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4A No. 9 Lowell (2-1) at Griffith (1-2) |
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Week
4 - Football Game of the Week Preview |
4A No. 9 Lowell (2-1) at Griffith (1-2) |
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9-10-2010
When:
Friday, September 10, 2010
Where: Griffith High School, 600 North Wiggs St. (about 6 blocks south of Ridge Road on Wiggs Street), Griffith, IN.
Tickets: $5 - (for everybody).
Kickoff:
7:00 p.m.
Radio-TV: 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).
Enrollment: Griffith 946; LOWELL - 1,224
WEATHER: Mid-60s for the kickoff. Low-60s by the fourth quarter. A
perfect night for this type of game. Near perfect, if the rain stays away and
that's a big 'if.' Griffith has a natural grass field and it's seen better days.
This game becomes a 'mud bath' very quickly if the rain is substantial. But for
two teams that have very small rosters, the cool weather is welcome because it
allow the players to stay strong into the fourth quarter.
PARKING: There is very little parking at Griffith and it is in a
100% residential area so there's no business parking lots you can use. Be ready
to park in the neighborhood around the school. Try not to block anyone's
driveway. If you get to the field after 6:00 p.m., you may be walking a block or
two. But look at it as part of the experience. Listen to the band and march
toward the lights of the stadium.
WHAT's AT STAKE: Griffith isn't supposed to contend for the
Northwest Crossroads Conference championship this season, but they don't know
that yet. The Panthers can re-boot their entire season after opening losses to
Morton and Valparaiso. Lowell wants to stay undefeated in league play and they
need that first road win. I have seen about 20 Lowell-Griffith games and I have
never seen one where both sides didn't play hard, even when one side won by 40
points. These games are usually over very quickly because both teams
traditionally run the ball 95% of the time.
All-time series: Griffith leads 49-27-3
Lowell won 35-19 at Lowell last year.
4A 10 LOWELL (2-1)
all games on 92.7fm -WKIF
Enrollment: 1,200 - Class 4A
2009 record: 13-2
Last 5 seasons: 57-14
10 sectional titles; 1992, 1994, 1999, 2003-2009
6 regional titles: 1994, 1999, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009
3 semi state titles: 2005, 2007, 2009
1 state title: 2005
Aug. 20 (L) 6-37 at CP (2-1)
Aug. 27 (W) 40-26 Morton (2-1)
Sep. 3 Kankakee Valley (0-3)
Sep. 10 at Griffith (1-2)
Sep. 17 at Highland (1-2)
Sep. 24 Hobart (1-2)
Oct. 1 at Hammond (1-2)
Oct. 8 Munster (3-0)
Oct. 15 at Andrean (2-1)
Griffith (1-2)
Russ Radtke 161-56 (18th year)
2009 record: 6-5
Sectional titles (15) last in 2008
Regional titles: 5 (last in 2006)
Semistate titles (1) 1997
State titles (1) 1997
Last 5 seasons: 48-17
9-20 (L) 27-28 at Morton (2-1)
9-27 (L) 21-34 Valpo (3-0)
9-3 (W) 35-10 at HOBART (2-1)
9-10 (Friday) LOWELL (2-1)
9-17 at KV (0-3)
9-24 at MUNSTER (3-0)
Oct. 1 HIGHLAND (1-2)
Oct. 8 ANDREAN (2-1)
Oct. 15 at East Chicago (1-2)
10-2: Class 4A Sectional 9
with Highland (1-2), Hammond (1-2), Hobart (1-2), West Side (1-2), Morton (2-1),
Lew Wallace (0-3) and Roosevelt (0-2)
GRIFFITH Update:
GRIFFITH (9-10-2010) The Panthers lost four starters in an off-the-field
disciplinary situation before the season began. While they'll claim that they
have pulled together and are stronger because of it, it doesn't really work that
way. Griffith's preseason roster had 42 players and five of those are freshman,
but they have fought hard all season, being overmatched only by Valparaiso in
week two.
The main man is a senior QB Calvin Bonewits (6-1, 155), who gives the Panthers a running-passing threat. Bonewits was 4-of-6 for 115 yards last week at Hobart and, while that's not much for many teams, that's perfect for Griffith. Fullback Tyler Yost (5-11, 205) carried the ball 13 times for 163 yards and halfback Troy Yarnelle (5-9, 155) ran seven times for 96 yards.
Against the Panther option attack, the fullback is
the key man. If the fullback gains 100 yards, they own you. The Panther
offensive line is not overly large, led by senor John Acevedo (6-2, 215) and
they don't have much depth. They have to control the ball to keep their defense
off the field but Griffith is built to do that. They had 400 yards rushing last
week, but look for the Panthers to throw more in this game. They can't just
lineup and run over Lowell.
