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3A No. 1 Andrean (4-0)at Lowell (1-3) |
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Week
5 - Football Game of the Week Preview |
3A No. 1 Andrean (4-0)at Lowell (1-3) |
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9-14-2005
When:
Friday, September 16, 2005
Where: at Lowell High School - Route 2, Lowell, IN.
Tickets: $5 - There will be plenty available.
Kickoff:
7:00 p.m.
Radio-TV:
Tape delay – WJOB (1230) AM – 10:30 p.m. There is late word
that WWCA (1270) AM, which can be heard much better in Lowell at night, may do
this game live.
Weather: Much cooler (Much better) Mid-60s, dry field. Most NW Indiana fields are very dry right now. Rain is out of the forecast.
Parking: Lowell is not a big rival for Andrean and the 59er fans usually don't come down to Route 2 in great numbers. Andrean is undefeated but Lowell's record might not suggest this is a compelling matchup. Niner folks may look at Lowell's record and sit this one out so the crowd might not be as large as Lowell had for Griffith or Crown Point. But the heat which has been almost painful for four weeks will be nowhere in the night air by kickoff time. If you are going to attend one game all year, this might be the best one.
Rivalry: This is not a game which has any tradition tied to it. With the possible exception of last year's 35-28 track meet, I don't believe there is one especially memorable game in the 10 meetings between these two schools. These two were never in the same conference until Lowell joined the LAC in 1998. Andrean has beaten Lowell five times in a row since a 33-14 Devil win at Andrean in 1999. The first football meeting on record was a 26-0 59er win on Aug. 26, 1977. The teams did not meet in the 1980s. Andrean holds a 9-1 all-time edge. The 59ers were an independent school in the 70s and 80s and, with plenty of schools to play at the north end of Lake County, there was no reason for them to hook up with Lowell.
JV GAME: Andrean at Lowell - Sat.. Sept. 17 - 10 a.m.
FRESHMAN GAME: Morton at Lowell- Thurs., Sept. 15 - 6 p.m.
Lowell at Andrean - Thurs. Sept.22 – 6 p.m.
Class 4A Lowell
Coach: Kirk Kennedy (105-56, 15 years)
Enrollment: 1,150
Sectional titles: (5) 1992, 94, 99, 2003, 2004
Regional titles: (2) 1994, 99
2004 record: 9-4
Lost the regional championship game at home 28-21 to eventual state Class 4A runner-up Wawasee.
Lowell Red Devils (1-3)
8-19 (L) 6-16 5A No. 6 Crown Point (4-0)
8-26 (W) 61-14 at Calumet (0-4)
9-2 (L) 0-21 3A No. 2 Griffith (4-0)
9-9 (L) 13-32 at Morton (3-1)
9-16 (F) 3A No. 1 ANDREAN (4-0)
9-23 (F) HAMMOND (0-4)
9-30 (F) at Munster (2-2)
10-7 (F) at Hobart (3-1)
10-14 (F) Highland (2-2)
4A Sectional 9 playoffs
10-21 (F) quarterfinals
10-28 (F) semifinals
11-4 (F) championship
Class 3A Andrean
Coach: Brett St. Germain (29-3) 3rd yearEnrollment: 696
Sectional tiles (10) 1989, 1990, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001., 2002, 2003, 2004
Regional titles (5) 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004
Semistate titles (4) 1997, 2001, 2002, 2004
State titles (1) (2004)
2004 record: 13-2
Last year: Andrean won the school's first-ever state title with a 20-13 win over Heritage Hills last November
3A Andrean 59ers (4-0, 2-0 LAC)
8-19 (W) 17-14 Chesterton (0-4)
8-26 (W) 47-7 at Bishop Noll (2-2)
9-2 (W) 28-14 Morton (3-1)
9-9 (W) 34-0 at Hammond (0-4)
9-16 - at Lowell (1-3)
9-23 - Hobart (3-1)
9-30 - at Highland (2-2)
10-7 - Griffith (4-0)
10-14 - at Munster (2-2)
3A Sectional 17
10-21 (F) quarterfinals
10-28 (F) semifinals
11-4 (F) championship
Andrean (4-0, 2-0 LAC) at Lowell (1-3, 0-2 LAC)
LAC Black Division - 9-16-2005 @ 7:00 p.m. (CST)
LOWELL - The is the first difficult road game for Andrean this year and they head to a place where the home team always puts up a fight. The difference between these two teams has been exaggerated. If Andrean can't be assured of five first half Lowell turnovers, they can't be confident of something like the 32-13 outcome that Lowell suffered last week. Lowell is a little desperate for offensive success here against a tough defense. Other than a 61-14 win over Calumet, Lowell has scored just 19 points in three games.
