Red Arrows Wear Out Sentinels in 61-14 Win
Kalin Williams came up with two interceptions as Lowell dominated the visiting Marquette Sentinels.
Red Arrows Wear Out Sentinels
Lowell Football moved to 2-2 after beating Marquette 61-14 in a game the Red Arrows never trailed.
Justin Scott - Sports Reporter
9/21/2024
It wasn’t the six hour drive. It wasn’t the heat. It was always the veer.
In the second half of Lowell’s Saturday football game with Marquette it was clear. Marquette’s defense was absolutely gassed. They knew a run was coming. They couldn't stop it. It’s what Lowell’s offense is designed to do. The run option heavy offense hits you time and time again, late in the game, it was so evident how depleted Marquette was that even Lowell’s backups were marching down the field as the Red Arrows beat the visitors 61-14.
The Sentinels came in flying high. A 55-0 win over Gladstone, 51-0 win over Alpena, and a 30-0 win over Gaylord. Like in Game of Thrones, when you go south after being a dominant force in the north, sometimes things are much different. Marquette’s an interesting school. At 1,097 students Marquette is by far the largest school in the upper peninsula. Sault Area has 801, Escanaba has 701, Menominee has 338, and it only goes lower from there down to a school like DeTour with 41 kids.
So for Marquette, who wants to play these games, wants to play teams with schools their size, they need to travel. Petoskey and Cadillac are also on the schedule from the Sentinels this year. Not all are on the road, Cadillac and Gaylord both traveled to Marquette, and a return trip next year to Marquette from Lowell isn’t out of the question, although nobody knows for sure. Even Alpena, which feels pretty north to us, is a four hour drive for Marquette. Maybe it shouldn’t have been a surprise how well Marquette actually traveled. There’s no official attendance figures, but they very realistically out traveled Coopersville last week.
Those traveling fans had reason to cheer early on. Marquette responded to Lowell’s first drive score on a Casey Engle short run, with Sentinel quarterback Ford Richardson, son of Northern Michigan University head coach Shane Richardson, throwing a dime out to Pierce Pittsley to tie the game at 7-7. It would be the only score they'd have until the fourth quarter.
Lowell QB Logan Dawson faked a hand off to Mitchell Eikey and walked into the endzone to make it 14-7, and Lowell was quickly two for two on scoring drives. It would continue.
Jackson Sage came up with a big tackle to force third and eight, ending the first quarter. Following an illegal procedure, Lowell forced a Sentinel punt which James Jannenga took to the 37 of Lowell. Dawson found the endzone again off the left side from 50 yards out and Lowell took over 21-7.
The heat was a factor in the game no doubt. Many families in attendance opted to sit on the hill on the south side of the field where shade was a welcome feeling on a day where temperatures were in the mid 80’s. Lowell’s student section theme this week fittingly was a beach out.
A fake punt gambit from Marquette didn’t work out, Lowell not even with a player back to return. Lowell went for it on a fourth down of their own with Dawson rolling out on 4th and 13, finding Nico Binns for a 33 yard touchdown pass.
Young Jaxson Esbaugh watches Lowell Football play Marquette on Saturday with family members, 20 years after his father Ryan played. Ryan, who passed away in 2022 from a car accident, and the rest of the 2004 state championship team were honored at Bob Perry Field.
Things continued to quickly spiral out of control for Marquette as a punt sailed line drive into the line of scrimmage, recovered by Lowell who punched it in again on a 35 yard Dawson run, then Kalin Williams came up with an interception with under two minutes to play. He would add a second in the second half. Lowell went five for six on scoring drives in the first half and was running at will on the Sentinels.
It was a special day for Lowell who added three individuals and the 2004 State Championship team to their wall of fame. The athletic department had the honorees enjoy a feast of local Mexican restaurant “Sabor Mexicano” while watching the game from a tent on the north side of the stadium.
The following information was provided on the honorees.
