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Lowell (4-1) at Hobart (4-1) |
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Week
6 - Football Game of the Week Preview|
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Lowell (4-1) at Hobart (4-1) |
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09-20-2007
When:
Friday, September 21, 2007
Where: Brickie Bowl - Hobart, IN.
Tickets: $5 - (for everybody).
Kickoff:
7:00 p.m.
Radio-TV: WWCA (1270) AM, WTMK
(88.5) FM.
Weather:
Low-70s, dry field. Too warm for football. Especially in the Brickie Bowl, which is below ground-level. This
game will be an endurance test and since
both teams have played only three complete
games (all other contests have been
blowouts) players may suffer late in the game on
this night.
Junior Varsity: Hobart at Lowell - Saturday,
Sept. 22, 10:00 a.m.
Freshmen: Lowell at Hobart - Thursday,
Sept. 27 - 6:00 p.m.
Parking: There is no parking at the Brickie Bowl and folks in the neighborhood
will be secretly very glad when the new high
school opens in 2009 because Friday nights
will be quiet in the neighborhood for the
first time in decades. There is a bank
parking lot about two blocks southwest of
the field which is open. Other than that,
your choice is side streets. It's not the
worst thing to park six blocks away and walk
through the neighborhood to and from the
game.
It's a very happy atmosphere on football
night in Hobart.
The Series: This probably will be the
final game for Lowell in the 68-year-old
Brickie Bowl near the center of Hobart. Lowell and Hobart could meet in the
post-season this year, but it's far from
guaranteed and there's a 50-50 chance that
game would be in Lowell anyway. In 2008, the
Lowell-Hobart regular season game will
definitely be in Lowell and in 2009, Hobart
opens an 80-million dollar new high school
at the south end of town where they will
play home games in a state-of-the-art
artificial turf stadium.
So us old folks might want to take a
lot of pictures of the mecca of Indiana high
school football. Coaching icons Don Howell
(314-73-2, 33 years) and Deal (114-49-6, 18
years) helped the small Lake County town
southeast of Gary's steel mills roll up an
incredible all-time record of 536-244-19 in
high school football.
The Brickie Bowl, built in the post World
War I era, was a feared place to play in the
60s, 70s and 80s. Lowell did not play Hobart from 1965 to
1992 because the Red Devils were not in the
same league figuratively or literally. The
first Hobart football game on record is a
7-7 tie with Lowell in 1927.
There was an odd crossroads in 1994 when
Lowell, coming to power after 25 consecutive
losing seasons (1968-1992) was facing a team
coming off its fourth state title.
The 28-25 Lowell home win over Hobart on
Nov. 11 1994 was indisputably the Devils'
greatest win until they topped Roncalli
28-27 in the 2005 4A state title game.
After struggles in the mid-90s, Hobart coach Wally McCormack and his staff have been able to lift the Brickies back to state power with big winning seasons in 2004 (9-2), 2006 (10-2) and so far in 2007 (4-1). You feel for McCormack because it's hard to be 'good enough' at Hobart. The top flight records of 2004 and 2006 weren't good enough for old school followers of the team because there was no sectional championship.
So, Hobart could beat Lowell 49-0 Friday and it won't matter because the goal isn't for the Brickies to beat Lowell or anyone else in September. Hobart leads Lowell 16-14-3 in the all-time series, but the Brickies are 1-5 against Lowell in the post-season.
Hobart knows all too well that Lowell has eliminated them from the sectional in each of the last four seasons. They are sensitive about it. Forget that Lowell has lost regular season games to Hobart in two of the past three seasons. This game tomorrow means much more to Hobart than it does to Lowell. The Devils are a symbol of Hobart frustration. A frustration that won't end no matter how badly Hobart beats Lowell Friday night.
Class 4A Lowell (4-1)
Coach: Kirk Kennedy (124-65, 16 years)
Enrollment: 1,247
2006 record: 7-6*
Sectional titles: (7) 1992, 1994, 1999,
2003, 04, 05, 06
Regional titles: (3) 1994, 1999, 2005
Semistate titles: (1) 2005
State titles: (1) 2005
*Lost 33-14 to 4A state finalist Concord in
the regional championship game
Lowell (4-1, 2-1 NWCC)
8-17 (W) 23-14 CP (4-1)
8-24 (W) 3-0 at Morton (2-3)
8-31(W) 38-0 at KV (2-3)
9-7 (L) 28-29 (OT) GRIFFITH (3-2)
9-14 (W) HIGHLAND (0-5)
9-21 (F) at HOBART (4-2)
9-28 (F) Hammond (5-0)
10-5 (F) at MUNSTER (3-2)
10-12 (F) ANDREAN (3-2)
4A Sectional 10 Playoffs
10-20 (F) vs. Northridge, Concord, Clay,
(SB) Washington, Logansport, Kankakee Valley
or Plymouth.