The defense is led by safety Gilbert Eatman (6-1, 175), the last line of
defense, who had two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Defensive tackle Vance
Thomas (6-7, 285) rolled up 60 points total on this squad. This group isn't
going to shut anybody out but they don't have to. The Panthers have averaged 27
points a game early on and they have solid skill position players.
Griffith is motivated by what they must see as a
chance to beat Lowell for the first time in four years. They consider Lowell the
standard they must reach and they must feel like they can close the gap Friday
night. Lowell's success in recent years have created many potential ambushes.
Teams are much more excited about defeating Lowell than Lowell may be about
beating them. That looks like the case here as Griffith will be fired up to stop
the state-rated and short-handed Devils in front of their home crowd. Lowell
boys must match Griffith's early emotion on this night or they will be trailing
very quickly.
LOWELL Update:
The loss of linebacker Jordan Juarez and lineman Tyler Wright for this game (both are almost certainly out until October) means the Devils are short four positions. Junior Nick Tokarz (6-0, 175) will take Juarez' place at fullback and he'll do well. He's carried nine times for 43 yards. But who will join Jeremy Crocker (6-2, 210), Mike Sekuloski (5-3, 180) and Tokarz at linebacker is not certain. Sophomore Tony Mauer (6-3, 180) may get a chance, as might senior Alex McCracken (6-0, 180).
Wright's offensive line spot will be taken most
likely by defensive lineman Jake Hayden (6-0, 275) and the group that includes
Luke Mitrisin (6-3, 290), Dominick Rebesco (6-2, 250), Sekuloski and center Tim
McInnis (5-10, 200) should be OK, except for the fact that almost everybody is
going both ways now.
I don't know how Lowell replaces Wright at defensive end and I wouldn't be
surprised to see a 3-5-3 with five linebackers (including Jimmy Szafranski)
against the Panther option.
Lowell's secondary had to make a lot tackles in the first two weeks and Clark
Mikesell (5-8, 160) who is listed as a linebacker could be a blitzer or pass
coverage guy. I'm suspecting that even though he was beaten for three big plays
in week one. Lowell does not mind if you throw the ball at corner back Cole
Midgett because he can pick it off and go downtown.
On offense, somebody lit a fire under junior Zac Wolfe (5-6, 155) last week. He
carried 14 times for 86 yards coming off the bench. Midgett has 165 yards in 32
carries. But I'm still looking at Nick Hamilton (5-8, 155) to break a big one.
He has just four carries for 55 yards so far, but Juarez (32 carries, 189 yards)
is out for some time. Other boys WILL get carries this Friday.
Griffith knows Lowell. The Devils are going to see nine-man defensive fronts
from teams that gamble that the Devils can't complete any passes. Griffith is
certainly one of those teams. Lowell has some good speed in its wide receivers,
especially when they put Cole Midget out wide. But even if it's just a couple of
screen passes or tosses to the tight end, Lowell's got to throw a little bit
early here and big Chris Sekuloski (6-3, 185), who is just 6-of-18 so far, must
hit more than he misses. Midgett (8 TDs) is the key and both sides know it, but
Sekuloski will find single coverage on all other receivers.
at 'the
Boneyard" in Griffith - capacity - 2,500 - Sagarin ratings: Lowell by
4
GRIFFITH
(9-10-2010) This spread looks about right going in because Lowell has
played highly regarded Crown Point. Griffith has faced undefeated Valparaiso.
Both teams have played Morton and Hobart and Lowell is 2-1, not 1-2, like
Griffith. Sagarin does not get into injuries and suspensions but these teams are
pretty even in players lost for various reasons. Sagarin also does not pit two
teams together and give points for 'home field' so this game is pretty much
even.
WHAT
WILL HAPPEN: Griffith knows that Lowell has only completed seven passes
all year so they will flat out dare Lowell to throw the ball. The Devils will
take up that challenge.
Chris Sekuloski fakes to Cole Midgett early and throws a long TD to John
Hilbrich early for a 7-0 lead. That will help Lowell's offensive line loosen up
the Griffith defensive front, which must happen for Lowell to score at all.
Another couple of completions to running backs will create scoring chances for
Lowell in the second quarter and they finally will score with Midgett switching
to QB and running for a TD in the second quarter.
But as the game goes on, the Panthers will control the line of scrimmage. Griffith's Calvin Bonewits runs an option play into the end zone to tie it in the third period as the two teams just beat each other up a lot. The Panthers score late in the fourth quarter on a pass from Bonewits to Troy Yarnelle and Russ Radtke, as he consistently does, goes for a two-point conversion.
A Bonewits pass is knocked down by Lowell's Jason Parker and Griffith falls short. As was the case in the Morton game, the Lowell offense will struggle and the defense will be on the field more than half the game.
But Griffith does not have the field goal kicker
who could win this game and they will let the Devils get out of town with a win.
LOWELL 14, GRIFFITH 13