Rex Collins
Rex Collins graduated Lowell High School in 1945. While a student athlete at LHS Rex played football, basketball, baseball, and ran track - earning a total of 15 varsity letters. Rex was an avid supporter of Lowell High School sports for decades. He served as an announcer, timekeeper, and scorer for numerous Red Arrow sports. The Lowell Athletic Department recognizes Rex for his commitment to volunteer service and to his athletic accomplishments. Rex passed away in 2003.
Bill Ingraham
Bill Ingraham was an art teacher and coach for Lowell High School for many years. Bill joined the Lowell Football coaching staff in 1982. Over his 37-year coaching career, he had the honor of working with many great coaches and players. With his experiences as a player at both the high school and college levels, Bill always focused on the development of his players. On the field, he worked tirelessly to build their skills, while off the field, he was equally dedicated to instilling strong character. In 2000, Bill was named MHSFCA Assistant Coach of the Year. Coach Ingraham also contributed to the success of the Red Arrows, helping coach the State Championship teams in 2002, 2004, and 2009, as well as three state runner-up teams.
Rob McCormick
Rob McCormick began his career as a social worker for Lowell Area Schools in 1977, retiring in 2010. Even after retiring from his full-time role, Rob continued to coach football through the 2018 season. Throughout his tenure at Lowell, he was a highly valued coach in both the football and hockey programs. In 1999, Rob was named MHSFCA Assistant Coach of the Year. Whether on the field or in the hallways of Lowell High School, Rob was grateful for the opportunity to help shape the character of young men through the life lessons he imparted. Rob was also part of the impressive run by the Red Arrows in the 2000’s and 2010’s - helping coach the State Championship teams in 2002, 2004, and 2009, as well as three state runner-up teams.
2004 State Championship Team
The 2004 State Championship Team finished the season 14-0 and won the school’s second MHSAA Football State Championship defeating St. Johns at the Pontiac Silverdome by a score of 38-17. That Lowell championship game was the last MHSAA state championship football game played at the Pontiac Silverdome.
Coached by Noel Dean - the 2004 Team was speculated by many in the press to be the BEST Grand Rapids Area high school football team - EVER. Of their fourteen games in 2004 - the Red Arrows had a running clock on their opponent in eleven of those games.
Team accomplishments include: 2004 OK White Champion, AP Ranked #1, and TWELVE All Conference players. Those players were: Ryan Esbaugh - represented here today by his son Jaxson, Kyle Kaminski, Mike Koster, Keith Nichol, John Rasch, Brock Graham, Jeremy Holliman, Mike McElroy, Chris Meeuwsen, Frank Mulder, Scott Pedaris and Ed Zigmont - with Esbaugh, Koster, Nichol, Rasch, Zigmont, and Mulder being named to various Dream Teams around the state.
Coach Dean was named Coach of the Year by both the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News. In addition to the players mentioned - the Red Arrows included teammates Tony Adrianse, Matt Batchelor, Kam Blake, Zach Burger, Phil Burton, Ramsey Charrouf, Justin Craig, Gabe Delnick, Tim Droese, Jacob Eldridge, Kyle Estes, William Gill, Jon Gregaitis, Jordan Hill, Cory Jones, Eric Klahn, Ken Kline, Mike Long, Matt Meppelink, Evan Ormiston, Mike Racine, Cory Ruesink, Andrew Schultz, Shaun Scudder, Bradley Shea, Greg Stevens, Adam VanderPols, Matt VanEns, Billy Watikunas, Jason Welsch, Mike Wildey and Joe Woodhead.
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Dean is currently the head football coach at Chelsea High School and was in attendance along with many other members of the 2004 team, as well as Coach McCormick, Coach Ingraham, and the family of Rex Collins.
On the field in the second half it was all Lowell. Dawson made it four touchdowns with a 20 yard rushing touchdown, and Engle made it a running clock with a 15 yard touchdown run of his own, his second. Another Dawson also found the endzone, backup quarterback Dawson Morgan. Freshman Bryce Lehman also tacked on a touchdown as Lowell went up 61-7. Marquette scored with 40 seconds to go to close out the scoring in a 61-14 win for Lowell. The Red Arrows (2-2) are at Cedar Springs next week.
