Lowell comes from behind to beat Wildcats 10th year in row, 35-27 at Hammond

A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith

10-01-2012

 

Lowell's Eddie Simmons (1) has a tall order trying to cover Hammond's Anthony McClendon (6-4, 182) in Friday's game at Hammond. (All photos by Mark Smith)
Lowell's Kameron King (57) puts pressure on Hammond passer Eric Schreiber Jr. (42). Schreiber was 12 of 27 for 205 yards passing, but Lowell won 38-27.
Mitch Leckrone (32) tries to put the arm on Hammond's Jesse Woods-Curtis Friday night (9-28-2012) in Hammond. JWC scored three TDs, but Lowell won 35-27.
Hammond's Keirahn Richard (13) tried to get in the way, but Lowell's George Fields (6) ran 32 times for 275 yards and three TDs at Hammond. Fields has 17 TDs in Lowell's first seven games.
 
Junior fullback Paul Mauer (7) hangs onto the ball after scoring his first touchdown of the season at Hammond Friday.
Lowell's Mitch Leckrone (32) and Anthony Lopez (56) try to stay in front of Jesse Woods Curtis (14) Friday (9-28-2012) in Hammond.
Lowell's Danny Garza (11) , above, listens to the post-game talk on the field after the Devils survived their trip to Hammond 35-27.
Lowell improved to 3-1 on the road for the season. (All photos by Mark Smith)
Team 1 2 3 4 F
LOWELL (4-3) 0 7 14 14 35
HAMMOND (4-2) 6 8 7 6 27

Friday, September 28, 2012, 60 degrees at HAMMOND, IN.

1st Qtr: HAMMOND (6-0) Jesse Woods Curtis, 56-yard run. 2 plays, 56 yards drive. Kick wide. 11:37 left.
2nd Qtr: LOWELL (7-6) George Fields, 5-yard run (15th TD) . 47-yard drive, 9 plays. Colton Wilkey kick.10:50 left.
HAMMOND (14-7) Jesse Woods-Curtis, 16-yard screen pass from Eric Schreiber Jr. 78 yards, 16 plays. 2-point pass from Eric Schreiber to Anthony McClendon.
3rd Qtr: LOWELL (14-14) George Fields, 39-yard run (16th TD). 70-yard drive, 4 plays. Colton Wilkey kick. 7:15 left.
LOWELL (21-14) Paul Mauer, 6-yard run. 50-yard drive, 5 plays. Colton Wilkey kick. 3:32 left.
HAMMOND (21-21) Jesse Woods-Curtis, 92-yard kickoff return. 3:12 left.
4th Qtr: LOWELL (28-21) Mitch Leckrone, 18-yard TD pass from Bryan Thomas. 61 yards, nine plays.
HAMMOND (27-28) Eric Schreiber 1-yard QB sneak. 72-yard drive, 15 plays. 2-point pass failed. 4:34 left.
LOWELL (35-27) George Fields, 11-yard run (17th TD). 70-yards drive, 5 plays, Colton Wilkey kick 2:44 left.

RUSHING:
LOWELL (51 carries, 358 yards, 4 TDs, 2 fumbles) George Fields (HB) 32 carries, 275 yards, 3 TDs, fumble; Tyler Hopkins (HB) 7 carries, 36 yards, fumble; Bryan Thomas (QB) 8 carries, 29 yards (one sack, minus-1 yard) Josh Bottos (WR) 1-3 yards; Paul Mauer (FB) 3-15 yards TD.
HAMMOND (34 carries, 128 yards, 2 TDs, 0 fumbles) Jesse Woods-Curtis (FB) 25 carries, 137 yards, TD; Eric Schreiber Jr. (QB) 9 carries, minus-9 yards, TD (2 sacks-minus-23).

PASSING:
LOWELL - Bryan Thomas (QB) 2-for-5, 33 yards, TD;
HAMMOND - Eric Schreiber Jr. (QB) 12-27, 205 yards, TD, Interception.

