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Second-half surge leads Lowell over Kankakee Valley
Updated: September 3, 2011 6:20PM
WHEATFIELD — Lowell likes to play tough games early in the season. And after losses against top-ranked teams from the region, the goal for the Red Devils was to play hard and win their first game of the season. They did just that Friday night, capitalizing on some key plays in the second half to defeat Kankakee Valley 36-14 in Northwest Crossroads conference action.
“With all the good teams in Northwest Indiana, we will always schedule games against tough opponents like Crown Point and Morton because it shows us where we stand and what we need to work on,” said Lowell coach Keith Kilmer. “Tonight our kids showed the intensity and the character not to quit against a very improved and good Kankakee Valley team. I am pleased with their performance tonight.”
Kankakee Valley had the momentum through much of the first half as the Kougars drew first blood on Joel Bolen’s run into the end zone from 1 yard out.
Lowell’s (1-2, 1-0 NCC) running attack was led by senior Nick Hamilton’s 123 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries.
Hamilton found the end zone late in the second quarter but a failed two-point conversion made it 7-6 Kankakee Valley at the half.
In the third quarter, Lowell stepped up to its coach’s challenge and regained the momentum when defensive lineman Tyler Wright stripped the ball from Bolen and took it into the end zone for a 14-7 lead.
Kankakee Valley tied the score at 14-14 when Bolen scampered down the sideline 15 yards for the touchdown.
Hamilton took charge on the ground, and with 13 seconds left in the third, put Lowell ahead for good with a 1 yard run.
Lowell scored two more times, one on another big play by Wright, who blocked and recovered a Kougars punt at the 10-yard line, setting up the touchdown.
“I felt that I did not play well in the first half and owed it to my teammates to come out and play hard and was able to make the plays for the team, we are a band of 48 players and what I did was a tribute to their hard play,” Wright said.
Kankakee Valley (0-3/ 0-1 NCC) played hard through much of the game, just could not overcome some key plays.
“We played well against a good Lowell team but they capitalized and regained the momentum on some key plays that hurt us, we fought to the end and will continue to improve as we move on in conference action,” said Kankakee Valley coach Brad Stewart.
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