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4A, No.7 Hobart (5-0) at4A, No. 3 Lowell (5-0) |
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Week
6 - Football Game of the Week Preview |
4A, No.7 Hobart (5-0) at4A, No. 3 Lowell (5-0) |
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09-25-2008
When:
Friday, October 6, 2006
Where: Lowell High School - 2501 East Commercial Ave. (Route 2 & Holtz Road), Lowell, IN
Tickets: $5
Kickoff:
7:00 p.m.
Radio-TV: WTMK
(88.5) FM, WKIC (92.7) FM
JV GAME: Saturday, Sept. 27 - LOWELL at Hobart - 10:00 a.m. Hobart's field was under water
last week so it is unlikely this
game will be played in Hobart. I'm not sure of the
alternatives either, so check with
the school to find out where this
game will be.
FRESHMEN: Thursday, Oct. 2 -
Hobart at LOWELL - 6:00 p.m.
ENROLLMENT: Hobart - Class
4A, enrollment - 1,315; LOWELL -
Class 4A, enrollment - 1,254
PARKING: Hobart fans will
find an expanded grandstand Friday
and some new walkways around the
field at Lowell as many improvements
are in the making. The large new
press box won't affect the Brickies,
but this is the first time a
capacity crowd will invade the
upgraded facility.
Visitors' parking will still include
the field behind the visitors'
grandstand, but everybody's going to
have to arrive early. With warm
weather, there is no way Lowell has
enough seating for this game.
Home fans may find the bigger
grandstand seems bigger because the
band may be moved to temporary
bleachers (the baseball bleachers)
in the north end zone. Be patient and everybody will get to
watch the game. There is more room
here than there used to be.
WEATHER: Too hot. Low 80s and
sunny is Friday's forecast, but with
sunset coming before 7:00 p.m., the
temperatures drop off rapidly. Hopefully this will be the last warm
weather Friday, because this is not
football weather at all. On the natural grass, the field
will not hold the heat and when
players come out for the second
half, they will feel cooler. But the
first quarter may be a little warm
for players. Nothing dangerous, but
not as cool as you'd like it. Long range forecasts for Oct. 3
are calling for evening temperatures
in the 50s so this is the last week
we're going to have to worry about
the heat.
The SERIES: The goal isn't
for the Brickies to beat Lowell or
anyone else in September. Hobart
leads Lowell 16-15-3 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 four of the last five
seasons. It would be a major victory
to stop Lowell's undefeated season
Friday, but a victory over Lowell in
November is what they really want.
Coaching icons Don Howell (314-73-2, 33 years) and Russ 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, which was built in the post World War I era, was a feared place to play in the 60s, 70s and 80s. 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 2007 (8-4).
This is a time of great change in Hobart as the town's $84 million high school is near completion. A brand new school building boosts your enrollment so it's hard to say how big Hobart will be in 5-10 years. There could be a day when both Lowell and Hobart, 4A schools now, are 5A schools in a six class format. There's also a thought that Hobart's image will change once they leave the Brickie Bowl. Playing in a multi-million dollar stadium on artificial turf, the hard-running physical, pounding persona of Hobart football may change to a faster, more air-oriented attack. As tradition-rich as the Brickie Bowl was, it was the worst field in the Northwest Crossroads conference. In 2009 (kids move into the new school over the Christmas break) Hobart will have the best field in their league. It may change them.
Hopefully, Hobart will always
play Lowell. Two schools that
rarely met in the 20th century are
now league rivals and annual playoff
contenders who sometimes play twice
a year. It is certainly a
possibility that Lowell and Hobart
meet twice in 2008. But let's reevaluate that about
10:00 p.m. Friday night.