RECEIVING:
LOWELL: Mitch Leckrone (TE) 2-18 yards, TD; Michael Hilbrich (WR) 1-15 yards;
HAMMOND: Thomas Gary (TE) 4-97 yards, Jesse Woods-Curtis (FB) 4-59 yards, Tim Jones (WR) 2-20 yards, Keiorahn Richard (WR) 1-21 yards, Derion Rogers (WR) 1-8 yards.

KICKING:
LOWELL: Colton Wilkey (PK) 5-for-5 extra points, 0 Field Goals, 0 touchbacks;
HAMMOND: Marco Zendejas (PK) 1-for-2 extra points 0 FGs, 0 touchbacks.


HAMMOND (09-28-2012) Lowell keeps making this football thing a lot harder than it has to be. The Devils traveled to play an improved Hammond team last Friday, but then fumbled on the first play of the game. The Wildcats quickly jumped to a 6-0 lead, the sixth time this season Lowell has given up the game's first TD in the first quarter. Trailing 14-7 at halftime, Lowell came out all fired up and again fumbled the ball away on the Devils' first offensive series of the third quarter. It was a little hard to watch.

But in what may have been a turning point to the season (I know I've said that before), Lowell played a powerful, emotional second half, scoring four touchdowns and out-lasting Hammond 35-27 in a long, almost theatrical non-conference game on a perfect fall Friday night.

"We did the fire and brimstone talk last week," said Lowell coach Keith Kilmer of last week's 20-10 loss to Hobart. "It didn't help us to win, but it helped with our play. We're getting a great effort out of our kids. We played with that Red Devil Pride."

"But we're not smart. On a fourth and four, we jump off sides. We're kicking their butt moving down the field and then we jump off-sides. They run a fourth down screen for a touchdown when we're yelling 'screen, screen.' We made a statement after this game today. We told them we're raising the expectations. This is a great group of kids. They're wonderful to be around. But we need some junkyard dogs out there."

Lowell (4-3) came out all fired up when sophomore Tyler Hopkins returned the opening kickoff to the Hammond 49-yard line. But George Fields, who would go over the 1,000-yard mark for the season on this night, fumbled his first chance with the Wildcats (4-2) recovering at the Hammond 44. One the next play, Hammond senior Jesse Woods-Curtis took an option handoff off left guard and tackle and raced away 56 yards to the goal line for a 6-0 Hammond lead. It marked the sixth time in seven games that Lowell has allowed the first touchdown on the opposition's first possession.

The Devils scored after a short punt driving 47 yards on nine running plays to take a 7-6 lead on a five yard run by Fields.

But Hammond drove 79 yards to take a 14-7 halftime lead. On 4th and 12 from the Lowell 16, Hammond QB Eric Schreiber Jr. dropped back against Lowell's pass rush and threw a screen pass straight ahead to Woods, who was hiding amongst the offensive linemen. Woods scored easily and Hammond led Lowell at the half.

Lowell forced a Hammond punt starting the third quarter, but Hopkins fumbled on a 15-yard gain and the Wildcats' Anthony McClendon fell on it at the Hammond 31. Lowell's defense forced another punt and Lowell, backed by about 250 fans in the visitors' stands, got emotional and drove 70 yards to tie the game on a 39-yard run by Fields, who gained an unofficial 275 yards on 32 carries.

The Devils seemed to take control here. Hammond punted in three plays and got the ball at the 50-yard line when punt returner Reed Holdeman got run over after calling for a fair catch.
Lowell charged 50 yards to the goal line in five running plays with junior fullback Paul Mauer scoring from seven yards out with 3:22 left in the third quarter.

But on the following kickoff, the kid with three names, JWC, scooped it up and raced 92 yards though the center of the Lowell defense to tie the game 21-21.