SCHEDULE ANALYSIS: Lowell's nonconference games are against Morton
(3-2), Crown Point (4-1) and Hammond (5-0)
which looks a little better on paper than it
does in reality, because there are giant sized
question marks about Hammond's schedule. But in the NWCC, Lowell does face
state-rated Andrean, Griffith and Hobart
plus a capable Munster team. Highland and KV
keep this from being a great schedule but
opening the season with Crown Point in
recent years has worked well for Lowell.
The Devils' schedule is rated the 65th
toughest in the state and that's pretty
accurate.
Class 4A Hobart (4-1)
Coach: Wally McCormack (41-19, 5th year)
Enrollment: 1,234
2006 record: 10-2*
Sectional titles: (19) 18 in a row from
1979 to 1997
Regional titles: (14) last in 1996
Semistate titles: (6) last in 1996
State titles: (4) 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993
*Lost 31-28 to Lowell in the Sectional 9
championships
Hobart (4-1, 3-0 NWCC)
(W) 63-0 Gary West Side (2-3)
(L) 20-22 at Crown Point (4-1)
(W) 24-14 Griffith (3-2)
(W) 49-0 Kankakee Valley (2-3)
(W) 42-0 at Andrean (3-2)
Sep 21 LOWELL (4-1)
Sep 28 MUNSTER (2-3)
Oct 5 at Morton (3-2)
Oct 12 at Highland (0-5)
5A Sectional (9) Nine
Oct. 19: vs. Griffith, Highland, East
Chicago, Highland, Hammond, Lew Wallace, or
Gary West Side.
SCHEDULE ANALYSIS: Hobart's nonconference games are
Crown Point, Gary West Side and Morton,
almost exactly what Lowell's are.
Hammond is tougher than West Side this year
but the different is marginal. I like the
fact that the Brickies play a soft team to
begin the year. The IHSAA rules do not give
teams adequate time to prepare for the
season. Hobart, although they'd never say
it, uses West Side as a final scrimmage. Crown Point is their true opener. It
has
worked for them in recent years. Look at the
records.
Otherwise, even though Hobart's schedule is
rated 83rd in the state on the Sagarin
computer ratings and Lowell's schedule is
ranked 65th, that's bogus.
Lowell's schedule is basically Hobart's
schedule.
SECTIONAL OUTLOOK: In the postseason, Hobart
will play a lot of the same teams they've
seen all year, but Lowell has been banished
to Sectional 10. So they must keep an eye on
several teams 75-100 miles away.
Concord QB David Yoder, who passed for 330
yards and six TDs in against Wawasee on
Sept. 7; was 25 of 39 for 263 yards in a
27-0 win over Goshen last week. Concord
(4-1) has won four in a row.
Northridge (2-3) lost 24-14 to Warasw (4-1)
last week, allowing 225 yards rushing.
Plymouth (2-3) was overwhelmed 24-7 by 5A
Elkhart Memorial (2-3). Clay (3-2) has won
three in a row including Marian, Adams and
Washington. Logansport (4-1) and Concord
(4-1) look like the toughest teams that
Lowell could draw next month.
4A No. 10 LOWELL (4-1) at
4A No. 8 HOBART (4-1)
Sagarin
computer ratings: Hobart by
11
HOBART
(09-21-2007) -
Hobart's offense is as good as anybody's in NW Indiana. They have the top
two offensive skill positions players in NW Indiana in tailback Andrew Jackson
(6-1, 240), who ran for 1,700 yards last year and junior wide receiver Bobby
James (6-2, 210) who already has over 1200 career yards in receptions midway
through his junior season. James had 57 catches for 560 yards last year.
Jackson (80 carries, 408 yards) only carried eight times last week as the
Brickies 'countered' Andrean's defense by using Jackson as a decoy and attacking
with Josh Huddleston (5-10, 180), who carried 16 times for 139 yards in a 16-0
win over the 59ers. All this gets done because of a strong offensive line
led by Roy Hall (6-0, 245) and Kevin Koselke (6-4, 250). With new junior QB
Matt Barras (24-55, 503 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs) and new junior kicker Michael
Josifovski (22 of 23 XPs and field goals of 25 and 34 yards), both making
successful debuts, it's no surprise that Hobart averages 34 points a game.
The Brickies averaged 30 points a game last year.
The defense has allowed just 36 points all season with shutouts of Gary West
Side, Kankakee Valley and high-scoring Andrean. Senior Nate Pope (6-3,
175) intercepted two passes last week in the win over Andrean and he teams with
Greg Glover (6-0, 175) and speedy veteran Jeremy Lensen (6-0, 175) to make the
secondary tough. Big linebacker Steve Zimmer (6-2, 215) and defensive end
Andrew Walsdorf (6-3, 215) help shut down the run.
The Brickies gave up over 300 yards at Crown Point in August, including 230 yards rushing so there are certainly some questions. Hobart's overall team speed is not that of Lowell's. But you don't shut people out by accident. And no one has scored a TD on the Brickies in the first or fourth quarter all season.
