Brady Vanderploeg, of Imlay City, looks to intercept a pass during a game with Richmond last Thursday.
IMLAY CITY — The Imlay City varsity football team put up a good fight, only to drop a 28-20 verdict to visiting Blue Water Area Conference counterpart Richmond last Thursday night.
With the verdict, Richmond goes to 2-0 and 1-0. Imlay City falls to 0-2 and 0-1.
In Thursday’s clash, Imlay City and Richmond ended the initial quarter with zero points each.
The middle two quarters saw Richmond manage 21 total points and Imlay City generate six.
Imlay City then outscored Richmond 14-7 the rest of the way, only to drop a 28-20 verdict.
“We made huge strides this week,” Imlay City Coach Brian Tresnak said. “That was especially on defense,” he noted.
“We did a good job rallying to the ball and forcing turnovers. Offensively, we played well in spurts but need to do a better job getting a push up front and sustaining drives.”
The hosts amassed their 20-point total thanks to an Aaron Evely one-yard touchdown run; a Xander Nolin fumble recovery in the endzone for a touchdown; and a Cristian Rojas two-yard touchdown run (followed by a Julian Rojas PAT tote).
Jacob Burgess completed eight of 15 pass plays for 81 yards as Imlay City’s quarterback. He threw zero interceptions along the way.
Julian Rojas had all of Imlay City’s receptions.
The Imlay City rushing attack wound up with 127 yards on 46 totes.
Individually, Cristian Rojas (19 rushes for 57 yards), Evely (52 yards on nine totes) and Julian Rojas (10 rushes for 35 yards) supplied Imlay City’s best numbers. The remaining eight Spartan rushes netted a combined -17 yard gain.
Lance Wolford (three solos and 12 assists), Dillan Landerschier (two solos and five assists), Brady Redd (one solo and six assists), Cristian Rojas (two solos and four assists), Travis Dupont and Nolin (one solo and five assists each) plus Jordan West (five assists) had furnished the highest Imlay City tackle totals.
The Imlay City defense also registered six takeaways. Danny Newsom and Wolford (an interception apiece) plus Brady Vanderploeg, Cristian Rojas, Nolin and Evely (a fumble recovery each) provided those.
Imlay City returns to action this Friday when they travel to Almont for a Blue Water Area Conference game. That matchup is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Kevin Kissane
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.
