A segmented breakdown of Lowell at East Grand Rapids

October 15, 2009 Comments { 13 }

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Lowell's Austin Graham and EGR's Kirk Spencer should be large factors in Friday's outcome

Lowell's Austin Graham and EGR's Kirk Spencer should be large factors in Friday's rivalry

Lowell plays East Grand Rapids this weekend, which I know because of the big red circle on my calendar.  If you have been paying attention, you don’t need any explanation of the significance of this game.  But just in case you havent…

The significance

Due to graduation, a dynasty is an extremely rare phenomenon in high school sports.  Add in the heightened potential for injuries given the nature of the sport, and in football it is doubly so.  Sure, a program may find a stud skill player and ride him to repeated success, but even the most extraordinary talent only lasts for four years.  Then it’s back into a rebuilding, reloading phase, and the process repeats itself.

Regardless, there is in fact a high school football dynasty, right here in West Michigan.  As a matter of fact there are at least two of them: the East Grand Rapids Pioneers and the Lowell Red Arrows.  Over the past eight years, the Pioneers and the Red Arrows have collectively dominated not only the O-K White (other teams in the conference are currently accepting sympathy cards), but much of the West Michigan high school football landscape.  Besides games in which they play each other, East Grand Rapids and Lowell have combined to lose two regular season contests since 2001.

Have doubts?  Check the credentials:

  • Lowell (7-0) — No. 1 in Division-2
  • East Grand Rapids (7-0) — No. 1 in Division-3
  • 7-state championships between them in the past 8 years
  • Combined regular season record since 2001 — 148-10

Given all that, it’s not a wonder that this week’s dynasty rivalry has been week-8′s Game of the Week since the preseason.  Heck, even the Venerable Jane Bos did a piece on it, and that’s when you know you’ve made it.

The analysis

Sometimes a game can become a victim of its own hype; a type of “Super Bowl syndrome” in which everything is built up to an extent that the ultimate reality of the football game is relatively anticlimactic.  Not the case here.  This is a matchup between two of the best overall football teams in the state.  And in West Michigan, they’re in a class by themselves.

Both teams possess such a level of talent that any pregame advantage has to be considered arbitrary.  Considering that Lowell’s slight advantage in strength and EGR’s slight advantage in speed will likely come out in the wash, ultimately Friday’s winner may be decided by mistakes.  Given that, pay particular attention to the signal callers.  Both teams field young quarterbacks — Lowell sophomore Gabe Dean and EGR junior Ryan Elble — who, despite their success, have never been on the field taking snaps in a game of this scope.  Similar to a playoff game, Lowell versus East Grand Rapids is at an entirely different level. We’ll see who rises to the occasion.

The players

Lowell

EGR

The opinions

“Our kids know that since we’re going into their place we’ll be treated as an underdog.  And that doesn’t sit well with them because they haven’t been an underdog in a lot of football games.  But at the same time this is the type of road matchup that can teach you a lot about yourself win or lose.  I view this one as kind of a dress rehearsal before the playoffs.” — Lowell coach Noel Dean

“Having been a part of this rivalry for a number of years now, I think that they know what we do and we know what they do to an extent.  So on Friday it’s more a matter of who performs the best that night.  It’s hard to explain this particular game until you get into it, but really we’re facing a 7-0 team and we’re 7-0, and our kids are excited to strap on the pads.” — East Grand Rapids coach Peter Stuursma

The venue

East Grand Rapids enjoys the home-field this year, an advantage that has lead to a victory each of the past six years.  Plus it’s a brand spankin’ new stadium.  So there’s that, too.

The bottom line

“I think East Grand Rapids and Lowell are good for each other.  Like Coke and Pepsi.  Nobody debates whether or not they should be drinking a cola.  They just debate which cola they should be drinking.”  — Lowell coach Noel Dean

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About ryan vaughn

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  • http://www.westmiallstar.com/ Ryan Vaughn

    EGR may have the home field advantage, but Lowell has math on their side. According to SportsPower’s complicated algorithm, the Red Arrows are the #17 football team in the country. EGR does not make the list.

    FWIW

    http://www.sportspower.com/football/ratings/spc/61?act=AFC-SocialMedia&Property=Sportspower&Sport=Football&PageType=Ratings_Rankings&Emp=SA&PostType=Micro_blogging&Site=Sptwitter&Dy=10_08_09&Note=LargeRatings

  • all4glory

    Let’s call it the match-up of the year, so far. Game is yet to be played. Sometimes games are much more hyped than the actual play on the field. I certainly would expect this to be a great game, but we’ll see tomorrow!

    • otv56

      I would say this is the game Of the year matchup. Both teams are rated by Rivals.com as Top 50 teams in the whole United States. Why wouldnt this game with two teams ranked so high in the country not be the game of the year? Get real.

      • all4glory

        Just saying… Sometimes big games become big let-downs. Like I said, the match-up is awesome, I hope that the play on the field will live up to the match-up (I’m sure it will, just making conversation).

  • otv56

    Expecting around 15-20,000 in attendance for this game?

    • cmuama

      There are NOT going to be 15-20,000 at this game. Let’s be serious.

      • mongo59

        EGR does’nt have the room for even close to that many people. More like 8,000 to 10,000. Still a very big crowd.

  • mongo59

    I going with Lowell 34-21. If GRC can roll up 316 yards of offense on East I think Lowell will be able to move the ball. By the way GRC only had 53 yards total offense against Lowell. Should be a good game . “GO Lowell” !!!

    • bigjag

      Lowell better protect the QB. Saw the Creston defense sack Dean 3-4 times in the 1st half. If Creston was able to put heat on him EGR will too!!

      • mongo59

        I would’nt put to much stock in that game. Lowell kept Connor Kruse on the sideline the whole game and maybe one more of the starting line. In case you didn’t notice Lowell wasn’t really into the game . They where playing a crappy team on a crappy night and they still killed them.

  • snooze2me

    You’re right Mongo. Lowell will score at will… no problem.

    GR Christian’s 2nd string even put a bunch of yards and a score on EGR’s starting defense. Christian really wasn’t into the game much, so they put in their 3rd string to score the final TD against EGR’s 1st string D.

    Lowell 42, EGR 3

    (at halftime)

  • sackman1

    GRC played 1st string until 3 min left in the game against East 2nd team that really is not good

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