Running back McDowell steps up in Lodi’s TCAL win
Accomplishments: Two weeks ago in a Tri-City Athletic League football game, Larry McDowell sprained his left ankle.
But the Lodi High fullback/linebacker wasn’t going to let an injury sideline him in last week’s league game at West. Running behind an offensive line that created openings for him and the Flames’ offense, McDowell and Lodi (1-2 in the TCAL, 4-4) posted a 26-14 win over the Wolf Pack.
“It’s starting to get better,” said McDowell of his ankle. “I’d say it’s about 80 percent.”
McDowell had 69 yards on 15 carries. The Flames finished with 310 yards rushing, and 326 total offensive yards.
During warm-ups before the game, McDowell said the ankle bothered him. But he had it taped up and was more than determined to play in the league contest.
“I didn’t want to sit out,” McDowell said. “I wasn’t feeling like I could plant
it. But I wanted to suit up just in case.”
The flow of the game at the start of the second quarter helped McDowell establish a flow for either opening holes for wingback Trey Reese, who had 113 yards on 16 carries in the game.
“Once I started playing in the game, I started rushing, so I couldn’t really feel anything. My ankle wasn’t 100 percent, so I couldn’t make cuts.”
McDowell stepped up when he had to. After playing for injured fullback A.J. Estrada in the Lincoln game on Oct. 13, McDowell started the West game on the sidelines. But Cole Brooks, another Flame fullback who started and had 74 yards on 10 carries against West, went down with an upper body injury, McDowell raced onto the field to help the Flames in the win over the Wolf Pack.
“We are all familiar with the position,” McDowell said. “When one goes down, another goes in. I feel like that takes pressure off all of us knowing that if someone gets injured we can go in.”
McDowell either carried the ball, in which he was guided by the offensive line of center Ezequiel Arias, guards Kent Powell and Ben Bishop and Kent Powell and tackles Ethan Bronson and Tyler Wooldridge.
“They did a great job getting to the backers,” said McDowell of his linemen. “They were easy to read because they are big.”
McDowell is use to playing football with guys who are one or more grades higher than him. He’s use to his offensive line creating holes that dates back to the start of the decade, when they were in elementary school and playing on the Lodi Jr. Flames’ youth football teams. Then throw in players who are committed to the program that started at the end of last season in the weight room.
“We have some chemistry,” McDowell said. “I feel the guys who are here want to be here. We have a small team, but the people that are here want to win.”
That includes a possible shot of a Sac-Joaquin Section playoff berth. Lodi would need to win one or both of its remaining league games against St. Mary’s at the Grape Bowl tonight and against crosstown rival Tokay next Friday to earn the minimum two league wins, and a shot of an at-large playoff berth at 6-4 or 5-5.
“We take our games one game at a time,” McDowell said. “We want to get a spot into the playoffs. We want to win, and have that determination. We realize we have a chance to get into the playoffs.”
The 5-foot-10, 200-pound McDowell has 388 yards on 55 carries and one touchdown. From his inside linebacker’s spot, he has 44 tackles and 4 sacks.