Alpena returns home Friday with an opportunity to challenge the team currently sitting atop the Big North Conference. The Wildcats, 1-4, will host Marquette, 3-2, at 7 p.m. Marquette enters the matchup on a three-game conference winning streak, while Alpena is still looking for the breakthrough that would move its season in a different direction.
The game follows a homecoming night that turned on a handful of late plays. Alpena built a 12-0 halftime lead against Flint Powers, but the Cougars changed the contest after the break and eventually took the lead. The Wildcats rallied late, only to see their final offensive play come up short.
Wildcats showed fight after second-half turnaround
Andrew Szymoniak was central to Alpena’s early success against Flint Powers. His speed and rushing production helped the Wildcats establish their halftime advantage, and he later scored his third rushing touchdown of the game as Alpena attempted to regain control.
Flint Powers answered with a 79-yard sequence combining passing and rushing plays. The decisive momentum swing came on a 71-yard breakaway run, which gave the Cougars their first lead at 14-12. The play reflected a broader issue identified in the preview: Alpena has had difficulty carrying its first-half momentum into the second half.
The source report says opposing offenses have either found weaknesses in the Wildcats’ defense after halftime or benefited when Alpena lost containment. Those breakdowns have allowed opponents to earn fresh sets of downs and sustain drives at critical points.
Alpena still had opportunities late. With time running down, the Wildcats faced fourth down and came up short of the marker. The defense then responded by giving the offense another chance, leaving Alpena with slightly less than two minutes to work.
Quarterback Cash Moughon kept the drive alive with a critical fourth-down completion to Gavin Ross. The play gave Alpena a chance with 11 seconds remaining, but one final attempt fell short. The result left the Wildcats with a defeat, while the effort showed the team’s refusal to quit.
Marquette brings a resurgent offense and tough defense
Marquette’s recent run began with a comeback against Escanaba. The Sentinels fell behind 7-0 but did not allow the early deficit to prevent a third consecutive victory.
Quarterback Winston Leonard connected with halfback Skyler Blackburn on two quick touchdown passes. Blackburn also scored on a short rushing touchdown, and Leonard added a short scoring pass to Wes Robinson. The Leonard-Blackburn combination has also produced touchdowns on pitchouts, giving the Sentinels multiple ways to turn short gains or open space into points.
Marquette’s defense has been equally important during the winning streak. The preview says the Sentinels have allowed only single touchdowns during those three victories. Clayton Edwards and Rocky Scholl are identified as defensive mainstays, while Aiden Plantenga and Brody Clements are also expected to contribute in the tackling department.
That combination creates a demanding assignment for Alpena. The Wildcats will need varied defensive looks to prevent Marquette from settling into its preferred options, and the offense will have to remain productive against a defense that has limited opponents during the streak. Alpena’s path to an upset depends in part on maintaining the aggressive approach it showed against Flint Powers while avoiding another second-half drop-off.
The source prediction is Marquette 35, Alpena 20. That forecast is not a confirmed result; it is the preview’s assessment of the Friday matchup.
Rogers City looks to strengthen postseason position
Elsewhere, Pellston will visit Rogers City at 7 p.m. Rogers City enters at 4-1 and is seeking another win that would further strengthen its postseason position. The preview says a victory would effectively cement that position with three games remaining.
Rogers City’s offense produced 420 total yards in its most recent highlighted performance. Bryan McKinstry threw for 277 yards and three touchdowns, and he also ran for a touchdown. Ethan Spens led the ground game with 100 yards and a touchdown, while Daryl Hawley caught seven passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Nick Lesko added six receptions for 100 yards and a score, and Eli Banittari contributed four catches for 62 yards.
The Hurons also received a broad defensive effort, with 14 players recording tackles. Levi Flemming led the group with 12 tackles, including a sack, while Patrick Talaske and Spens made six tackles apiece. Stefano Ticali added an extra point.
Pellston is 0-5 and has scored only 20 points through five games. Senior quarterback Brett Bonner has been a leader on both offense and defense, but the preview says the Hornets have struggled to build the senior depth needed to turn around a young team. Pellston chose to remain independent rather than join the Bridge Alliance Conference, a decision that provides a different schedule and opportunities to face teams that could help the program develop.
Onaway and Cedarville meet with matching records
Cedarville will travel to Onaway for a 7 p.m. game between two 2-3 teams. Both programs have won two straight against Forest Area and Bellaire, setting up a matchup that could come down to the final possession.
Onaway defeated Bellaire 52-12. Sophomore quarterback Chris Pauly scored on the ground, while Kayson Jarvis, Jackson Green and Zach Hartvigson also figured into the Cardinals’ scoring. The preview describes Onaway as a team that prefers to run, a style that could make for a fast-moving game if both teams limit incomplete passes.
Cedarville defeated Bellaire 42-12 and is led by quarterback Trevor Barr. In a victory over Fife Lake, Barr rushed for 153 yards, passed for 66 yards on nine completions and accounted for four touchdowns—three rushing and one passing. Landon Barr, Steven Lohff and Mac Galarowic lead a solid defensive group for the Trojans.
With the teams close in both record and points scored and allowed, the preview identifies homecoming and home-field advantage as potential factors. Its prediction is Onaway 28, Cedarville 24.
Hillman, Whittemore-Prescott need a postseason push
Hillman will visit Whittemore-Prescott at 7 p.m., with both teams needing a victory to preserve their postseason hopes. Hillman is 2-2, while Whittemore-Prescott is 2-3.
Hillman is coming off its highest-scoring performance of the season against Alcona. Eddie Prue rushed 11 times for 138 yards and three touchdowns, while Eli Schulze led the team with 146 rushing yards and scored twice. The Tigers produced 354 yards on the ground and finished just short of 400 total yards.
Hillman’s defense held Alcona away from the goal line for much of the night. Freshman Jaden Purol led the Tigers with 12 tackles and recorded a sack. Prue and Mason Tracy had eight tackles each, while freshman Robby Olschanski added seven. Nine Hillman players appeared in the defensive statistics, reflecting the team’s effort to rotate more players into important roles.
Whittemore-Prescott counters with senior Aiden Bell, who produced 211 rushing yards, four touchdowns and a kickoff-return touchdown in the Cardinals’ previous victory. Blaine Zuchnik provides another rushing threat, and the Cardinals have seven backs available to help maintain the ground attack.
The preview says Whittemore-Prescott has not fully used its passing options despite opponents focusing on Bell and the running game. On defense, Scout Holshoe leads the Cardinals in tackles, with Zuchnik and Emerson Sheehan close behind. The source prediction favors Hillman, 30-28.