Pass plays doom Lowell football team at Creswell

By DEAN REA/Correspondent/The Herald — Lowell’s football team’s scoring machine got braces on his teeth Friday.

Running back Austin Smith scored early as the Red Devils visited Creswell, but the braces became so uncomfortable that he eventually was given the night off by Coach Pat Todd.

The previous week Smith scored five touchdowns in a win at Central Linn and a week earlier scored five touchdowns against Reedsport.

Not that Smith nor his teammates were a match for the Bulldogs, who won 25-14 largely on the passing of quarterback Connor Hanson.

The two teams failed to score during the first quarter, but Smith carried the ball three times and scored midway through the second quarter.

During the next series, Trenton Estes recovered a Creswell fumble, Smith carried to the 1-yard-line and quarterback Justus Thurman scored on the next play.

Lowell’s 14-point lead soon disappeared as Creswell’s quarterback threw two long TD passes and Creswell trailed Lowell at halftime, 14-13.

Lowell’s running game was stymied early in the third quarter with Smith out of the lineup. However, freshman Gabe Dorelien piled up short yardage during the remainder of the game.

Creswell took to the air during the second half and increased its won-loss record to 4-2.

Lowell is scheduled to meet Glide at Pleasant Hill at 7 p.m. Thursday. However, coach Pat Todd said it may be a 9-man game because Glide has lost so many players.