IMLAY CITY —Imlay City handed University Prep Math and Science a 40-6 setback in a non-league varsity football meeting last Saturday afternoon.
With the decision, Imlay City moves to 1-7 overall. University Prep Science and Math slips to 3-5.
Imlay City’s Brady Vanderploeg, who had three touchdowns, sheds a tackle in a game earlier this season.
In Saturday’s meeting, Imlay City jumped out to a 13-0 advantage after one quarter was done and widened the gap to 20-0 at the half.
When the action resumed, Imlay City picked up where it left off. Aided by a 7-0 third quarter edge, the Spartans increased their cushion 27-0 with 36 minutes gone.
Imlay City then outscored University Prep Science and Math 13-6 the rest of the way, finishing off a favorable 40-6 verdict.
The triumphant Imlay City side generated their 40-point total aided by a Julian Rojas 13-yard touchdown run (followed by a successful extra point kick courtesy of Andrew Cezik); a Brady Vanderploeg one-yard touchdown run; a Brady Vanderploeg six-yard touchdown run (followed by an accurate extra point boot from Cezik); a 10-yard touchdown run by Rojas (followed by a successful extra point kick courtesy of Cezik); a Cezik 14-yard touchdown run; and a one-yard run by Brady Vanderploeg (followed by an accurate extra point boot from Cezik).
For the night, Vanderploeg completed four of seven pass plays for 60 yards as Imlay City’s quarterback. He threw zero interceptions en route to those numbers.
His accurate tosses went to three different targets. Their ranks consisted of Kade Vanderploeg (two catches for 34 yards), Danny Newsom (one reception for 17 yards) and Anthony D’Ambrosio (one catch for nine yards).
The Imlay City ground attack managed 155 yards on 31 totes.
Rojas (seven rushes for 67 yards) and Brady Vanderploeg 60 yards on 16 totes) posted Imlay City’s top numbers. The remaining eight Spartan rushes netted a combined 28-yard gain.
Brady Redd (three solos and five assists) notched Imlay City’s highest tackle output. He was backed by Travis Dupont (three solos and two assists), Latham Perry (two solos and three assists) and Brady Vanderploeg (one solo and four assists).
The Imlay City defense also registered a pair of takeaways. Brady Vanderploeg and Newsom (one each) furnished those.
Imlay City returns to action this Friday when it entertains non-league foe Flint Southwestern Academy. That meeting, Imlay City’s season finale, 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.
