The Alpena Wildcats begin the 2026 football season Friday night on the road at Boyne City, with both teams entering the opener at 0-0. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Boyne City, the first of three consecutive road games for Alpena before the Wildcats return to Wildcat Stadium.
The matchup also gives Alpena an early opportunity to answer questions about whether the program can improve after a difficult recent stretch. Boyne City won the teams’ previous season opener, 18-13, and the Wildcats will try to reverse that result while beginning a schedule that will quickly test the team.
Transfer quarterback adds another option for Alpena
Alpena enters the opener with an addition at quarterback. The source describes a transfer quarterback as a potential source of offensive help for a Wildcats attack that has used a run-pass option approach. The new player’s arrival comes as Alpena looks to create more movement and variety on offense.
The Wildcats also expect the offensive line to be improved. A stronger line could help Alpena move the ball more consistently and keep the defense fresh by sustaining drives. The running game is expected to be led by Andrew Szymoniak, with the offense also having several receivers competing for playing time.
Those receivers are Xavier Szymoniak, Greyson Srebnik, MacGregor McClintic, Gavin Ross and Eion Eades. The group gives Alpena multiple players seeking roles as the Wildcats try to make better use of their offensive personnel.
The source’s assessment is that Alpena’s defense will need to remain alert for different types of offensive plays. The team’s immediate challenge will include avoiding the mistakes that can turn a close game: missed tackles, penalties and allowing one unsuccessful play to affect the next sequence.
Boyne City replaces key players after playoff season
Boyne City finished 6-4 last season and included a playoff game in that record. The Ramblers are also entering the season with changes, particularly at quarterback and along both lines.
Junior Drew Bryant is expected to take over at quarterback after seeing limited action a year ago. Boyne City also must reconstruct its offensive and defensive lines. Hyker McKenney is identified as the only returning lineman on either side of the ball.
The Ramblers do return their backfield. Jamie Joseph and Bryun Hauger are back at running back, giving Boyne City continuity in that part of the offense. The team also used the pass to move the ball last season, with Ben Stanek identified as the receiver who produced a significant portion of the team’s receiving production.
The preview portrays Boyne City as a team trying to improve while replacing important contributors. Alpena, meanwhile, will attempt to make its offensive additions and expected line improvement matter immediately in the season opener.
Three road games will set an early tone
Friday’s game begins Alpena’s three-game road stretch. The next two road trips are scheduled at Cadillac and Escanaba. After that stretch, the Wildcats are scheduled to host Gaylord, identified in the source as the Big North Conference champion.
The outlook offered in the preview is that Alpena could put itself in a favorable position by winning two of those three road games. That assessment is a projection rather than a confirmed result, but it illustrates how important the opening portion of the schedule could be for the Wildcats’ season.
The source also points to Alpena’s recent football history. The Wildcats previously moved from 11-man football to eight-man football because of budget problems, and the column says the program still has not recovered fully. That history is presented alongside broader concerns about the condition of high school football in the area.
Smaller rosters affect area football
The source says most area 11-man football squads moved to eight-man football as class sizes declined. Even with fewer players needed on the field, some teams have only a small number of substitutes available. That can require athletes to play both offense and defense, while also leaving teams vulnerable when injuries occur.
The column also reports that several schools dropped football altogether for the upcoming season. For seniors preparing for what they expected to be their final high school season, those decisions meant losing the opportunity to play. The issue is presented as part of a larger change from an earlier period when competition for starting positions was more difficult because programs had more players.
Alpena’s situation is therefore connected to more than Friday’s result. The Wildcats are trying to build a winning season while operating in an environment where enrollment, budgets and roster depth have changed the way some local football programs function.
Other Northeast Michigan openers
Several other area teams also begin their seasons this week.
- Rogers City at Onaway: The Hurons visit the Cardinals Thursday at 7 p.m. Rogers City is coming off a season in which it started 4-0 before losing five straight games. The source says injuries affected the team during that decline. Rogers City returns eight starters on offense and seven on defense, while overall numbers have increased to 18 players. Onaway is seeking to end a three-season losing streak. Zach Schmoldt and Chris Pauly are expected to help fill the backfield role left by Lelin Splan, with Kayson Jarvis also part of the running combination. Pauly could also play quarterback, Phineas Benson is expected to contribute after a successful junior season at tight end, and Caleb Booms is expected to anchor the line. The game also comes before Onaway begins play in the new Bridge Alliance Conference.
- Oscoda at Harbor Springs: The teams meet Thursday at 7 p.m. Oscoda is attempting to rebound from a 2-7 season, while Harbor Springs is coming off a 5-4 campaign that ended with a first-round playoff loss. The Rams return most of their team and will rely on second-year starting quarterback Thaddeus Cosens, along with running backs Jimmy Calnen and Chaz Brainerd. Luke Dickinson and Jared Johnston are listed as receiving options. Oscoda’s previous season included five losses by narrow margins, and the source describes the Owls as seeking to avoid the mistakes that cost them close games.
- Hillman at Inland Lakes: Hillman travels Friday at 7 p.m. to face Inland Lakes, which went 9-0 last season. Hillman is replacing important offensive players and is looking for incoming seniors to contribute at wide receiver, running back and quarterback. Inland Lakes has more defensive holes to fill, but the Bulldogs return important contributors in Landon Fenstermaker, Collien Maves and Damian Bradford. Fenstermaker could also play quarterback, while Maves and Bradford are expected to contribute on defense and offense.
For Alpena, the season starts with a road rematch, a new quarterback option and an offense expected to offer more flexibility. The Wildcats’ first three games will provide an early measure of whether those changes can translate into sustained drives, defensive balance and the winning season the program is seeking.