Lowell had to keep moving the ball and they did, driving 68 yards in 12 plays. It appeared the drive would stall after an illegal procedure penalty set the ball back to the Hammond 18. On third-and-7, Lowell QB Bryan Thomas rolled out and fired a sharp 18-yard TD to tall tight end Mitch Leckrone (6-5, 215) to put Lowell up 28-21.

But then came our drama. Hammond, with just 28 players in uniform, turned the tide of play and drove 75 yards in 16 plays to score on a one-yard QB sneak by Schreiber. On the extra point attempt, Schreiber lofted a well-thrown ball into the corner of the end zone when McClendon (6-4, 192) went up over Thomas, one of Lowell's safeties, to get the ball. McClendon caught the ball, but lost it when he hit the ground. The side referee called it a catch, but the crew referee in the center of the field over-ruled him, calling the pass incomplete, leaving the score 28-27 in favor of Lowell.

Lowell took the next kickoff and drove 70 yards in five plays to take a 35-27 lead on Fields' third TD with 2:44 left.

"How many yards did they get?" asked Hammond coach Eric Schreiber, a Griffith graduate. "We have a couple of different defensive schemes, but they were a little different than what they did against Hobart last week. You can only prepare so many things."

The game with Lowell was a big one for the Wildcats who, despite a 12-5 record over the last two seasons, still have little fan support, even at home. Hammond had less than 100 people in the home stands for the Lowell game.

"We've got Gavit and Clark left. We've got to take care of our conference," said Schreiber, who cited several factors, including job obligations and the price of tickets, for why his high scoring team does not draw students and parents to watch, even on 65-degree fall nights.

"Next week is Homecoming. They will come out for that one. They still have the attitude that games against Morton and Lowell. Those games will be over by halftime."

Hammond's 14-7 halftime lead on Lowell was the first halftime edge they'd had since the 2000 game where Hammond last defeated Lowell.

"I dont know if our kids took Hammond lightly," said Kilmer. "But they rose to the occasion. Once we got the confidence we could move the ball, we did. But they have a good team. Shreiber is a good little quarterback. I thought we did a good job on the run for the most part, but their passing hurt us."

"I still don't know about that two-point conversion. I'm glad we scored again so that play didn't decide the game. I'm not sure he didn't catch it, but I think you have to control the ball all the way down to the ground."

It was another struggle for Lowell to win, but there was one bright spot. The running attack worked well outside of Fields. Hopkins and Mauer picked up important yards. The Devils are gong to need big gains from other running backs if they are going to keep getting big games from Fields because the competition is going to get tougher.

Lowell gambled late in the third quarter when, on a 4th-and-3 at the Hammond 47, junior Josh Bottos, lining up in the up back 'punt protector' position, took a direct snap and gained the three yards.

DEVIL NOTES: George Fields' 275 yards in 32 carries Friday night in Hammond gives him an unofficial 1,249 yards on 175 carries. If Lowell reaches the sectional championship game, Fields (5-10, 175) needs to average 150 yards a game to become Lowell's fourth 2,000-yard (Scott Gray, Michael Pickett and Brandon Grubbe) rusher. The junior halfback, who did not play the final three quarters of the Kankakee Valley game on Aug, 31, is averaging over 175 yards per game through seven games.

The 275 yards rushing is a career high for Fields. He gained 253 yards rushing on 28 carries against Morton on Aug. 24. He gained 200 yards on 32 carries Sept. 7 at Griffith. Lowell's single game rushing record is Toby Goetz' 303 yards against Andrean in 2004.

Hammond's Jesse Woods Curtis was easily the dominant player on the field Friday night. At 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, he might be too small to be a factor in college football, but Lowell has not faced a more impactful opponent.

"He gets after it," said Lowell coach Keith Kilmer. "He plays every down. Four years ago when he was a freshman, we talked about him pre-game and post-game. He's just a special kid. He's just not blessed with the size of some of the Merrillville kids."

Hammond coach Eric Schreiber obviously agreed.