Coach Kirk Kennedy, 140-67 (18th
year)
NWCC games in CAPs
8-22 (W) 7-0 at Crown Point
(2-3)
8-29 (W) 47-20 Morton (3-2)
9- 5 (W) 42-0 KANKAKEE VALLEY (0-5)
9-12 (W) 27-12 at GRIFFITH (3-2)
9-19 (W) 55-7 at HIGHLAND (0-5)
9-26 (F) HOBART (5-0)
10-3 (F) at Hammond (3-2)
10-10 (F) MUNSTER (2-3)
10-17 (F) at ANDREAN (2-3)
Oct 24 (Fri) Sectional 10 quarterfinals vs. KV, Northridge,
Plymouth, Logansport, Clay,
Washington or Concord.
Oct 31 (F) Sectional 1 semifinals
Nov. 7 (F) Sectional 1 finals
Nov. 14 (F) 4A Regional final
Nov. 21 (F) 4A Semistate
Nov. 29 (S) Class 4A state final -
Lucas Oil Arena (4:00 p.m., EST),
downtown Indianapolis
Hobart Brickies (5-0)
Coach Wally McCormack (52-23) 6th
year
NWCC games in CAPs
8-22(W) 40-14 Gary West Side (1-4)
8-29(W) 13-7 Crown Point (2-3)
9-5 (W) 19-0 GRIFFITH (2-3)
9-12(W) 28-21 at KANKAKEE VALLEY
(0-5)
9-19(W) 29-3 ANDREAN (2-3)
9-26 (F) at LOWELL (5-0)
10-3 (F) at MUNSTER (3-2)
10-10 (F) Morton (3-2)
10-17 (F) HIGHLAND (0-5)
Oct 24 (F) Class 4A Sectional 9
quarterfinals vs. Morton, Gary West
Side, Highland, East Chicago,
Hammond, Griffith or LW.
Oct 31 (F) Sect. 1 semifinals
Nov. 7 (F) Sect. 1 finals
Nov. 14 (F) 4A Regional
Nov. 21 (F) Northern 4A Semistate
championship
Nov. 29 (S) 2008 Class 4A state
championship - Lucas Oil Arena (4:00
p.m., EST) downtown Indianapolis
-101.jpg) |
| Matt Barras (7) is Hobart's quarterback. (All photos by Mark Smith) |
-Brandon%20Grubbe%20(25)%20II.jpg) |
| Brandon Grubbe (25) is Lowell's junior running back. (All photos by Mark Smith) |
Class 4A Hobart (4-1)
Coach: Wally McCormack (43-21, 6th
year)
Enrollment: 1,234
2007 record: 8-4
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
HOBART (9-26-2008) Hobart has been very good defensively this year holding Andrean, Crown Point and Griffith without an offensive touchdown. I can't explain how Kankakee Valley scored 21 points on the Brickies, rushing for 300 yards, but their 'D' has been good. Opponents have punted 29 times in five games against the Brickies. To be totally accurate, Hobart has not faced anyone who has a record of better than 2-3. But the Brickies have stopped everyone from throwing the ball. The run defense has been good against everyone but KV and the addition of offensive star Bobby James (6-3, 220) as outside linebacker (he played mostly offense only for three seasons) has made the defense faster and stronger.On offense, veteran QB Matt Barras wants to get the ball to James, who has 16 catches for 212 yards and to do that they must protect Barras (38 of 71, 710 yards, 5 TDs, 0 interceptions), who has not thrown an interception all year. Throwing the ball 20 times in not normally the way to beat Lowell, but then I'd guess that's the way Hobart's going tonight. Hobart may feel Lowell does not have the pass rush they've had in recent seasons. Senior kicker Michael Josifovski has three field goals including boots of 25, 34 and 35 so the Brickies won't be shut out. But Hobart is not an offensive machine. An average of 25 points a game is low for an undefeated team beyond mid season. Hobart wants the challenge of straight ahead football and usually, Lowell is up to that challenge. But I sincerely expect, in very good summer weather, for Hobart to throw the ball 40% of the time Friday.
