IMLAY CITY — The Imlay City varsity football team absorbed a 52-12 road loss to Cros-Lex in a Blue Water Area Conference clash last Friday night.
It was the season-opener for both combatants.
“We played a great game in the first half,” Imlay City Coach Brian Tresnak said. “Turnovers and mental mistakes cost us in the second half,” he noted.
Dakota Sandzik, of Imlay City, looks to pick up a first down during Friday’s game at Cros-Lex. Photo by Rod Soule
In Friday’s clash, Imlay City jumped out a 6-0 advantage after one quarter was over with.
Quarter two saw Cros-Lex bounce back with a 14-6 edge, good for a 14-12 halftime lead.
When the action resumed, Cros-Lex seized command with a 22-0 third quarter advantage. That left the Pioneers holding a 36-12 cushion.
Cros-Lex then outscored Imlay City 16-0 the rest of the way, putting the finishing touches on a 52-12 win.
Imlay City generated their 12-point output thanks to a Lance Wolford three-yard touchdown run and a Cristian Rojas nine-yard touchdown run.
For the night, Jack Kaplan completed three of six pass plays for 35 yards as Imlay City’s quarterback. He threw zero interceptions en route.
Dakota Sandzik (two catches for 19 yards) and Chris Cezik (one reception for 16 yards) hauled in his tosses.
The Imlay City ground attack managed 200 yards on 45 totes.
Individually, Cristian Rojas (13 rushes for 71 yards), Wolford (38 yards on 10 totes) and Brady Vanderploeg (two rushes for 32 yards) paced Imlay City. The remaining 20 Spartan totes netted a combined 59-yard gain.
Wyatt Luther (three solos and nine assists) and Wolford (three solos and seven assists) notched Imlay City’s highest tackle outputs. They were backed by Anthony D’Ambrosio (three solos and three assists), Dakota Sandzik (two solos and four assists), Vanderploeg (six assists) and Julian Rojas (one solo and four assists).
Imlay City will look to bounce back this Friday when it travels to Algonac for a Blue Water Area Conference game. That battle is slated to get underway 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.
