ALMONT — The fourth-rated Almont Raiders will look to keep their successful playoff run going this Friday when it entertains Detroit Edison in a Division 6, Region 4, District 1 regional championship clash. That matchup lists a 7 p.m. starting time.
Detroit Edison, which took second place in the Charter School Conference Gold Division, enters the upcoming battle fresh off a 32-6 road win against Ecorse.
Before that, Detroit Edison emerged victorious in seven of 10 games. That run featured a 38-6 non-league win against Detroit Central at home; a 32-14 non-conference victory at Detroit Southeastern; a 42-9 non-league triumph at Whitmore Lake; a 44-12 win at Harper Woods Chandler Park; a 44-16 road loss to league foe Warren Michigan Collegiate; a 34-32 defeat versus conference counterpart Detroit Voyageur Prep; a 44-34 win against league adversary Romulus Summit Academy North; a 46-6 victory over conference rival Detroit Leadership Academy at home; a 51-0 non-league setback to visiting Notre Dame Prep; and a 22-0 opening round playoff triumph against Detroit Old Redford.
Almont, the Blue Water Area Conference Champion, is coming off a 40-38 overtime win against top-ranked Warren Michigan Collegiate.
Before that, Almont had triumphed in nine of 10 gridiron confrontations. That stretch included a 39-0 win against visiting non-league counterpart Marysville; a 49-0 road victory over league adversary Algonac; a 58-0 triumph against visiting conference rival Imlay City; a 29-22 road win over league foe North Branch; a 13-12 victory over visiting conference counterpart Armada; a 30-20 triumph over visiting conference adversary Cros-Lex; a 42-7 road win against league rival Richmond; a 47-19 road victory over conference foe Yale; a 21-7 loss to non-league adversary West Branch Ogemaw Heights; and a 35-8 opening round triumph against Clintondale.
Leusby knows all too well that his ballclub must come prepared for their upcoming battle or their season could be over with.
“We will need to reset and our focus and match the physicality of the Detroit Edison team, Leusby stated. “They have improved with each game,” he noted.
Leusby pegs Chase Davedowski (quarterback), Brent Corneau (tight end), Cole Walton (split end), Matthew Bacholzky (running back), Chase Battani (running back), Jacob Fuller (running back), Luke Winkler (running back), Isaiah Bankston (line), Dylan Taylor (line), Gavin Szymanski (line) and Noah Campbell as his probable offensive starters.
He lists Corneau (line), Gordon Stolecki (line), Liam Szymanski (line), Josh Figurski (line), Lucas Mantini (defensive back), Bacholzky (defensive back), Winkler (defensive back), Cohen Ferqueron (linebacker), Ayden Ferqueron (linebacker), Battani (linebacker), Fuller (linebacker) as his likely starting group.
The victor of Friday’s game will meet the survivor of a confrontation between Ovid-Elsie (7-4) and Constantine (10-1).
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.
