- Renn Osborne finds a hole on his way to end zone in the first quarter of Lowell’s 35-6 win over Forest Hills Central.
As Forest Hills Central coach Greg Ganfield saw it, his Rangers had a choice, set back and allow Lowell to run or gang up at the line and force the Red Arrows throw the football.
They chose the later and the result was Gabe Dean and a dynamic core of receivers led by Blake Lyman amassed 272 yards through the air en route to a 35 6 win over a hard-hitting Forest Hills Central team.
“You can’t cover both the run and the pass so you have to chose and now Dean throws the football really well,” Ganfield said in explaining the dilemma in defending Lowell’s offense.
After his Friday night performance, Blake Lyman does an “okay” job of catching the pigskin too. The senior wide out caught five passes for 134 yards and three touchdowns while snaring two interceptions and returning one of those 35 yards for a touchdown.
A host of Red Arrows spoil this Ranger rush attempt.
“I caught the ball and then got some great blocking which led to the touchdown,” Lyman said of his pick for six.
The senior’s 60-yard touchdown reception and a two-pint conversion, 47 seconds before half, grew Lowell’s lead from one to nine at 15-6.
Lyman’s second touchdown came on the Red Arrows first possession of the second half. It was a 25-yard pass and catch from Dean, capping a 12-play, 69 yard drive.
Dean and Lyman hooked up again early in the fourth quarter on a 28-yard touchdown reception. This time on a fourth and 10.Â
Luke Bigham caught four passes for 62 yards.
 “It’s a lot different team this year we have a dynamic core of receivers who spent a lot of time in 7-on-7s this summer,” Lyman said.
The game got off to an inauspicious start for Lowell as FHC on it s first play from scrimmage scored on a 63-yard touchdown pass from Justin Chopp to Spencer Nehls.
Lowell answered with a 17-play, 88-yard scoring drive. One which saw Lowell convert on a fourth and three from its own 20. Lowell coach Noel Dean intimated that had he known it was fourth and three he may not have gambled. Or he did know and was trying to make a statement early in response to Central’s touchdown. Later in that drive, the Red Arrows safely converted a fourth and two from the Central 45 yard line. Renn Osborne finished it all up with a nine-yard scoring burst.Â
“We knew that was a good football team. They play hard,” Dean said. “Their losses came against to two teams, without a loss, by a touch. You can’t look at records. Central’s played one of the toughest schedules. “
Pierce Watson pressures Ranger quarterback Justin Chopp.
The Rangers rushed for 79 yards and threw for 157.
“I’m pleased with the way the boys played. We just didn’t make enough plays on offense and our pass defense was not very good,” Ganfield explained.
Lowell, now 4-0, will prepare to host the undefeated Eagles from Grand Rapids Christian on Friday.
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