Raiders outstanding year ends

Ovid-Elsie stops Almont, 44-21, haults state playoff hopes

 

ALMONT — The Almont football team concluded a season that won’t soon be forgotten, dropping a 44-21 verdict to Ovid-Elsie in a Division 6, Region 2, District 2 opening round playoff meeting it hosted last Friday night.

With the result, Ovid-Elsie (8-2) advancss to this Friday’s district championship game where will travel to Lansing Catholic (7-3). That matchup lists a 7 p.m. starting time. Almont watches an outstaning 9-1 campaign reach an endpoint.

“I love the strong team culture this team displayed week in and week out this season,” Almont Coach James Leusby commented. “Adapting to injuries and keeping the next one up mentality speaks volumes about our team’s depth and resilience,” he noted.

“Although the postseason did not go as planned and we are more than disappointed, we will channel this feeling and use it to motivate us in the off-season in the weight room. I would like to thank everyone who supported us, it is appreciated.”

In Friday’s meeting, Almont jumped out to a 14-7 advantage after one quarter was done.

Quarter two would see Ovid-Elsie generate 13 points and Almont managed none, staking themselves to a 20-14 halftime lead.

When the action resumed, Ovid-Elsie struck with a 10-0 third quarter edge. That pushed their cushion to 30-14 with 36 minutes gone.

Ovid-Elsie then outscored Almont 14-7 the rest of the way, putting the finishing touches on a 44-21 win.

Almont produced their 21-point total aided by a Chase Davedowski to Luke Winkler 18-yard touchdown pass (followed by a succcessful extra point kick courtesy of Sean O’Neil); a Chase Battani 47-yard touchdown run (followed by an accurate extra point boot from O’Neil); and a 49-yard touchdown run by Battani (followed by a successful extra point kick courtesy of O’Neil).

For the evening, Davedowski completed four of 12 pass plays for 45 yards as Almont’s quarterback. He threw one interception along the way.

His successful tosses were distributed to three different targets. Their ranks consisted of Winkler (two catches for 27 yards), Aiden Howard (one reception for 14 yards) and Colten Karbel (one catch for four yards).

The Almont ground attack wound up with 261 yards on 33 totes.

Battani (12 rushes for 168 yards) and Winkler 73 yards on 10 totes) proved Almont’s toughest players to stop. The remaining 11 Raider rushes netted a combined 20-yard gain.

Tim Miller (five solos and five assists), Jacob Fuller (four solos and six assists) and Eric Haddon (five solos and four assists) registered Almont’s highest tackle totals. Karbel (one solo and seven assists), Brody Corneau, Gordon Stolecki, Winkler and Howard (two solos and five assists each), Dustin Claeys (two solos and four assists), Dominic Medley (one solo and five assists) and Brent Corneau (one solo and three assists) supported their performances.