Almont overpowers Ovid-Elsie, 45-21
ALMONT — The Almont football team, listed tied for fourth with Kingsley among Division 6 squads, took one step closer to claiming a possible state title, accomplishing the feat with a 45-21 triumph against unranked Ovid-Elsie in a semifinal contest last Saturday afternoon.
Almont’s Ayden Ferqueron looks to avoid an Ovid-Elsie defender in Saturday’s contest.
Grand Blanc High School is where the action unfolded.
With the decision, Almont (12-1) advances to this Saturday’s Division 6 title game at Ford Field where Kingsley (11-2) provides their opposition. That matchup lists a 4:30 p.m. starting time. Ovid-Elsie watches an 8-5 campaign draw to a close.
“We couldn’t have had a better start scoring on the first play,” Almont Coach James Leusby commented. The coaching staff made good adjustments throughout the game and the players executed them perfectly,” he noted.
“It was great to see such a great turnout from the community. We truly felt we were at a home game. We hope to see everyone at Ford Field.”
In Saturday’s contest, Almont grabbed a 14-7 edge after one quarter was over with.
The second quarter of play would see Almont amass 21 points and Ovid-Elsie manage none, staking them to a 35-14 advantage at the half.
Quarter three saw Almont collect seven points as did Ovid-Elsie, giving them a 42-21 cushion with 36 minutes gone.
Almont then outscored Ovid-Elsie 3-0 the rest of the way, putting the finishing touches on a 45-21 win.
The victorious Almont side produced their 45-point total aided by a Chase Battani 61-yard touchdown run (followed by a successful extra point kick courtesy of Sean O’Neil); a Battani nine-yard touchdown run (followed by an accurate extra point boot from O’Neil); a 25-yard touchdown run by Luke Winkler (followed by a successful extra point kick courtesy of O’Neil); an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown by Winkler (followed by an accurate extra point boot from O’Neil); a Chase Davedowski to Matthew Bacholzky 40-yard touchdown pass (followed by a successful extra point kick courtesy of O’Neil); a one-yard touchdown run by Battani (followed by an accurate extra point boot from O’Neil); and a 28-yard field goal from O’Neil.
For the afternoon, Chase Davedowski completed one of one pass plays as Almont’s quarterback.
His successful toss went to Bacholzky.
The Almont ground attack once again got the job done, chewing up 316 yards of territory on 53 totes.
Individually, Battani (15 rushes for 123 yards) and Winkler (107 yards on nine totes) supplied Almont’s best totals. The remaining 29 Raider rushes netted a combined 86-yard gain.
Battani (three solos and 10 assists) and Cohen Ferqueron (one solo and eight assists) provided the top Almont tackle outputs. They were backed by Ayden Ferqueron (two solos and five assists), Bacholzky (five solos), Winkler (three solos) and Jacob Fuller (two solos and one assist).
The Almont defense also registered three takeaways en route to the triumph. Winkler (two interceptions) and Eli McConnell (a fumble recovery) furnished those.
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.
