Teri Tune
Sports Scene
The Lowell football team is on its annual late-season roll as it begins Division 2 playoff play against longtime O-K White rival Forest Hills Central.
The Red Arrows defeated FHC 35-6 earlier in the season. Lowell quarterback Gabe Dean enjoyed his finest passing performance of the season in the that game, as he completed 19 of 27 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns.
Although Central enters the game with a 6-3 record, that record is very deceiving. Central’s three losses have come against Grand Rapids Christian, Zeeland West, and the Red Arrows, who have a combined record of a glittering 26-1.
Lowell enters the game with an offense that is hitting on all cylinders. The Red Arrows completed the season averaging 36.3 points per game. Dean has been a major factor in the Red Arrow ground game, as evidenced by his 277-yard, five-touchdown performance against Northview in week seven. Through the air, Dean has passed for over 200 yards on three different occasions this season.
Lowell’s running game has received some big efforts from running back Josh Addington.
Defensively, the Red Arrows are allowing 13.5 points per game.
If Lowell gets past Central in the district opener, it will host the winner of the Mattawan/Muskegon game for the district championship.
Last year, Lowell outlasted Muskegon 33-28 for the district title.
VOLLEYBALL
While the Lowell volleyball team fell just short of winning its first-ever conference volleyball title, you can’t blame a lack of effort from senior Jordan Timmer.
Timmer, who has committed to play volleyball at Central Michigan University next season, turned in some strong matches down the stretch in the O-K White.
In a key five-game victory over Grand Rapids Christian, Timmer totaled 38 assists, 15 kills, five blocks, and four aces. In a three-game sweep of Greenville, Timmer recorded 28 assists, 12 kills, four blocks, and four aces. In a four-game victory against Northview, Timmer had 33 assists and seven blocks.
FOOTBALL/WRESTLING
Lowell football and wrestling standout Gabe Dean has decided to continue his wrestling career at Cornell University in New York.
He chose Cornell over other Division 1 schools Central Michigan, Michigan, Michigan State, and Minnesota.
Gabe’s father and coach, Dave Dean, was a two-time state champion at Montrose high school and then became an NCAA Division 1 runner-up and two-time Big 10 conference champion for Minnesota, and Gabe hopes to follow in his footsteps.
Gabe had an undefeated record of 40-0 as a junior. He holds one state championship and will go for another this year.