Imlay City bested by Richmond, 35-14

IMLAY CITY — Imlay City wound up with a 35-14 loss to visiting Richmond in a Blue Water Area Conference varsity football battle last Friday.

With the outcome, Richmond improves to 6-0 and 5-0, Imlay City slips to 2-4 and 1-4.

“Richmond is a solid team,” Imlay City Coach Dave Brown commented. “We will continue to learn and move forward,” he noted.

In Friday’s battle, Imlay City and Richmond ended the opening quarter with zero points each.

Quarter two saw Richmond generate seven points and Imlay City manage six.

When the action resumed, Richmond struck with a 14-8 third quarter edge. That enabled them to increase their cushion to 21-14.

Richmond then outscored Imlay City 14-0 the rest of the way, closing out a 35-14 win.

Imlay City amassed their 14-point total aided by a Brady Homer one-yard touchdown run; and a Homer 98-yard fumble return for a touchdown (followed by a Homer PAT tote).

For the evening, Brett Lestage connected on eight of 13 pass plays for 44 yards as Imlay City’s quarterback. He threw zero interceptions along the way.

His successful tosses went to three different targets. Their ranks consisted of Noah Graboyes (six catches for 41 yards), Quinten Towell (one reception for six yards) and Jovani Pena (one catch for four yards).

Homer was the other Imlay City player who opted to air out the football. Both of his attempts were incomplete.

The Imlay City ground attack added 99 yards on 29 totes.

Individually, Lestage (12 rushes for 49 yards) and Daniel Rojas 38 yards on seven totes) paced Imlay City. The remaining 10 Spartan rushes netted a combined 18-yard gain.

Rojas (six) and Lestage (five) provided the top Imlay City tackle totals. Graboyes (four) made his presence felt as well.

Imlay City will look to bounce back this Friday when it hosts BWAC rival Cros-Lex. That matchup lists a 7 p.m. starting time.