Lowell sophomore running back Tymothy James is making a name for himself as a ball carrier.
But Red Devils coach Casey McKim seemed especially enthused about an overshadowed aspect of James’ performance in a Class 4A sectional opener Friday night.
“I’d also like to point out on a couple of our big runs, Tymmy was one of the lead blockers on them and really paved the road for them as well,” McKim said. “That matters. That matters. People see the numbers, but to be able to open it up for other people makes a team dynamic.”
James also continued to put up numbers during Lowell’s 56-21 victory against visiting Hanover Central. The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder ran for 128 yards and four touchdowns on 18 carries.
James downplayed his contributions, however, and quickly credited his teammates, including the offensive line.
“All I’m doing is taking the ball and running,” he said. “They’re bringing me where I need to go. All I’m doing is following my guys. So thanks to the O-line, the tight ends, the receivers.”
James entered the game with 1,145 yards and 14 touchdowns for Lowell (8-2), which will play East Chicago Central (4-6) in the sectional semifinals.
“We’ve just been coming together since the summer,” he said. “It’s been great.”
For Hanover Central (4-6), junior quarterback Wyatt Tewell threw for 254 yards and three touchdowns, and junior wide receiver Jacob Ferko had five catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns.
James has a starring role this season after primarily playing safety as a freshman, when he recorded 59 tackles.
“Playing safety was fun, but I like offense more,” he said.
Lowell senior quarterback Brody Kalwinski, who ran for 193 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 116 yards and a touchdown, is happy to have James in the backfield with him.
“He’s grown so much this year as a player,” Kalwinski said. “From the first game to now, his vision, his elusiveness, his ability to break a tackle — everything. He really carries that James name well.”
Indeed, James’ brothers Ike James, a 2016 Lowell graduate, and Malachi James, a 2024 Lowell graduate, are former running backs who wore No. 32 before him.
Ike James was an all-state selection as both a junior and a senior, amassing almost all of his career totals of 4,439 yards and 70 touchdowns in those two seasons. He also set the Red Devils’ single-game record with 362 yards and six touchdowns before playing collegiately at Saint Joseph’s and Wabash.
Their sister Annalise James, a 2019 Lowell graduate, was a star distance runner who competed for Western Michigan.
Tymothy James, who also advanced to semistate in wrestling at 157 pounds and qualified for the regional in track and field as part of the Red Devils’ 400-meter and 1600-meter relay teams, has continued his family’s tradition of success.
“Tym’s just been unbelievable,” McKim said. “The kid works his tail off in the weight room. Hard work is what shows on a football field. He’s also a very talented young man. For some people, that can be a curse because you don’t feel you have to work as hard. That’s not him. He’s the hardest worker in the weight room, and it shows up on the field.
“Mentally and physically, he’s prepared himself. It’s hard carrying the ball as a sophomore play after play. We even had him at DB at some critical moments on third downs, which he’s had limited reps at this year. As a sophomore, we ask an awful lot of him. It just shows his maturity and his preparation.”
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