IMLAY CITY — Imlay City dropped a 31-6 verdict to host Yale in a Blue Water Area Conference varsity football game last Friday night.
Jacob Burgess, of Imlay City, hauls in a catch during his team’s clash with Yale last Friday night. Photo by Rod Soule
With the outcome, Yale raises their mark to 2-5 and 1-5. Imlay City watches their record fall to 1-6 and 1-5.
“Offensively we need to find a way to sustain drives,” Imlay City Coach Brian Tresnak said. “We had too many three and outs, dropped passes and fumbles tonight,” he noted,
“Defensively we had too many costly mistakes on third down.”
In Friday’s game, Imlay City spotted Yale a 14-6 edge after one quarter was over with.
Yale then outscored Imlay City 10-0 during quarter number two, widening the gap to 24-6 at the half.
The third quarter would see Yale pick up where it left off. Thanks to a 7-0 advantage there, the Bulldogs pushed their cushion to 31-6.
That was followed by a scoreless fourth quarter, leaving Yale with a win to celebrate at night’s end.
Imlay City generated their six-point output aided by a Julian Rojas eight-yard touchdown run.
On the night, Jacob Burgess completed five of 14 pass plays for 45 yards as Imlay City’s quarterback. He threw zero interceptions along the way.
Lance Wolford was the other Imlay City player who opted to air out the football. His lone attempt went for a 17-yard completion.
Imlay City’s successful tosses went to four different targets. Their ranks consisted of Julia Rojas (two receptions for 24 yards), Burgess (one catch for 17 yards), Brady Vanderploeg (one reception for 12 yards), Kade Vanderploeg (one catch for six yards) and Cristian Rojas (one catch for three yards).
The Imlay City ground attack added 88 yards on 16 totes.
Julian Rojas (eight rushes for 62 yards) and Travis Dupont (21 yards on one tote) put up Imlay City’s best numbers. The remaining seven Spartan rushes netted a combined five-yard gain.
Wolford (five solos and 10 assists) and Xander Nolin (seven solos and four assists) paced Imlay City’s defense. Dillan Landerschier (three solos and five assists), Brady Vanderploeg (two solos and five assists), Julian Rojas (three solos and four assists) plus Cristian Rojas and Hunter Hill (two solos and four assists each) supported their performances.
Imlay City will look to bounce back this Friday when it travels to North Branch. The Blue Water Area Conference 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.
