LOWELL | Under coach Kirk Kennedy's guidance, Lowell football has treated postseason play like its own personal party.
"Seven straight titles. That's 21 sectional victories in a row. Quite an accomplishment," Kennedy said Friday night after the Red Devils rushed for more than 500 yards and demolished Concord, 60-23, in the Class 4A Sectional 10 championship game.
"Our defense tightened up coverage and our offense kept on truckin'," Kennedy said.
Lowell (11-1) travels to Morton (11-1) for next Friday's regional. In Week 2, the Governors jumped out to a 13-0 lead before losing 34-25.
"They're so resilient," Kennedy said of his players. "For much of the year, our performance dropped a bit. That lack of excitement kept us from being the football team we can be.
"Since the second half of the Andrean game and in the playoffs at Plymouth, we've regained the fire and the passion and our game has been elevated. They've met challenge after challenge and they've responded."
Brandon Grubbe was a one-man wrecking ball against Concord (8-4) with 251 yards and four touchdowns on 28 carries. He now has 84 career rushing TDs.
Providing a big assist was Justin Juarez with 125 yards and one TD, while Nate Cleveland added 74 yards, Cole Midgett averaged 13 yards a carry and first-year kicker Boge Pejoski booted seven PATs and a 24-yard field goal.
"It's not just me," Grubbe said. "Our offensive line has taken over in the playoffs and our other guys who run the ball take a lot of pressure off me. We came out rolling tonight."
No drive in the game lasted more than three minutes. Grubbe had 230 yards in just the first half.
Kennedy had praised his players for proving their early season critics wrong.
"We can't focus on the press," Grubbe said. "If we're the underdog, so be it. When we cross those lines, it's all about football."
Added linebacker Anthony DeMario, who had a 16-yard sack: "Honestly, I didn't see 60 points coming. I thought it would be a defensive game back and forth.
"Offensively, it was probably our best game. Defensively, we need to prepare, work harder, have confidence, and come out at Morton and get after it."
PREP FOOTBALL
Class 4A Sectional 10
Championship
Lowell 60, Concord 23
Brandon Grubbe ran for 251 yards and four touchdowns, and the Red Devils rushed for 522 yards.
