Lowell QB plays Pink Arrow for dad

LOWELL, Mich. (WOOD) - Friday marks the fifth annual Pink Arrow game at Lowell. The game brings the school and community together to raise money and create awareness for the fight against caner.

But this year, the game is personal for one Lowell player.

Lowell has played in three straight state championship games and qualified for the playoffs in 16 consecutive seasons, so Lowell student athletes know a thing or two about getting ready for big games.

But years from now, when they look back on their high school careers, the Pink Arrow games will stand out.

"This week's different," said Lowell senior Titan Anderson. "You're playing for somebody that has battled cancer. You go out and play hard for them."

One of the great traditions in the Pink Arrow game is the name of a person who has or had cancer on the back of players' jerseys. For some, the name is of someone the player has never met.

This year, quarterback Anderson will wear his own last name on his back.

"I'm playing for my dad, who has kidney cancer," said Anderson. "Diagnosed five years ago. He's had four surgeries. But so far he's been clean. I love my dad to death and just thinking that he's OK now, and we'll go out and raise money that will help our family and other families that have gone through this, is just amazing. "

Beating Grand Haven will be Anderson's and his teammates' objective. But the event goes far beyond wins and losses.

The money and the awareness the Lowell community has raised it its greatest victory.

"I think they take a lot of pride in it," said Lowell head coach Noel Dean. "I think our whole community does. I mean, this thing is beyond our school system and our football program. It's truly a fabric of our community now.  The families -- There's so many families that have been helped with this event, and so many kids are being educated and so much support is being bestowed to Gilda's Club, it's truly a fabric of our community."

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For week three of Football Frenzy, crews will be on the sideline of about 18 games.

Spotlight Games:

Grand Haven at Lowell (Pink Arrow game)
Muskegon at Rockford
Montague at Oakridge

== Scores ==

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Gilda's Club