwenger front begins to tire.
That's the situation the Devils want to create
every week and Dwenger's quick-hitting style
of play should allow Lowell to get there. Grubbe's second TD of the night will put
Lowell ahead after a drive of 50 yards or more. After an interception by Ben Rigby, another Grubbe TD will quickly give Lowell a 31-17 lead.
Dwenger has not had to play starters four
quarters in the post-season. They have coasted
to 20 and 30-point victories. The Saints can't
let this be a close game in the fourth quarter
and I think the combination of weather and the
fast Lowell defense will make it close.
Dwenger won't go quietly. A late Goodman to Eppard TD pass will cut the lead to seven, but as
the Devils pass the 40-carry mark for the night,
they will run out the clock in one of their
greatest wins. I'm not saying Lowell is the better team here,
because they aren't. But the home team usually
wins the semistate game. Lowell is a good
come-from-behind team and a better cold weather
team. If Dwenger does not suffer any turnovers,
they will win, but I don't see that happening. As
far as I can tell, Lowell has never beaten a
team ranked No. 1 in the post-season. I can see
that happening.
LOWELL 31, Bishop Dwenger 24
11-16 (F) at LOWELL (12-1) 7:00
p.m.
4A No. 1 Ft. WAYNE DWENGER
(13-0)
at
4A No. 6 LOWELL (12-1)
Sagarin
computer ratings: Tie
LOWELL
(11-16-2007) -
It almost never happens, but
Bishop Dwenger's computer rating is 82.36. Lowell's rating is 82.87. Since you cannot win
a game by less than a point, that's a statistical
tie. Lowell plays what has been rated the 50th
toughest schedule while Bishop Dwenger has
played the 74th toughest schedule. The difference however, is that Dwenger played
Elmhurst (0-10) twice and Lowell only played
Highland (1-10) once.
Lowell hopes to have linebacker/offensive guard
Justin Juarez (6-2, 220) back off the injured
list after Juarez was available for only one
series last week at Griffith.
Bishop Dwenger is in the state finals a lot, but
Lowell isn't. And faced with the nearly
impossible task of beating Plymouth, Concord and
Griffith on the road in successive weeks, Lowell
has done that, only to be rewarded by facing the
state's top-ranked team. If Lowell wins Friday night, they will have
completed a five game path to the state finals
that is even more improbable than the run in
2005 that saw Lowell make three double-digit
(10 points or more) comebacks in the sectional,
regional and semistate championship games.
What will happen...
LOWELL (11-16-2007) The Devils
have trailed in every playoff game so far and
there is every likelihood they will fall behind
quickly Friday night. Dwenger wants the ball immediately to make an
impact, and I think Lowell wants the ball to
start the second half. So, whoever wins the
toss, I think Lowell kicks off. The Devils are likely to fall behind early. They always seem to.
Willis is questionable with an ankle injury, but
he plays and scores on the Saints second
possession for a 7-0 lead.
Lowell mounts a short drive here and is rewarded
with a long David Lang field goal, but the quick
strike attack of the Saints will move the ball
again and Dan Khorshid will lift a successful
field goal to put Dwenger up 10-3. The Devils
get a late second quarter turnover and a short
TD by Steffan Peck ties the game at the half.
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Revised: November 16, 2007
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