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Lowell defense stifles Northview, 21-0; Red Arrows advance to play Muskegon

Northview, making its first ever high school football playoff appearance, got harassed and pushed around by the physical playoff savvy Red Arrows Friday night on Bob Perry Field before departing with a bruising 21-0 defeat at the hands of Lowell.

“We like to bring pressure and keep our opponents out of rhythm,” said Lowell defensive end Pierce Watson. The senior authored one of three Lowell touchdowns with a third-quarter block of a Northview punt at the Wildcat 15 yard line. He recovered the ball inside the 10 yard line before picking it up and racing into the end zone.

“Their kid came off the ball slow and I was able to get around and get a clean strike of the ball,” Watson explained.

For Lowell’s it was its 13th straight first-round playoff win. “We’re excited about the win and a chance to maintain a rivalry (Northview),” said Lowell football coach Noel Dean.

Kyler Shurlow was undeFrida    Kyler Shurlow was under center Friday night in Lowell’s 21-0 shutout over Northview in the opening round of the playoffs high splayoffs. Lowell advances to play Muskegon on Friday. The Big Reds defeated Kenowa Hills 34-14.

And while the Red Arrow defense was exciting to watch if you were a Lowell fan, offensively the Red Arrows continued to stumble over itself.

Lowell committed three turnovers in the red zone – at Northview’s three, 16 and 21 yard lines.

Turnovers will again be critical in Friday’s district championship game when Lowell travels to Muskegon to play the Big Reds in a playoff atmosphere. The meeting will mark the fourth consecutive year the two clubs will meet in the post season, with Lowell having won the last three. The Red Arrows however, dropped a 36-21 regular season tilt earlier this year at Muskegon. The Big Reds defeated Kenowa Hills 34-21 Friday night.

The Red Arrows scored the game’s first touchdown in the first quarter on a 40-yard touchdown scamper by quarterback Kyler Shurlow.

Lowell made it 14-0 earlier in the second quarter when Titan Anderson busted through the line for a 28-yard touchdown romp.

Northview was held to a negative 49 yards rushing while throwing for 108 yards. Chad Watson caught five passes for 72 yards.

“Lowell was just too physical for us. That’s the bottom line,” said Northview coach Greg Ganfield. “They (their defense) brings seven at you and you must be able to execute against that pressure. We haven’t been a good blocking team all year.”

Contrarily, the Northview coach felt his defense played well. “Defensively, we played a hell of a game, however our offense did nothing.”

Lowell ran the ball for 255 yards and threw for 88. Anderson rushed for 102 while Shurlow amassed 92 on the ground.

Through the air, Shurlow was 6-of-11 for 88 yards in his first start as a varsity quarterback.
Dean said he club had been struggling on offense over the last six quarters and thus the decision for a change.