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News File Photo Alpena running back Kadyn Budnick (32) tries to break free from a tackle during a Big North Conference football game against Traverse City West.
ALPENA – The mid-season of high school football season has officially passed. For Alpena High, time is running out to claim their first win of the year and end their long streak of 13 straight losses.
The Wildcats have that opportunity tonight when they travel to Gaylord to face the 2-3 Blue Devils.
“For us, we know we have to win this game. We are well aware that our role the rest of the year is to be seasonal wreckers. Gaylord always comes into this game with a shot at making the playoffs, but maybe we can prevent that from happening with a win this week. We want to end that dream for them, make the playoffs this week and ruin their comeback, ”said Alpena coach Eric Mitchell. “There isn’t a lot of respect they have for us right now. They picked us for their ride home because when they looked at the schedule it was the game they circled like they were going to win. We are going to ruin everything.
Both teams have just lost by shutout as Alpena suffered a 40-0 loss to Traverse City West and Gaylord was shut out by Cadillac 22-0.
Both teams have also struggled to score points on the board this year and despite going 2-3, the Blue Devils have failed to collect as many points as the winless Wildcats this season, failing to scored 16 or more points in all five games. far.
Gaylord’s most recent victory came in a 10-7 loss to Petoskey in Week 4, a week after the Wildcats lost 35-14 to the Northmen.
The only points that count for each side are what the scoreboard reads. The Blue Devils will try to get their offense back on track against an Alpena defense that has been a sieve this season. He’s allowed at least four touchdowns, 28 or more points in every game, and allowed an average of almost 40 points per game in a miserable first half of the season.
The Wildcats defense has the potential to reduce that number against a Gaylord side averaging just over one touchdown per game (7.8 points per game) as well as the potential for a win in what Mitchell and the Wildcats believe it is a winnable game.
“The big elephant in the room is that these seniors on this team haven’t won a lot of games, so for us this week it’s gone and won this one, because we can. Don’t worry about what other people think or say, go out and win because we can, ”Mitchell said.
The last time the two teams met last year, there was no shortage of points as Gaylord claimed a 30-27 victory over the Wildcats at home.
Tonight Alpena will look to reciprocate and secure their first victory in almost two years.
Despite last week’s lopsided loss, the Blue Devils’ defense played well, but special teams were a problem. Gaylord had two punt errors that set up the back defense against their own end zone. The mistakes of both special teams led to a pair of Cadillac touchdowns.
Much like the Wildcats, Gaylord has seen plenty of potential scoring records dropping out, including a handful of records last week.
Gaylord first-year coach DJ Szymoniak has focused on special teams this week as well as offensive line play.
The goal once again for the Wildcats will be to attempt to put together four full football quarterbacks.
“We know this is a team that shouldn’t score 30 points. We need to fix our mistakes from last week in a game where I think we played well defensively despite the score. We just injured ourselves with the position on the pitch last week so we have spent more time in the special teams this week because we need it and this is an area where we are aware that they have had struggling, ”Mitchell said. “We have to play fast and physical football. It’s a team that is very much like us and whoever comes out and plays physical football is going to win and we are men on a mission this week. We’re all excited for Friday night.
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