It appeared as though an emotionally charged Greenville football team, playing a varsity football game for the final time at Black Field, would do what no other football team has done this year…. hold the Red Arrows scoreless in the first half.
Lowell, trying to avoid wearing a Black Field goose egg into the locker room at half, had one final snap with seven seconds on the second quarter clock from the Yellow Jacket 22 yard line.
Gabe Dean, flushed from the pocket, stepped up and threw one to the front corner of the end zone. where Blake Lyman out-dueled the Greenville cornerback for a game-tying (7-7) touchdown with no time remaining on the clock.
The catch fueled a stronger Red Arrow effort in the second half as Lowell powered past Greenville 35-7.
“Our kids played a tremendous first half. It was our best half of football this year,” said Greenville coach Dave Moore. “We were in great position to make a play on that throw before half, but missed. In the second half Lowell’s athleticism and not having as many kids playing both ways wore us down.”
Lowell scored on four of its first five second half possessions.
The Red Arrows took its first lead of the game a little over half way through the third quarter on a one-yard run by Gabe Dean. It capped a 29-yard drive which was set up by a Greenville fumble. It was one of two second-half turnovers committed by the Yellow Jackets.
Lowell increased its lead to 14 early in the fourth quarter on a Dean one-yard burst. This time it capped a 45-yard, 11-play drive.
“We were slow getting started and were sloppy in that first half, but were still tied. We made a lot of mistakes and penalties,” Lowell football coach Noel Dean explained.
Following a Greenville fumble at its own 40, Lowell wasted little time in capitalizing on the opportunity. Dean connected with Zach Huver on a 55-yard pitch and catch. Joshua Addington took it in from the three on the next play, building Lowell’s lead to 28-7.
Lowell finished the scoring with a little over three minutes to play when Addington rumbled in from 14 yards out.
“Our boys showed some poise in the second half. Our young offensive line works to get better every week. We were able to run up some yards in the second half,” Dean explained. “I’m also proud of the work our defensive line did.”
Lowell rushed the ball for 205 yards. Both Gabe Dean and Addington ran for 97 yards and two touchdowns.
Dean was 10-of-19 through the air for 162 yards and one touchdown.
The Red Arrow defense shut Greenvile down over the final 24 minutes. The Yellow Jackets finished with 75 yards on the ground and 66 through the air.
Lowell finishes out the regular season at home on Friday against Creston. Greenville will play Northview.
“We’re banged up and hopefully we can get some guys healthy before the playoff starts,” Dean said.
Lowell’s Huver was injured in the second half and had to be helped off the field. His status going forward is not yet known.
