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Lowell (0-1)at Calumet (0-1) |
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Week
2 - Football Game of the Week Preview |
Lowell (0-1)at Calumet (0-1) |
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8-25-2004
When:
Friday, August 26, 2005
Where: Calumet High School, (Ridge Road at Colfax) - south Gary
Tickets: $5
Kickoff:
7:00 p.m.
Radio-TV: None
Parking/Tickets: Calumet used to be a much larger school and they have the parking of a larger school. Plenty of room here and, honestly, this isn't a big game in any way.
Weather: Upper 60s, chance of rain
JV game: Lowell at Calumet, Sat., Aug. 27 at 10:00 a.m.
Freshmen: Calumet at Lowell, Thurs., Sept.1 at 6:00 p.m.
The series: Calumet has not defeated Lowell in varsity football in 16 years. Lowell beat Calumet 42-0 last year and 56-0 in 2003. Calumet last won 14-12 at Lowell in 1989 when these two were members of the old Lake Suburban Conference and they were 10-10 against the Devils in the 1970s and 80s. To be honest, both sides might be better served by facing a different foe in week two. Calumet used to be a larger school than Lowell in the 70s and 80s and they had some solid teams. But Calumet's enrollment slipped under 700 two years ago while Lowell is in the 1,110 range and climbing. Lowell will soon be twice as large as Calumet if they aren't already.
But Lowell will almost certainly bring 200-250 (if not more) paying customers to Calumet Friday night and that ticket money definitely helps out the Warriors athletic department. Calumet has to decide how long they want to benefit at the box office once every two years at the expense of what might happen on the field. Lowell might want a soft foe between rivalry games Crown Point and Griffith but I really think that Lowell-North Judson or Lowell-Rensselaer could bring 500 more paying customers than Calumet will to Lowell every other year and that's a $2000 care package. It's something to think about with the breakup of the LAC coming in 2007. Lowell will have only six league games (instead of the present seven) and they will get a chance to redo their present football schedule.
THE DISTANT REPLAY
Lowell at Calumet - 13 years ago (10-2-1992) - Junior quarterback Paul Lacy ran for two touchdowns and passed for a third as Lowell won at Calumet 39-6. Shawn Lawrence carried the ball 15 times for 111 yards for the Devils while sophomore Michael Pickett gained 83 yards on 10 carries. Dan Hudak kicked a 36-yard field goal. Lowell's record improved to 2-4 and they lost 42-0 to Lake Central one week later. The Devils then defeated Highland, Morton, Andrean and Munster to win the school's first sectional football title.
Class 4A Lowell - Coach: Kirk Kennedy (104-55, 14 years)
Enrollment: 1,150
2004 record: 9-4
Sectional titles: (5) 1992, 1994, 1999, 2003, 2004
Regional titles: (2) 1994, 1999
Lost the 2004 regional championship game at home 28-21 to state Class 4A runner-up Wawasee.
Lowell Red Devils (0-1)
8-19 (W) 6-16 Crown Point (1-0)
8-26 - Calumet (0-1)
9-2 - Griffith (1-0)
9-9 - Morton (1-0)
9-16 - ANDREAN (1-0)
9-23 - HAMMOND (0-1)
9-30 - at Munster (1-0)
10-7 - at Hobart (1-0)
10-14 - Highland (1-0)
4A Sectional 9 playoffs
10-21 (F) quarterfinals
10-28 (F) semifinals
11-4 (F) championship
3A Calumet Coach: Nick Stoming (1st year)
Enrollment: 646
2004 record: 2-8
Sectional titles: none
League titles: LAC Blue - 1999
Calumet Conference - 1963
Lost 3A Sectional 17 quarterfinal 56-0 to Griffith in 2004
3A Calumet Warriors (0-1)
8-19 (L) 14-51 Marian (1-0)
8-26 - LOWELL (0-1)
9-2 WHITING (1-0)
9-9 at Wheeler (0-1)
9-16 CLARK (0-1)
9-23 at Lake Station (0-1)
9-30 at Kankakee Valley (0-1)
10-7 Bishop Noll (1-0)
10-14 GAVIT (1-0)
3A Sectional 17
10-21 (F) quarterfinals
10-28 (F) semifinals
11-4 (F) championship
CALUMET
GARY
- Calumet probably isn't totally disappointed in week one, even though they
lost 51-14 at Marian high in Mishawaka. The Knights gained 278 yards on the
ground against Calumet but the Warriors gained a total of 312 yards, including
139 yards through the air. QB Mike Alvarado (6-0, 175) was 9 of 16 for 2 TDs
through the air and Calumet has a lot of speed on the perimeter.
