IMLAY CITY — Imlay City celebrated their homecoming with a 17-7 win against Algonac in a Blue Water Area Conference varsity football game last Friday night.
With the result, Imlay City moves to 2-2 and 1-2. Algonac falls to 0-4 and 0-3.
The Imlay City defense surrounds the Cros-Lex ballcarrier during Friday’s homecoming game. Imlay City won 17-7. Photo by Rod Soule
“This was a hard fought game for us,” Imlay City Coach Brian Tresnak said. “It is always good to win homecoming and I am proud of our effort in all three phases of the game,” he noted.
“When one group struggled, the next group stepped up and made plays. It was a great job working as a team to win.”
In Friday’s game, Imlay City took a 7-0 edge after one quarter was done.
Quarter two would see Imlay City collect 10 points and Algonac manage seven, leaving the former with a 17-7 halftime lead to protect.
The final two quarters would prove scoreless as Imlay City held on for the victory.
Imlay City produced their winning 17-point total aided by an Austin DeRocher six-yard touchdown run (followed by a successful extra point kick courtesy of Wyatt Luther); a Colby Neighbors scoop and score on a blocked punt by Lance Wolford (followed by an accurate extra point boot from Luther); and a Luther 28-yard field goal.
For the night, Riley Bertram completed four of five pass plays for 43 yards as Imlay City’s quarterback. He threw zero interceptions along the way.
His successful tosses went to three different targets. Their ranks consisted of Chris Cezik (two catches for 14 yards), Cristian Rojas (one catch for 20 yards) and Dakota Sandzik (one reception for nine yards).
The Imlay City ground attack managed 163 yards on 35 totes.
Individually, Sandzik (60 yards on four totes), Rojas (12 rushes for 54 yards) and DeRocher (33 yards on 12 totes) led Imlay City. The remaining seven Spartan rushes netted a combined 16-yard gain.
Luther (six solos and 10 assisted stops), Julian Rojas and Wolford (three solos and five assists apiece) plus Cristian Rojas (one solo and five assists) furnished the top Imlay City tackle totals.
The Imlay City defense also supplied three takeaways. Dakota Sandzik (three interceptions) provided those.
Imlay City returns to action this Friday when it travels to Armada. The BWAC contest begins at 7 p.m.
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.
