Almont football clinches share of BWAC title
ALMONT — Almont clinched at least a share of yet another Blue Water Area Conference title, registering a 28-27 triumph against visiting Lutheran North on Friday night, Oct. 9.
With the decision, Almont improved to 7-0 overall and 6-0 in conference play. Lutheran North slipped to 6-1 and 5-1.
The win was the 30th straight for Almont against BWAC foes, as well as the 100th career victory for head coach James Leusby.
“This was a big win for us tonight,” Leusby said. “We knew coming in that Lutheran North would give us a challenge, and they did just that.
“Our kids were able to rise to the occasion. We hope to continue that next Friday when we travel to Cros-Lex for our final BWAC game. If we win there, the title will be ours outright.”
In Friday’s confrontation, Almont and Lutheran North ended the opening quarter tied at 7. Quarter two saw Almont collect seven points and Lutheran North generate seven, leaving it a 14-14 ballgame at the half. The third quarter followed suit, with both sides striking for seven points to make it 21-21 through three quarters.
Less than two minutes into the fourth quarter, Almont claimed a 28-21 lead. Then, with just under seven minutes remaining, Lutheran North closed the gap to 28-27. It looked as if North was about to tie the score with an extra point, but Raider Colten Karbel broke free and came through with a clutch blocked kick.
That kept the Almont lead at 28-27. Neither side scored again, leaving the Raiders with a win to celebrate at night’s end.
Almont generated its 28 points behind a Logan Schapman 97-yard kickoff return, a 15-yard touchdown pass from Blake Lane to Brody Corneau, a Karbel 5-yard touchdown run, and a 9-yard touchdown pass from Lane to Karbel. Rian O’Neil converted all four extra point kicks.
Lane completed 3 of 5 passes for 61 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. His completions went to three different targets: Schapman (one catch, 37 yards), Corneau (one catch, 15 yards) and Karbel (one catch, 9 yards).
The Almont ground attack chewed up 257 yards on 42 carries. Corneau (14 rushes, 129 yards) and Ethan McConnell (12 rushes, 61 yards) produced Almont’s best individual totals, while the remaining 16 Raider rushes netted a combined 67 yards.
Karbel led the defense with 10 tackles (two solo, eight assists), followed by Corneau with six (five solo, one assist), Brendan Schocke with six (three solo, three assists) and Shane Roosa with six (two solo, four assists). Shepherd Moussiaux added five tackles (one solo, four assists).
Almont will look to close out an undefeated BWAC campaign when it travels to Cros-Lex on Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Friday Night Scores
11-man
- Imlay City 22, Yale 9
- Almont 28, Luth. North 27
- Armada 16, Richmond 14
- North Branch 45, Cros-Lex 7
- Millington 42, Sandusky 14
- Laker 49, Cass City 6
- USA 48, Vassar 44
- Ubly 29, Caro 14
- Har. Beach 21, Reese 8
8-man
- Dryden 38, Kingston 0
- Deckerville 52, Mayville 0
- C-PS 36, Flint Academy 0
- Marlette 74, Memphis 26
- BC All-Saints 57, Peck 38
- Brown City 62, Capac 14
- Bad Axe 42, Bur. Bentley 0
- Byron 42 Merritt Academy 6
- North Huron 46 Ak.-Frgv. 12
- BC Academy 76 Caseville 46
