Gaylord opened the scoring with an early touchdown and a successful field goal, quickly establishing momentum.

Gaylord’s defense forced a safety shortly after, adding to their lead. Three minutes later, Gaylord scored another touchdown. A dead-ball personal foul committed by Gaylord briefly halted their momentum but had no long-term impact on the game’s trajectory.

Gaylord added another touchdown and field goal, increasing their lead to 23-0. With just over a minute left in the first quarter, Gaylord found the end zone again, closing the quarter with a 30-0 lead.

Following the game, Alpena head coach Matt Simion acknowledged the team’s early struggles.

News Photo by Leslianne Johns Cole Herman (15) runs with the ball as Colt Walter (45) prepares to protect his teammate and block Gaylord’s team in Friday night’s game in Alpena. The homecoming game saw a loss for the Wildcats with a final score of 51-0.

“We just came out flat,” Simion commented when asked about the defense’s difficulties in containing Gaylord’s offense.

The second quarter mirrored the first, with Gaylord scoring a touchdown only a minute into the third quarter. A successful field goal extended their lead.

Gaylord capitalized on their offensive opportunities again, securing another touchdown followed by another field goal.

Gaylord continued to apply pressure, eventually scoring their final touchdown, bringing the score to 51-0 by the end of the contest.

Despite the lopsided score, Simion highlighted areas of growth throughout the season, both on and off the field.

News Photo by Leslianne Johns Alpena’s Brady Chapman catches the ball at the 10-yard line in Friday night’s homecoming game against Gaylord in Alpena. The Wildcats lost 51-0 to the Blue Devils.

“Team successes is that we’ve improved every day,” Simion noted.

He emphasized that while the game did not yield the desired outcome, the team had consistently progressed during the season.

“These young men keep getting complimented by members of the community, the staff, about their politeness and general social abilities,” he added.

Reflecting on the game and the upcoming match against Sault Ste. Marie, Simion emphasized the importance of executing the team’s plan effectively.

“We gotta execute our game plan,” he stated, looking ahead to future competitions.

Simion’s emphasis on preparation and progress has the team set to regroup and aim for a more competitive showing in their upcoming game at Sault Ste. Marie at 7 p.m. on Friday.