(LAPORTE, IN) - Missed opportunities and the inability to stop the Lowell running game cost the Slicers in Friday night’s home opening 21-14 loss to Lowell at Kiwanis Field.
La Porte had three trips deep into Lowell territory in the first quarter, losing a fumble, throwing an interception, and coming up short on a 4th down run.
Lowell scored first at the 8:40 mark of the 2nd quarter on a 1-yard run by quarterback Riley Bank. This capped an all-run 18-play 80-yard drive. Red Devil kicker Caden Britton tacked on the extra point.
The Slicers tied the game on the next drive when RJ Anglin hit Ollie Kring on a 17-yard touchdown pass. The touchdown play was made possible by a roughing-the-passer penalty on a 4th and 15 play to allow the Slicer drive to continue. Jack Doty tied the game at 7-7 with his extra-point kick.
Lowell received the kickoff to start the 2nd half. On the first play from scrimmage Bank tried to run to the left side, found no room, circled to the right, and outran the Slicer defense for a 66-yard touchdown run. Britton’s kick made it 14-7.
The Red Devils seemingly put the game away in the 4th quarter when Bank scored his 3rd touchdown on a 7-yard run with 1:55 remaining. Britton’s kick made it 21-7. This capped a 92-yard 15-play drive that ran over 7 minutes off the clock.
The Slicers stormed back, scoring with 41.5 seconds remaining on an Anglin to Kring 16-yard touchdown pass. This was set up by a 40-yard Anglin to Drew Flores pass. Doty made his 2nd extra point to make the score 21-14. However, the Slicers could not execute an onside kick, and the game ended 21-14.
RJ Anglin was 19-35 passing with 264 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Ollie Kring had seven catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns. Drew Flores caught four balls for 93 yards, and Deegan Mason and Dylan Salisbury each had three catches. Mason had 18 yards, and Salisbury had 54.
Lowell completed only one pass in the game, but the Slicers had two interceptions, one by Robbie Rompa and the other by Evan Back.
The Slicers fall to 0-2 on the season and travel to Valparaiso (1-1) next Friday. Lowell is 1-1 and will host New Prairie next week.
