Almont posts a convincing win

Raiders start quick, shut-out Vikings, 35-0

 

ALMONT — Luke Winkler returned the opening kickoff 81 yards for a touchdown and Sean O’Neil added the extra point kick, giving visiting Almont a 7-0 lead at the time and the Raiders never looked back en route to a 35-0 win against Marysville in a non-league varsity football game last Thursday night.

It was the season-opener for both combatants.

“We could not have asked for a better start to the 2024 season,” Almont Coach James Leusby commented. “Still, we have so much work to do if we plan to meet our season goals,” he noted.

In Thursday’s game, Almont jumped out to a 21-0 advantage after one quarter was complete.

That was followed by a scoreless second quarter of play.

When the action resumed, Almont widened the gap some. Aided by a 7-0 third quarter edge, the Raiders increased their cushion to 28-0 with 36 minutes gone.

They then outscored Marysville 7-0 the rest of the way, closing out a favorable 35-0 verdict.

A Chase Davedowski to Nolan Maxlow 12-yard touchdown pass (followed by a successful extra point kick courtesy of O’Neil); a Chase Battani 25-yard interception return (followed by an accurate extra point boot from O’Neil); a Winkler three-yard touchdown run (followed by a successful extra point kick courtesy of O’Neil); and a 39-yard touchdown run by Ben Nickrand (followed by an accurate extra point boot courtesy of O’Neil); produced the remaining 28 Almont points.

For the night, Davedowski completed two of three pass plays for 41 yards as Almont’s quarterback. He threw one interception along the way.

Both of his successful tosses went to Maxlow.

The Almont ground game wound up with 153 yards on 31 totes.

Jacob Stewart (10 rushes for 49 yards) generated Almont’s best outputs. The remaining 21 Raider rushes netted a combined 104-yard gain.

Battani (four solos and five assists) and   Cohen Ferqueron (three solos and five assists) supplied the best Almont tackle outputs. They were backed by Dustin Claeys (two solos and five assists), Dominic Medley (two solos and three assists) and Colten Karbel (one solo and four assists),

The Almont defense also registered two takeaways. Aiden Howard (a fumble recovery) and Battani (an interception) furnished those.

Almont returns to action this Friday when they travel to Imlay City for a Blue Water Area Conference clash. That matchup lists a 7 p.m. starting time.