4A Lowell Red Devils (5-0)
Enrollment: 1,254
2007 record: 13-2
4A Sectional titles: (9) 1992, 1994,
1999, 2003, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08
4A Regional titles: (4) 1994, 1999,
2005, 2007
4A Semistate titles: (2) 2005, 2007
4A State titles: (1) 2005
LOWELL (09-26-2008) - The sun is shining on rainy days in Lowell as the Devils are averaging 37 points a game in front of a defense that allows less than 200 yards a game. This is a typical Lowell defense with a lot of light, quick players who can run well to the ball and create turnovers. The Devils are based on big linebackers Justin Juarez (6-3, 227), Andrew Eldred (5-11, 180), Bryan DeSomer (6-0, 197) and David Eastling (6-0, 215) who have keyed a group that have not allowed as many as 150 yards rushing to any team so far.
New defensive end Joe Bell (6-4, 190) had three QB sacks last week at Highland. The surprise may have been senior Russ Russnak (6-3, 180) who has made 24 tackles defensively and has anchored the offensive line at center. Bell and Nate Cleveland (6-4, 200) are imposing ends and Cody Midgett (5-10, 160) and sophomore Jordan Juarez (6-1, 200) have added new life in the secondary.
Logan Wright (5-11, 256) and Craig DuBord (5-10, 220) anchor the defensive line.
Watching this unit, it is surprising how well they deny you wide plays and still
stuff you up the middle. The secondary figured to be weak but that simply has
not shown up so far.
On offense, Lowell may have to go without lineman Nick Schultz (6-0, 240) who
was hurt two weeks ago. but the Devils rushed for 283 yards last week with
Brandon Grubbe (87 carries, 481 yards) carrying 18 times for 102 yards. QB
Kurt Monix (31 of 46, 598 yards, 4 TDs) has completed 67% of his passes with no
interceptions and eight completions to senior Jake Belt (8 catches, 157 yards).
Back-up halfback Deron Johnson (40 carries, 222 yards, 4 TDs) had been very
effective and fullback Bryan DeSomer has also run for 4 TDs.
Juarez, Russnak and Eastling lead the offensive line and soccer player Matt Berkos has a 27-yard field goal and he was 5-of-5 in extra points last week at Highland. Lowell has scored a touchdown in 20 of the 25 periods they have played this year. Lowell collected 29 first downs last week and they had 23 against Morton. Usually Lowell is one-dimensional. That is not the case this year.
4A
No. 7 Hobart (5-0, 2-0) at
4A, No. 3 LOWELL
(5-0, 2-0)
at 'The Inferno' - capacity: 3,000
Sagarin
computer ratings: Lowell by 7
LOWELL
(09-26-2008) -
This is typically a
low-scoring game, and with two
undefeated teams on the field, that's
going to be the case again Friday. After a scoreless
first quarter, Lowell slips ahead on
a short run by Bryan DeSomer.
Cody Midgett's interception will
set up Matt Berkos for a short field
goal and 10-0 halftime lead. I
think Lowell will do very well in
the center of the field, only to be
stopped by the Brickies near the
goal line.
Hobart QB Matt Barras will finally
connect with Bobby James, but he'll
be brought down short of the end
zone and Mike Josifovski's third
quarter field goal will cut the lead
to 10-3.
Hobart is a solid defensive team, but even though they have rolled up good numbers, I'm not sure they have the speed and size on offense to move the ball on Lowell consistently. What Hobart needs is for Lowell to turn the ball over two or three times. If the Brickies have to go 80 yards for TDs they'll never get there.
Lowell has scored an insane
amount of points in the last four
games (181) but they can roll up 45
points on Hobart, which isn't gong
to be bowled over like some
of Lowell's opponents.
The Devils will not dominate this
game, but they can frustrate Hobart
again. It's hard to play on the road
and Hobart's been home most of the
season so far.
In another hard-hitting contest, Lowell is the team that improves to 6-0.
LOWELL 20, Hobart 6