Almont pulls out 29-28 win

ALMONT — Almont (second among Division 6 squads statewide according to the Associated Press) saw to it they would have reason to celebrate at night’s end, pulling out a hearstopping 29-28 victory over host Armada (rated eighth among Division 5 squads statewide according to the Associated Press) in a Blue Water Area Conference varsity football battle last Friday.

With the decision, Almont raises their mark to 6-0 and 5-0. Armada slips to 5-1 and 4-1.

In Friday’s battle, Almont and Richmond ended the opening quarter with seven points each.

Quarter two would see Armada collect 14 points and Almont manage seven, leaving them up 21-14 at the half.

That was followed by a scoreless third quarter.

Almont then made it a 21-21 ballgame thanks to a touchdown and an extra point with 11:56 showing on the fourth quarter clock.

The score would stay that way until Armada connected on a five-yard pass play 4:04 from the finish. That was followed by an accurate extra point boot, giving the Tigers a 28-21 lead at the time.

On the ensuing possession, Almont set up at their own 35-yard line with hopes of acquiring the equalizer. It was there they began a drive that concluded with a Chase Davedowski to Jacob Stewart 27-yard touchdown pass with 1:04 remaining.

Almont then opted to go for two points, instead of the tie. That would prove a wise choice indeed.

On the PAT, Winkler took the snap out of the shotgun formation with Davedowski lined up ahead of him. The Raiders’ line set up a few yards to the left of them.

The snap went to Winkler, he sprinted to the left and the race was on. He was able to reach the endzone before being stopped, giving his team a 29-28 edge at the time.

Armada then moved the ball to the Almont 49-yard line in the game’s final minute.

Three plays later, Armada faced a fourth-and 10 situation with the game’s outcome still up for grabs. It had come down to this.

Their quarterback threw a pass down the field, only to see the toss broken up by an Almont defender.

Almont then took over on downs and ran out the clock.

Their team had earned a come from behind win. And oh what a finish it was at that.

The winning Almont side accounted for their remaining 21 points aided by a Winkler 96-yard return for touchdown on the opening kickoff (followed by a successful extra point kick courtesy of Sean O’Neil); a Chase Battani three-yard touchdown run (followed by an accurate extra point boot from O’Neil); and a Battani one-yard run (followed by a successful extra point kick from O’Neil).

For the evening, Davedowski completed six of nine pass plays for 96 yards as Almont’s quarterback. He threw one interception en route to those numbers.

His successful tosses went to three different targets. Their ranks consisted of Winkler (three catches for 37 yards), Battani (two receptions for 32 yards) and Stewart (one catch for 27 yards).

The Almont ground attack managed 88 yards on 25 totes.

Matthew Bacholzky (nine rushes for 78 yards) supplied Almont’s top credentials. The remaining 16 Raider totes netted a combined 10-yard gain.

Cohen Ferqueron (five solos and 12 assists), Battani (eight solos and eight assists, Bacholzky (six solos and four assists) and Tim Miller (one solo and nine assists) posted Almont’s highest tackle totals. Dustin Claeys (two solos and four assists) made his presence felt as well.

Almont will look to continue their winning ways this Friday when they entertain Blue Water Area Conference rival Richmond. That matchup lists a 7 p.m. starting time.