Lowell played poorly on offense even though they blanked Highland 39-0 last week. The Devils lost four fumbles, which means they've handed the ball to the other team eight times this year. Obviously, if they fumble two or three times Friday, they'll get blown out. The Devils will also go without senior halfback Steffan Peck (105 carries, 456 yards) who suffered a concussion last week and will be held out Friday. But Lowell is deep in ball carriers and they will plug in Brandon Grubbe (5-10, 170), a sophomore who ripped off 261 yards on 17 carries last week. Grubbe is the 'Devin Hester' of Lowell. In his first-ever carry, he raced 66 yards for a TD against Crown Point in the season opener. He started against Morton, but Peck came in quickly and played most of that game. This will be Grubbe's first start without Peck being available.
Brandon Grubbe's numbers so far are ridiculous: 38 carries for 445 yards and seven TDs. That's an insane 11 yards a carry. He can't possibly keep doing that, but then, I didn't believe Devin Hester could continue to run back kickoffs and punts 90 yards for the Bears, either. I would guess the biggest question Hobart has about Lowell is what Brandon Grubbe might do.
Lowell did not attempt a pass last week, but sophomore Kurt Monix (18-of-35, 268 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs) knows he has tight end Jeff Barker (9 catches, 183 yards) available. The offensive line, anchored by senior Geno Wentworth (6-2, 240), has been good, although they had somewhat less success against a very physical Griffith team in the 29-28 overtime loss two weeks ago.
Junior Johnny Black (6-2, 195) scored his first career TD last week at fullback
and senior fullback Danny Remboski (6-0, 190) also scored his first TD of the
year. With Peck out, you may see more of the fullback or Monix running the ball
this week.
Lowell's defense has been very good. They have shutout Morton (3-2),
Kankakee Valley (3-2) and Highland (0-5) and they shut out Crown Point (4-1)
after the first quarter. But Griffith ran the ball for over 200 yards on
Lowell and Hobart, while they are not as deceptive, is every bit the running
team Griffith is. Lowell is very fast defensively. Senior Jeff
Barker (6-4, 210) is a linebacker playing defensive end and senior Ben Rigby is
a safety playing linebacker.
The Devils may use junior Trevor Kersey (6-2, 216) at defensive end in place of injured senior Joe Carlson (4 sacks). The biggest single matchup will probably be senior cornerback TJ Lukasik against Hobart's Bobby James, but Hobart isn't going to throw the ball 20 times. Junior linebackers like Justin Juarez (6-2, 221), Bryan DeSomer (5-11, 176) and David Eastling (6-0, 198) will be challenged to stop the run and they will not be able to do it in the fourth quarter if Lowell has not won the time of possession battle in the first three periods.
Lowell wants everybody to pass. Barker, the Devils' three-year defensive end, can be almost unblockable, rushing the passer on a dry field and Lukasik and Palmer are all-area caliber defensive backs.
The Devils have had trouble on extra points lately. I don't know if the holds were bad, but Lowell was only 4-of-6 on extra points last week against Highland. Senior kicker David Lang, of course, hit a 35-yard field goal on the final play of the sectional championship game last year, beating Hobart 31-28. Lowell would like every game to come down to a last second kick by Lang.
What will happen...
HOBART - Even though Hobart gained almost 500 yards on Lowell in
the sectional championship game last season, I'm pretty sure this won't be a
high-scoring game. These teams are conservative by nature and there's
always the possibility they'll meet again in November. After more than one
exchange of possessions, Lowell will strike first on a QB keeper by Kurt Monix
for a touchdown after Brandon Grubbe runs for a couple of first downs.
The Brickies again will use Andrew Jackson as somewhat of a decoy at times in the first half and Josh Huddleston will break a couple of first down runs. The Devils will dare the Brickies to throw the ball and Hobart will tie the game on a long lob down the sidelines from Matt Barras to Bobby James tying the game 7-7 at the half. Lowell will be surprisingly effective turning the ball but a third quarter Red Devil fumble will set up a field goal for the Brickies' Mike Josifovski to give Hobart a 10-7 lead.
When Hobart bottles up the running game, Lowell will get the ball to tight end Jeff Barker for a big play and the Devils will then get a field goal after a short screen pass and long run by fullback Danny Remboski. David Lang's kick will even the score at 10-10. But Hobart will have the ball most of the time in this game and Brickie QB Matt Barras will lead Hobart down the field early in the fourth quarter. The Brickies may have some success with the type of QB reverse pivot runs that San Diego used against the Chicago Bears two weeks ago. Barras' first down runs will set up a short go-ahead TD run by Josh Huddleston.
Trailing in the final two minutes, Lowell will drive deep into Hobart territory on runs and passes by Monix, but an interception by linebacker Steve Zimmer will end the final threat.
I know the final score last year was 31-28 at the sectional, but that's not how these two teams play. Hobart is the bigger, stronger team physically. Lowell's speed will make some plays to keep it close, but Hobart simply makes less turnovers (3 all season) that Lowell does. That should decide football games and it will on this night.
Hobart 17, Lowell 10