ALMONT — Almont bolted out to a 41-0 halftime cushion and never looked back en route to a convincing 44-0 victory over Hamtramck in a non-league varsity football confrontation last Thursday night.
With the final, Almont improves its mark to 2-0 this season.
“It was a good night to get a lot of reps for our younger players,” Almont Coach James Leusby said. “They were able to get some much-needed experience and that will help us down the road,” he noted.
Cayden DuRall follows the block of Jacob Fuller on his way to a good-sized gain in Thursday’s contest at home versus Hamtramck.
“We really had a good crowd tonight and the student section and band really created a fun atmosphere for our first home game of the season. We will have to get back to work as we prepare for the beginning of our BWAC schedule this week.”
In Thursday’s confrontation, Almont jumped out to a 27-0 advantage after one quarter was done and widened the gap to 41-0 at the half.
When the action resumed, Almont struck with a 3-0 third quarter edge. That pushed their lead to 44-0.
That was followed by a scoreless fourth quarter.
Almont generated their winning 44-point output aided by a Bryce Ferman two-yard touchdown run; a Matthew Measel 24-yard touchdown run (followed by a successful extra point kick courtesy of Sean O’Neil); a Ferman 10-yard touchdown run (followed by an accurate extra point boot from O’Neil); a Trenton Kruse four-yard touchdown run (followed by a successful extra point kick courtesy of O’Neil); a Kruse to Connor Nascivera 12-yard touchdown pass (followed by an accurate extra point boot from O’Neil); a Caydon Nascivera to Connor Nascivera three-yard touchdown pass (followed by an O’Neil extra point kick); and an O’Neil 32-yard field goal.
For the night, Kruse (four of six for 68 yards) and Caydon Nascivera (two of three for 24 yards) took turns directing Almont’s offense attack from the quarterback position.
Measel (two catches for 47 yards), Cole Walton (two receptions for 30 yards) and Connor Nascivera (two catches for 15 yards) were on the receiving end of those successful tosses.
The Almont ground game managed 163 yards on 23 totes.
Individually, John Gjoka (two rushes for 60 yards) and Gio Marracco (40 yards on four totes) paced Almont. The remaining 17 Raider rushes netted a combined 63-yard gain.
Tyler Filinger (two solos and five assists) furnished the top Almont tackle outputs. He was backed by Ayden Ferqueron (two solos and three assists), Cody Koval (two solos and two assists) plus L. Siewert and C. Wood (four assists each).
The Almont defense also registered two takeaways that evening. Luke Winkler (an interception) and Koval (a fumble recovery) supplied those.
Almont returns to action this Friday when it travels to Imlay City for a BWAC game. That matchup 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.