Andrean is coasting into this game after wins over three Hammond schools and they will face a much more physical squad here in front of their home crowd. But the 59ers are in much better shape health wise and confidence-wise. Lowell may regain the services of fullback-linebacker Ethan Winel (13 carries, 146 yards) who may try to play with a leg injury. The all-state wrestler may only be able to go defensively and that would leave sophomore Steffan Peck (20 carries, 96 yards). I would be surprised if WR-SS-KR-P Jeff Clemens played. Clemens (15 catches, 209 yards; 12 carries, 48 yards, 18 tackles, 2 interceptions, 11 punts: 36.5 avg.) actually plays four key roles for the Devils and he is impossible to replace. The senior has cracked ribs and it was thought he might need four weeks off after the Griffith game on Sept. 2. With Lowell facing winless Hammond high on Sept 23, another week or two would be logical in front of road games at Munster (2-2) on Sept 30 and Hobart (3-1) on Oct.7.
But Andrean is the top-ranked, defending state champion and everybody wants to play against them. The 59ers' key is an offensive line that returns almost intact from the state title team that went 13-2 in 2004. That's made life easier for new QB Jesse Repay (5-11, 180) who has completed 27 of 43 for 455 yards and two interceptions. HB Chris Skinner (5-8, 150) did some big time scoring last week catching two TD passes and running 38 yards for a score. But the game is won up front with senior offensive tackles like Brendan Carragher (6-2, 255) and Anthony Harris (6-2, 270), guards like Chris Reardon (5-10, 215) and Derrick Elbaor (6-1, 205) and center Danny Kristoff (5-11, 225). Very few big-winning teams ever get to return their entire line because big-winning teams, especially at small schools, usually have senior linemen.
Fullback Alex Kadish (6-0, 195) did not play last week and it is not known whether he was injured. Kadish has 283 yards on 32 carries this season. Halfback Chandler Bowens (5-5, 150) is a speedy junior who had 133 yards on 16 rushes after three games. Repay is also a good runner and coach Brett St. Germain may call some safe plays against the blitzing Lowell defense. The 59ers lost three turnovers in a lackluster first half last week in the 34-0 win over Hammond. But Andrean has a history of coasting against over matched teams. It does not mean they won't be ready Friday. The 59ers don't get much out of the kicking game although Jeff Klobuchar's 24-yard field goal was the difference in the 17-14 win over Chesterton Aug. 19. This appears to be a team you can take advantage of on special teams.
Defensively, the 59ers have allowed just 180 yards rushing and the secondary has grabbed nine interceptions. Those numbers may be inflated. Andrean has not faced a good offensive line through four games. Lowell bases everything on the ability to run the ball and they were surprised when Crown Point (4-0) and Griffith (4-0) held them under 100 yards. The Panthers and CP are fine defensive teams but Andrean might be better defensively than Griffith, especially in the secondary.
The Devils will give 15-20 chances to senior sprinter Scott Gray (71 carries, 467 yards, 5 TDs), a breakaway threat. Peck and Gray are both halfbacks so you may see a newcomer as a lead blocker on occasion. QB Jimmy Ritter (27-54, 349 yards, 3 INTs) has been an effective short range passer. But with Clemens out, it leaves Chris Lampa (5 catches – 96 yards) as the main catching threat.
But the Devils might slide Lampa into the backfield and just go with a double tight end set and make an all-out ground assault. If Jed Travis (5-11, 250) is OK, Lowell's offensive line is 100% and they have to call on blockers like Ryan King (6-0, 205), Mike Staniewicz (6-5, 253), Eric McGee (5-11,227) and Randy Layman (6-1, 235)to give the Devils a chance to win with a half dozen rushing first downs. After six turnovers last week (5 in the first half), Lowell may call the number of Ritter (6-1, 172) who has carried the ball only 20 times in four games (some of those are sacks). QB option runs simplify things and let the line get some shots in early.
Back-up punter Jeff Barker (6-4, 178) has averaged only 28 yards on five punts replacing Clemens (36.5) and he'll have to do better than that as Lowell plays a field position game. Defensively, the Devils had terrible field position last week and they are better than 83 points allowed in four games. If Winel (26 tackles) can return, linebackers King (23 tackles) and Lampa (15 tackles, 3 sacks) can be free to pressure the quarterback.
Early on I see everybody stopping everybody and the longer the game is scoreless, the better it is for the home team. But Andrean will get a field position edge and a QB keeper by Repay will give the 59ers a 7-0 lead at the half. Lowell will tie it on a run by Peck but the 59ers will go ahead again on a pass to Ron Burton (6-2, 170). Lowell will pull to within 14-10 in the fourth quarter on Doug Lang's first field goal, but the 59ers running game will kill the clock. The offensive line of Andrean will enable them to move the ball when they need to. A late TD by Kadish or Bowens will put the game away. Lowell can regroup in time for sectional play but they aren't ready to beat Andrean right now. In a well-played game, Andrean beats Lowell again.
Andrean 21, Lowell 10
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Revised: September 14, 2005 .