News File Photo Alpena HIgh School’s Brady Chapman carries the ball during the Wildcats’ 71-6 loss to Petoskey at Wildcat Stadium in Alpena.

ALPENA — The Alpena High School Wildcats varsity football faced another problematic night in its third home game of the season, suffering a tough 71-6 loss to the Petoskey Northmen on Friday.

It was the first time so far this season that the team scored any points.

Despite the result, Coach Matt Simion said he remains optimistic, calling the team’s first touchdown a breakthrough moment that could lead to future success.

Brady Chapman’s touchdown came with 7:28 left in the second quarter, finally getting the Wildcats on the board after struggling in the team’s first two home games. While the subsequent extra point attempt was no good, the score brought a much-needed lift to the team’s spirits.

Simion expressed his optimism that this could be a turning point for the season.

“It’s going to open up the floodgates,” Simion said. “The offense has been clicking for a while. We just come up an inch short here and there, and I think this one’s going to be the one that opens things up.”

Alpena’s offense struggled to find its rhythm against a dominant Petoskey defense featuring multiple Division I prospects.

Petoskey’s defense put consistent pressure on Alpena’s young team, making it difficult for the Wildcats to gain momentum.

Alpena did have some bright spots, including an interception by Alex Winfield in the first quarter and a quarterback sack by Logan Chapman.

“They’ve got a great bunch of kids,” Simion said of Petoskey. “Especially with a young team like ours, it’s going to be rough, but I thought our kids did an excellent job of stepping up to the occasion.”

The first quarter saw Petoskey quickly establish dominance, scoring three touchdowns to build a 28-0 lead. Seth Marek had a standout moment with a touchdown reception, followed by a successful two-point conversion, further extending the Northmen lead.

By the second quarter, Petoskey continued to widen the gap.

Orbin Saltis added another touchdown, and, with another successful two-point conversion, the score reached 36-0.

However, Alpena responded when Chapman found the endzone, putting the Wildcats on the board. With the extra point missed, the score sat at 36-6.

Petoskey quickly answered with another touchdown and extra point, closing the half with a 43-6 lead.

Petoskey’s dominance continued in the third quarter as the Northmen added another four touchdowns, bringing the final score to 71-6.

Alpena’s defense had difficulty containing Petoskey’s relentless offense, and, despite individual efforts, the game was out of reach by the second half.

Despite the final score, Simion emphasized that the team focuses on constant improvement.

“We’re just going with the same attitude,” the coach said. “We get better every day, every practice, every minute of every practice. Good things are going to start happening. Like I said, six points on the board today will start opening the floodgates.”

Looking forward, the Wildcats will focus on refining their offense and defense as they navigate a challenging season. The team will aim to build on the momentum from Chapman’s touchdown and achieve consistency in future matchups.

Alpena plays Gaylord on Friday for the Wildcats’ homecoming game.