Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic | August 25, 2017 | 20:39
Warren De La Salle has been to the Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic three times and keeps running into powerhouses.
On what is their home field, the Pilots lost to perennial power Lowell, 36-6, Friday night at Wayne State as the Red Arrows look ready for another big season.
Quarterback David Kruse was the workhorse for the winners, carrying the ball 26 times for 128 yards and three touchdowns.
Lowell's average field position was the De La Salle 43, so it played on a short field all night.
"We have 18 little brothers on this team; guys whose older brothers have played for me,'' said Coach Noel Dean. "David has had brothers play for me and win state championships. He wants to be part of that. This is a close-knit group. We had a couple of correctible mistakes.
"Our defensive coaches do a great job. I don't even sit in on defensive meetings.''
Lowell (1-0) is coming off a 12-1 season and a Division 2 semifinal loss to Walled Lake Western. In a rare playoff shutout, the Pilots went 4-5 last year under Mike Giannone, in his second year this season, and didn't reach the playoffs.
De La Salle used a fake punt and a 38-yard run by Jacob Dobbs to get into Lowell territory. Despite a couple of blown handoffs, the Pilots marched to the Lowell 14, where Riley Garrison made a 28-yard field goal, but was hit on the play for a roughing the kicker penalty.
The Pilots took the points off the board and had a first down at the Lowell five.
One play later Brendan Madigan scored from five yards out with 6:03 left in the first quarter. Garrison's extra point was blocked by Connor Douma for a 6-0 De La Salle lead.
Brady Douma took the ensuing kickoff 67 yards to put the Red Arrows in good field positon at the De La Salle 27.
Kruse did most of the heavy lifting, rushing five times and covering the final three-yards on a burst up the middle to give the Red Arrows a 7-6 lead with 3:06 left in the first quarter.
Evan Vaillancourt fumbled on De La Salle's next possession and Addison Buckius recovered for the Red Arrows at the De La Salle 33.
Kruse hit Douma with a 29-yard strike to the Pilots' 2. Kruse plowed in from one-yard out and his two-point conversion run made it 15-6 for the Division 2 power.
Garrett Pratt was a terror on defense for Lowell, coming up with two sacks on Pfromm early in the second quarter and Addison Buckius chipped in one of his own to put De La Salle in a third down and 17.
Lowell had great field position again when the snap from center went over the head of punter Garrison to give the Red Arrows the ball at the De La Salle 23.
Connor Douma scored from seven yards out with 3:07 left as Lowell blew the game open, 22-6.
Thanks to their average starting position being at the De La Salle 38 the Red Arrows didn't have to travel far.
Lowell took advantage of an 18-yard punt by the Pilots, setting up another scoring drive at the Pilots' 41. Kruse burst in from two-yard out with 6.9 seconds left to give the winners a 29-6 halftime lead.
Lowell's defense was stellar with defensive back Andy Anschutz picked off a Jeff Pfromm pass and returned it to the Pilots 43.
Pratt scored with 10:45 left in the game to make it 36-6.
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
