ALMONT — The Almont varsity football team kicked off their 2022 campaign with a 35-24 road triumph against non-league counterpart Marysville last Thursday night.
“It was a nice way to start the season against a tough opponent,” Almont Coach James Leusby commented. “We had a slow start but our middle two quarters were really solid and allowed us to pull away,” he noted.
“We have another non-conference game this week so we have another week of preparing for an unfamiliar opponent.”
In Thursday’s battle, Almont and Marysville ended the opening quarter with zero points each.
The Almont football team celebrates a fumble recovery for a touchdown by Cody Koval (#84) in last Friday’s season-opening 35-24 triumph against Marysville.
Quarter two saw Almont collect seven points and Marysville manage six.
When the action resumed, Almont started to pull away. Aided by a 21-0 third quarter advantage, the Raiders padded their cushion to 28-6 with 36 minutes elapsed.
Almont then withstood a 18-7 fourth quarter rally, leaving the field with a 35-24 win.
The victorious Almont side amassed their 35-point total aided by a Chase Battani one-yard touchdown run (followed by an accurate extra point boot from Sean O’Neil); a Bryce Ferman 27-yard touchdown run (followed by a successful extra point kick courtesy of O’Neil); a Battani one-yard run (followed by a PAT tote Matthew Measel); a Cody Koval one-yard fumble return for a touchdown; and a 44-yard touchdown run by Battani (followed by a kick by O’Neil).
For the evening, Trenton Kruse completed two of three pass plays for 46 yards as Almont’s quarterback. He threw no interceptions along the way.
Connor Nascivera had both Almont receptions.
The Almont ground attack managed 239 yards on 28 totes.
Battani (seven rushes for 87 yards) Measel, (78 yards on nine totes) and Ferman (seven rushes for 61 yards) put up Almont’s best numbers. The remaining five Raider totes netted a combined 13-yard gain.
Ayden Ferqueron (four solos and 11 assists) and Tyler Filinger (one solo and 14 assists) logged Almont’s highest tackle outputs. Josh Mroz (three solos and four assists), Koval (seven assists), Ferman (one solo and five assists), Antonio Nedelkovski (five assists) and Fuller (two solos and two assists) made their whereabouts known as well.
The Almont defense also registered three takeaways. Caydon Nascivera and Koval (a recovery each) plus Measel (an interception) furnished those.
Almont returns to action this Thursday when it entertains Lutheran North. The non-league clash lists a 7 p.m. starting time.
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.
