Raiders flex their muscles in first
half of non-league clash
ALMONT — Almont handed visiting New Haven a 54-6 setback in a non-league varsity football encounter last Thursday.
The clash marked the season-opener for both combatants.
“It was nice to get back out on the field in front of our home crowd,” Almont Coach James Leusby said.” “Our guys played well and we were able to get the young guys some experience,” he noted.
“We are looking forward to opening BWAC play next week.”
In Thursday’s encounter, Almont bolted out to a 21-0 advantage after one quarter was over with.
Almont’s Noah Houvener eludes a New Haven defender on a return during their season-opener last Thursday. Photo by Helfer Photography
Almont then outscored New Haven by an identical count during quarter number two, good for a 42-0 edge at the halftime break.
The third quarter would see Almont manage six points as did New Haven. That staked the home team to a sizable 48-6 cushion with 36 minutes gone.
Almont then outscored New Haven 6-0 from that point on, finishing off a favorable 54-6 outcome.
The winning Almont side generated their 54-point output aided by a Jack Paupert 12-yard touchdown run (folllowed by an accurate extra point boot courtesy of Brandon Hunsaker); a Josh Hellebuyck to Colby Schapman seven-yard touchdown pass (followed by a successful extra point kick from Hunsaker); a Noah Houvener 53-yard punt return for a touchdown (followed by an accurate extra pointy boot courtesy of Hunsaker); a Houvenar 30-yard punt return for a touchdown; a Jacob Castillo nine-yard touchdown run (followed by a Paupert PAT tote); a Hellebuyck to Paupert 50-yard touchdown pass (followed by a successful kick from Hunsaker): a Lucas DeLaurier five-yard touchdown run; and a Charlie Koenig 40-yard touchdown run.
On the evening, Hellebuyck completed four of five pass plays for 82 yards as Almont’s quarterback.
His successful tosses went to three different targets. Their ranks consisted of Schapman (two receptions for 17 yards), Paupert (one catch for 50 yards) and Jackson Malcolm (one catch for 15 yards).
The Almont ground attack added 203 yards on 19 totes.
Individually, Koenig (four rushes for 64 yards) and Castillo (54 yards on six totes) led Almont. Paupert (two rushes for 37 yards) supported their performances. The remaining seven Raider totes netted a combined 48-yard gain.
Nolan Panduren (two solos and six assists), Lane Jackson (two tackles and two assists), Blake Kapron (one solo and three assists) plus Meric Okoniewski and Jacob Hausmann (four assists apiece) put up Almont’s best defensive numbers.
Almont returns to action this Friday when it hosts the Imlay City/Dryden co-op football team. The Blue Water Area Conference battle lists a 7 p.m. starting time.
Kevin Kissane has been covering high school sports for the Tri-City Times since 1985. When not standing on a field or court with his camera and notepad, he enjoys golf, travel and family. Kevin is a 1980 graduate of Capac High School, and is also a grad of St. Clair Community College and earned a degree in journalism from Central Michigan University.
