Clobbers Cros-Lex 42-0, now 5-0 on the season
ALMONT — Almont downed visiting Cros-Lex, 42-0, in a weather-shortened Blue Water Area Conference varsity football game last Friday night.
With the outcome, Almont moves to 5-0 and 4-0. Cros-Lex slips to 2-3 and 2-2.
Almont’s Jackson Malcolm heads up the field after making a catch versus Cros-Lex.
“Our defense really came to play tonight and set the tone with two defensive touchdowns,” Almont Coach James Leusby said. “We are glad to get a win but more than anything we are glad to get through another game healthy,” he noted.
In Friday’s game, Almont took a 7-0 edge after one quarter was done.
Quarter two saw Almont amass 14 points and Cros-Lex manage none, good for a 21-0 cushion at the half.
When the action resumed, Almont picked up where it left off. It was there the Raiders added 21 points to their side of the scoreboard count, widening the gap to 42-0 before the game ended due to lightning with 2:53 showing on the third quarter clock.
Almont generated their winning 42-point output aided by a Michael Lulgjuraj three-yard touchdown run (followed by a successful extra point kick courtesy of Brandon Hunsaker); a Josh Hellebuyck to Colby Schapman 32-yard touchdown pass (followed by an accurate extra point boot from Hunsaker); a Jack Paupert seven-yard interception return for a touchdown (followed by a successful extra point kick courtesy of Hunsaker); a Mason Smith 54-yard touchdown run (followed by an accurate extra point boot from Hunsaker); a Jacob Castillo 61-yard touchdown run (followed by a successful extra point kick courtesy of Hunsaker); and a Nolan Panduren fumble return for a touchdown (followed by an accurate extra point boot from Hunsaker).
For the night, Hellebuyck completed five of 10 pass plays for 85 yards as Almont’s quarterback. He threw two interceptions along the way.
His successful tosses were distributed to three different targets. Jackson Malcolm (two catches for 41 yards), Paupert (two receptions for 12 yards) and Schapman (one catch for 32 yards) formed that group.
The Almont ground attack added 238 yards on 24 totes.
Individually, Castillo (seven rushes for 93 yards) and Smith (82 yards on nine totes) notched Almont’s top credentials. They were backed by Paupert (six rushes for 53 yards) and Lulgjuraj (10 yards on two totes).
Lucas DeLaurier (three solos and three assists), Blake Kapron (one solo and five assists), Paupert (three solos and one assist) and Panduren (two solos and two assists) supplied Almont’s best tackle outputs.
The Almont defense also registered a pair of takeaways. Paupert (an interception) and Panduren (a fumble recovery) furnished those.
Almont returns to action this Friday when it entertains Blue Water Area Conference rival Armada. That matchup 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.