Wide receiver Errol Sherrod (5-8, 160) is a track sprinter and freshman Darcell
Ballen tine (6-0, 175) can go coast-to-coast when they get the ball. The problem
is Calumet getting the ball. they didn't have it much
against Marian and they'll face an angry Lowell team Friday night. Calumet's
line is small with athletic Avante Yarborough (5-9, 185) at one guard. The
pre-season roster had only three players over 210 pounds so the Warriors
aren't going to be able to run between the tackles on much of anybody although
fullback Pat Goethe (5-11, 218) will grab short yards. I'd look for Alvarado to
throw the ball 25-30 times, especially early. Calumet's offense is quick-strike
in nature so they're going to get worn down in most games. They need to be ahead
when it happens. New coach Nick Stoming, a member of the Bishop Noll 1989 3A
state title team, has said publically that his team will throw the ball more in
2005 and use their speed. I expect three and four wide receiver
sets and a lot of plays designed to get outside the hash
marks.
LOWELL
LOWELL – Lowell was embarrassed in week one, not so much to lose to 16-6 to Crown Point but to be held to just 82 total yards rushing. This is a team that rushed for over 3,000 yards in 2004 and they've had nine 1,000 yards rushers in 10 years. The Devils had not been held under 100 yards since CP held them to just 41 yards in a 23-0 shutout on Aug. 23, 2002. I can almost guarantee you that Lowell spent all week working on running the football. What is surprising to be is that Lowell has one of the top run-blocking lines in this area. Especially the right side with tackle Jed Travis (5-11, 250) and guard Ryan King (5-11, 202). Junior Mike Staniewicz (6-4, 253) and guard Randy Layman (6-1, 235) should complete a top line but it didn't happen against CP.
New QB Jimmy Ritter was two different players. He was about to be benched after a very poor first half but Ritter finished with 9 of 16 passing for 126 yards and he completed seven to all-NW Indiana receiver Jeff Clemens for 100 yards. I know Lowell's performance last week was as ugly as Pat Robertson's foreign policy, but Ritter may add a new dimension to Lowell and if the Devils ever get a multiple offense, everybody in 4A in NW Indiana needs to beware. To be honest, Ritter throws a soft ball. He doesn't yet zip the passes in with confidence. Lowell's two back-up QBs (juniors Josh Kuiper and Jon Cap) are capable players but Ritter looked good in the fourth quarter passing and scoring on a 10-yard run. Ritter will play with a little more fire this week and he'll be fine.
I also look for a serious bounce back from halfback Scott Gray, who fumbled twice in his season debut. He won't play if he can't hold onto the ball. But if he can, Gray is gong to start ripping off big gains. Lowell moved Jeff Clemens into the backfield some last week to get him the ball and the Devils want to keep the defense guessing as to where he'll line up. Tight end Chris Lampa caught a couple of passes and looks like a good alternative receiver to Clemens. Defensively Lowell gave up 251 yards and 16 points to Crown Point despite five Lowell turnovers. Lowell's going to have to rush the passer this week after they faced just six passes against Crown Point. This should be a strength as Lowell is stronger at the linebacker position than they are in the defensive line.
Clemens (6-2, 195) made some big hits from his safety position and any team that throws 20 times will eventually pay for it. Gray and Michael Dowling are always key players on the corners because they are relatively small (about 5-foot-8) and teams try to throw over the top of them to tall receivers. Lowell's backs still get turned around too easily and miss potential interceptions. Clemens averaged 37 yards a punt in week one, but I'm always surprised when Clemens or Gray does not return at least one kick for a TD or a big gain.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN:
GARY – Calumet is gong to have to survive the first seven or eight minutes of this game because Lowell is going to be looking to even the score for last week's loss. I'm sure some Devils heard bad things about their football job security this week so there will be a renewed effort following the opening kickoff this Friday. Calumet has to chew up the clock and that's not their game. The Warriors will try to go deep early against Lowell's secondary, but they'll be stymied by a Jeff Clemens interception. Scott Gray will cap a TD drive with a short run for a 7-0 Lowell lead.
I think Jimmy Ritter has a big game here because Calumet will spread the defense to try to stop Lowell running the ball. Fakes to Gray and Ethan Winel should send Ritter running free into the secondary. Ritter will score two TDs to make it 21-0 before Calumet scores on a TD pass by Alvarado. Calumet will throw 25-30 passes which means Lowell will get extra possessions. A blocked punt and another TD run by Gray should make it 28-7 at halftime. I think Clemens will score on an interception and the Red Devil reserves will add a sixth TD.
Let's be honest. Lowell's 16-6 loss to Crown point last Friday was the worst thing that could possibly have happened to Calumet. The Warriors are 5-25 in the last three seasons and they have not won more than six games in any season since 1978. But, with a new coach and new hope, Calumet may be very excited about Friday night's home opener. The Devils gained 405 yards rushing on 39 carries against Calumet last season and I can't see that changing much. Calumet QB Mike Alvarado will be throwing to Joe Peterson (6-0, 162) and halfback Errol Sherrod (5-8, 160), but Calumet has only 30 boys on the pre-season roster and they may be out manned here.
Like I said, I'd like to see Lowell consider playing North Judson or Rensselaer instead of Calumet. Lowell-Judson was an old Northwest Hoosier Conference rivalry that was very popular. This Friday, I'd just like to see Lowell win 42-7 and nobody on either side get hurt.
LOWELL 42, Calumet 7