"What I'm happy about this year is that he's been consistent," he said. "Last year he was hurt so he was up and down. But he's one of those players. He just flips a switch and he can do almost anything. I wish he was bigger. He's one of those in-between kids for college. I don't know if he's quick enough for corner and I don't know if he's big enough for strong safety. But he's very strong in the weight room and he plays much bigger than he actually is."

LOWELL GROUND GAME HALL OF FAME
1,000-yard rushers in the state tournament era (1973-present)


1. Brandon Grubbe (2009) 404 carries, 2,417 yards
2. Scott Gray (2005) 323 carries, 2,336 yards
3. Michael Pickett (1994) 339 carries, 2,256 yards
4. Tony Goetz (2004) 276 carries, 1,939 yards
5. Brandon Grubbe (2008) 316 carries, 1,831 yards
6. Matt Pernick (1996) 229 carries, 1,827 yards
7. Michael Pickett (1993) 273 carries, 1,687 yards
8. Brandon Grubbe (2007) 281 carries, 1,675 yards
9. Justin Henley (2002) 167 carries, 1,552 yards
10. Cole Midgett (2010) 195 carries, 1,481 yards
11. Justin Henley (2003) 27 carries, 1,447 yards
12. Mike French (2000) 200 carries, 1,382 yards
13. Matt Pernick (1995) 175 carries, 1,349 yards
14. Max Znika (2006) 224 carries, 1,302 yards
15. Mike French (1999) 226 carries, 1,280 yards
16. GEORGE FIELDS (2012) 175 carries, 1,249 yards
17. Sean Anderson (2001) 242 carries, 1,048 yards
18. Nick Holley (1997) 131 carries, 1,014 yards


CLASS SECTIONAL JOHN HARRELL'S INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RECENT SEASONS
4A 10 E-MAIL CORRECTIONS MAP TO SCHOOL 4-3
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
LOWELL
RED DEVILS
Coach: Keith Kilmer, 15-12 in 3rd year at school
DATE OPPONENT CENTRAL TIME OA 25.3, DA 21.9
Aug. 17 at Crown Point {5A}   L 21-28  
Aug. 24 Hammond Morton {4A}  W 26-14  
Aug. 31 Kankakee Valley {4A}‡   L   7-17  
Sep. 7 at Griffith {4A}‡ 2ot W 36-35  
Sep. 14 at Highland {4A}‡  W 42-12  
Sep. 21 Hobart {4A}‡   L 10-20  
Sep. 28 at Hammond {4A}  W 35-27  
Oct. 5 Munster {5A}‡ 7:00 pm   
Oct. 12 at Andrean {2A}‡ 7:00 pm   
‡NORTHWEST CROSSROADS CONFERENCE GAME
NORTHWEST CROSSROADS
ALL TIMES CENTRAL
  Conf Pts OP AG Pts OP
Hobart   4-  1 139   99     5-  2 213   150  
Kankakee Valley   3-  1 92   70     6-  1 250   133  
Andrean   3-  1 148   78     5-  2 280   154  
Lowell   2-  2 95   84     4-  3 177   153  
Griffith   2-  3 130   148     3-  4 179   197  
Munster   1-  3 87   86     2-  5 125   175  
Highland   0-  4 45   171     1-  6 84   227  
Friday, Sep. 28
Andrean 28, Kankakee Valley 13‡
Griffith 41, Highland 14‡
Hobart 23, Munster 21‡
Lowell 35, Hammond 27
Friday, Oct. 5
Andrean at Griffith‡, 7 pm
Hammond Morton at Hobart, 7 pm
Kankakee Valley at Highland‡, 7 pm
Munster at Lowell‡, 7 pm
Friday, Oct. 12
Griffith at East Chicago Central, 7 pm
Highland at Hobart‡, 7 pm
Kankakee Valley at Munster‡, 7 pm
Lowell at Andrean‡, 7 pm
‡Conference game

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Revised: October 03, 2012 .