IMLAY CITY — Imlay City wound up on the losing side of a 32-22 outcome to visiting Flint Southwestern in a non-league varsity football game last Friday night.
With the decision, Flint Southwestern ends the 2022 campaign at 2-7. Imlay City finishes at 1-8.
In Friday’s game, Imlay City and Flint Southwestern ended the first quarter with zero points each.
Imlay City’s Brady Vanderploeg looks to pick up a first down in Friday’s game.
Quarter two saw Flint Southwestern manage eight points and Imlay City generate six.
When the action resumed, Flint Southwestern established some much-needed breathing room. Aided by a 16-0 third quarter advantage, they were able to widen the gap to 24-6 with 36 minutes gone.
Quarter four saw Imlay City put together 16-8 rally, only to drop a 32-22 verdict.
Imlay City generated their 22-point output aided by an Andrew Cezik 10-yard touchdown run; a Brady Vanderploeg four-yard touchdown run (followed by a Brady Vanderploeg PAT tote); and a Brady Vanderploeg to Danny Newsom eight-yard touchdown pass (followed by a PAT tote by Brady Vanderploeg).
For the night, Brady Vanderploeg completed eight of 14 pass plays for 80 yards as Imlay City’s quarterback. He threw one interception along the way.
His successful tosses went to four different targets. Their ranks consisted of Newsom (three catches for 30 yards), Julian Rojas (two catches for 37 yards), Anthony D’Ambrosio (two catches for seven yards) and Kade Vanderploeg (one reception for six yards).
The Imlay City ground attack wound up with 189 yards on 36 totes.
Rojas (27 rushes for 127 yards) and Cezik (36 yards on five totes) supplied Imlay City’s top outputs. The remaining four Spartan rushes netted a combined 26-yard gain.
Latham Perry (four solos and seven assists), Kade Vanderploeg (two solos and six assists) and Brady Vanderploeg (seven assists) collected Imlay City’s top tackle totals. They were backed by Brady Redd (six assists), D’Ambrosio (three solos and two assists) and Joey Bieganoski (two solos and three assists)
The Imlay City defense also registered a pair of takeaways. Brady Redd and Jerry Zheng (a fumble recovery each) furnished those.
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.
