Courtesy Photo The 2023 Alpena High School football team includes John Kurowski, Braeden Schaedig, Joe Schuh, Jake Zann, Carlos Calzadilla, Kaleb Donajkowski, Carter Stark, Brady Chapman, John Eaton, Cole Herman, Nathan Southard, Gabriel Ratz, Hunter Cohoon, Elyja Chism, Owen Kocan, Joe Sheridan, Easton Srebnik, Jack Krawczak, Eric Eades, Mikai Maychen, Alex Corwin, Vince MacArthur, Brady Carlson, Trenton Stephenson, Austin Poirer, Chris Wherry, Owen Barnhardt and Oliver Duthler.

ALPENA — After a brutal and heartbreaking loss last Friday, the Alpena High School Wildcats (1-7, 0-6 Big North Conference) are looking for one final chance to redeem themselves before the season ends.

The Wildcats will take on the St. Johns Redwings (3-5, 2-3 Capital Area Activities Conference-Red Division) at Park Family Field at 7 p.m. tonight.

Entering the season’s final game, Alpena will celebrate its senior football players for senior night, honoring each player’s high school football career.

“We have a handful of seniors that have been on the team since their sophomore years, but we also have another 18 seniors that will be dearly missed,” Alpena coach Eric Mitchell said. “These senior kids set the example and come ready to work every day, which I’ve appreciated over the years. Although this is sentimental and important for all of these kids, setting the feelings aside and going out and executing on the field is our number-one priority.”

Despite the senior celebration, Alpena will have to take on an opponent the Wildcats haven’t beaten in its last three matchups.

Over the past three years, the Redwings have won by final scores of 44-14, 41-7, and 14-6.

After letting up 44 points on defense in the game last season, Alpena’s number-one goal tonight is again limiting the big plays and stopping the run.

St. Johns typically pounds the rock, so stuffing the gaps and winning at the line of scrimmage will be essential for the Wildcats.

“Once our defense settled down last week, we were super efficient and played some of the best defense we’ve played all year,” Mitchell said. “This week, it’d be nice not to have to settle in but to immediately get a couple of stops to give our offense a chance to take the early momentum.”

Alpena’s most significant problem comes on offense, being unable to capitalize in the red zone.

Two red zone fumbles at the one- and 11-yard lines decided the game last week, so coming away with points on successful drives will be the Wildcats’ focus offensively.

“As always, we practiced our red zone attack this week in practice, but we really have stressed the importance of ball security,” Mitchell said. “Our lack of concentration and ability to hold on to the ball hurt us last week, so, hopefully, our hard work can translate on the field.”

Even though Alpena suffers from a seven-game losing streak this season, the Redwings are also struggling after dropping its last three games, all by double-digit losses.

“We have to want it more,” Mitchell said. “Our message going into this game is to play as hard as possible and end the season on one last win.”