Alpena struggled to gain momentum, as their first-down efforts were thwarted. Zach Orban’s pass was incomplete, leading to another fourth down.

Despite the rough start, Wildcats player Thorin Rogers remained determined.

“We may be down and my teammates’ morale is low, but the love for the game is how I’m able to keep going,” Rogers said. “It’s like a burning fire, a passion, something I can look forward to no matter the outcome. My teammates and the love they give me no matter what happens is what fuels me to keep pushing.”

Marquette continued to press their advantage with a second touchdown and extra point, increasing their lead to 23-0 with just under five minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Courtesy Photo Eric Eades tackles a player from Marquette in this photo courtesy of Larry Johns.

The second quarter saw Marquette add another touchdown and extra point, bringing the score to 36-0. By halftime, the score was 44-0.

Alpena coach Matt Simion acknowledged the challenge his team faced, noting, “At halftime, Alpena was trailing significantly. The team played spectacular in the second half. There were no hanging heads, and there were more chances where we could make a touchdown.”

“It’s been a tough start to our season,” Rogers said. “It’s definitely not what we expected, especially with new coaches and young players, but sometimes you have to take the good with the bad. No matter the emotion, you gotta keep your family–your team–up, and that makes us strong and able to come back next week and put as much as we can into our game.”

Marquette continued to dominate in the second half, ultimately concluding the game with a final score of 51-0.

Despite the loss, Wildcats remain hopeful as they aim to regroup for their next matchup against Zeeland East on Friday at 7 p.m.

News Photo by Leslianne Johns Colt Walters runs with the ball during Friday night’s game in Alpena against Marquette. The Wildcats lost 51-0.