ALMONT — Almont (6-4) will look to continue their postseason path a bit longer when it collides with Warren Michigan Collegiate (8-2) in a Division 6, Region 4, District 1 football championship confrontation this Friday.
The battle, which is scheduled for 7 p.m., unfolds at Madison Heights Bishop Foley High School.
Warren Michigan Collegiate, the Charter School East Conference champions, head into the clash fresh off a 28-8 win Saturday against visiting Clintondale.
Before that, Warren Michigan Collegiate rattled off wins in seven of nine contests. That stretch included a 29-22 loss to visiting non-league foe Milan; a 48-6 victory over visiting non-league counterpart Detroit Voyageur College Prep; a 58-0 road triumph against league adversary Pontiac Arts and Technology; a forfeit win over league rival Mount Clemens; a 28-6 victory against visiting league foe Detroit Edison; a 41-14 setback to visiting non-league counterpart Detroit Country Day; a forfeit triumph against league adversary Chandler Park; a 22-0 road win over non-league rival Romulus Summit Academy; and a 46-13 victory against Port Huron High at home.
Almont, which tied Armada and North Branch for second in the Blue Water Area Conference, enters the fray coming off a 35-0 road win at the expense of Clawson.
The Almont cheerleaders cheer on the Raiders to a Division 6 playoff win last Friday in Clawson.
Prior to that matchup, Almont prevailed in five of nine clashes. That run saw them drop a 25-0 road verdict to non-league foe Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central; obtain a 43-7 road victory over league counterpart Yale; register a 39-0 triumph against conference rival Imlay City at home; notch a 40-0 road win over league adversary Algonac; fall 20-14 in overtime to conference foe North Branch on the road; drop a 41-7 outcome to league counterpart Cros-Lex at home; prevail 14-7 over visiting conference rival Armada; secure a 39-29 road victory over league foe Richmond; and absorb a 51-28 loss to non-league adversary Goodrich at home.
Almont Coach James Leusby is well aware his team’s upcoming test will not be an easy one.
“Warren Michigan Collegiate is a well-coached team with lots of size and speed,” Leusby commented. “They have played a tough schedule like us,” he noted.
“We hopefully will have a great week of practice and get a little healthier. It should be a great game to come out and watch.”
Leusby lists Brock Conger (quarterback), Yousif Abu-Joudeh (center), Mason Smith (runningback), Matthew Measel (runningback), Blake Bunch (runningback), Brandon Hunsaker (guard), Luke McIntosh (guard), Gavin Peak (tackle), Will Kalmar (tackle), Haden Lacavera (end) and Connor Nascivera (end) as his probable offensive starters.
Antonio Nedelkovski (line), Joe Abromovitch (line), Ayden Ferqueron (line), Isaiah Bankston (line), Tyler Filinger (linebacker), Bryce Ferman (linebacker), Bunch (linebacker), Jacob Fuller (back), Smith (back) and Measel (back) are the likely defensive starting group.
The victor of the Almont versus Warren Michigan Collegiate matchup will play the winner between Ecorse (7-3) and Detroit Southeastern (7-3) the following week.
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.
