Fall to Warren Collegiate in district finals
ALMONT — The Almont football team ended their season with a 44-14 loss to Warren Michigan Collegiate in a Division 6, Region 4, District 1 championship confrontation last Friday night.
Madison Heights Bishop Foley is where the action unfolded.
With the outcome, Warren Michigan Collegiate improves to 9-2 overall. Almont watches a 6-5 season reach an endpoint.
“We ran into a very physical and fast football team in Michigan Collegiate tonight,” Almont Coach James Leusby said. “I have a feeling that they will be making a deep run and could potentially make it to Ford Field,” he noted.
Almont’s Blake Bunch follows the block of Gavin Peake after taking a handoff from Brock Conger in Friday’s football game.
“Despite the result tonight, I am proud of our kids and especially our seniors that have done so much for us this year. We battled injuries and illness for much of the season, but still managed to tie for second in the BWAC and a won a playoff game. That was evidence of their hard work.”
Almont, which was making their 12th straight state playoff appearance and 15th over a 16-year stretch, spotted Warren Collegiate a 16-0 advantage after one quarter was over with.
Quarter two would see Warren Collegiate pad their cushion some. It was there they struck for 28 points and Almont managed six, leaving them up 44-6 at the halftime break.
That was followed by a scoreless third quarter of play.
Almont then bounced back with an 8-0 fourth quarter rally, only to drop a 44-14 verdict when the final score was added up.
In defeat, Almont side produced their 14-point total aided by a Brock Conger to Haden Lacavera two-yard touchdown pass and a Conger to Connor Nascivera 19-yard touchdown pass (followed by a PAT tote from Fillinger).
For the night, Conger completed eight of 13 pass plays for 120 yards as Almont’s quarterback. He threw four interceptions en route to those numbers.
His successful tosses were distributed to four different targets. Their ranks consisted of Matthew Measel (three catches for 23 yards), Nascivera (two receptions for 63 yards), Mason Smith (two catches for 32 yards) and Lacavera (one catch for two yards).
The Almont ground attack wound up with 42 yards on 16 totes.
Blake Bunch (six rushes for 25 yards) and Measel (12 yards on six totes) supplied Almont’s best outputs. The remaining four Raider rushes netted a combined six-yard gain.
Filinger (four solos and eight assists) and Brandon Hunsaker (10 assists) amassed Almont’s highest tackle totals. Smith (one solo and eight assists), Jake Rinke (one solo and six assists) and Bryce Ferman (four solos and two assists), made their presence felt as well.
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.
