Zeeland East defeats Alpena Football 68-0 | News, Sports, Jobs

Zealand East started strong, scoring its first touchdown just 11:30 into the first quarter, and added another four minutes later to quickly take a 14-0 lead.

The Wildcats fought but couldn’t stop Zeeland East from reaching the end zone again, scoring its third touchdown just before the five minute mark, and the successful kick put Alpena up 21-0.

The Wildcats had a brief moment of hope when Zeeland East fumbled the ball and Aidan Aube recovered it without missing, but Zeeland East managed to bounce back and score yet another touchdown.

An illegal substitution penalty for having 12 players on the field, followed by unsportsmanlike conduct by one of Alpena’s key players, caused the Wildcats to lose their starting tackle early in the game, putting them at a further disadvantage.

News photo by Leslieanne Johns Sauryn Rogers attempts to block a Zeeland East player during Alpena’s 68-0 home loss on Friday night’s game.

Zeeland East continued its scoring streak, increasing its lead to 28-0 with just under two minutes left in the first quarter.

Zeeland East continued to show momentum in the second quarter, racking up points as the Wildcats struggled to find any rhythm offensively after leading 49-0 by halftime.

Zeeland East continued to dominate in the second half, expanding its lead to 68-0, but the highlight for Alpena came late in the third quarter when No. 33 blocked a Zeeland East kick to prevent an extra point, showcasing the Wildcats’ tenacity regardless of the circumstances.

In the final quarter, Zeeland East took a knee to end the game, making the final score 68-0.

The game was briefly halted late when a Zealand East player was injured and carried off the field on a stretcher, providing a reminder to both teams of the physical demands of football.

News photo by Leslieanne Johns The Alpena High School football team gathers before kickoff on Friday. The Wildcats faced Zeeland East and won in a dominant fashion, 68-0.

Reflecting on the loss, Alpena captain Eric Eades emphasized the need for the Wildcats to remain mentally tough in difficult situations.

“Moments like this are important because they get the fans, coaches and players excited and focused on the game again,” Eades said. “I think teams need to keep their pride up to take advantage of moments like this, even when they’re losing.”

He also mentioned that the team’s discipline and thin roster are challenges, saying, “It was tough with our starting tackle leaving early, our wide receiver out with an injury, and us not having the players to easily replace us. I intend to contribute to the team by playing my hardest every second I’m on the field.”

Despite the loss, Eades remains focused on improving for the next match.

“We have to be better for next week and address the issues. My message to the team is to be smart because the referee always sees the end of something but not necessarily the beginning,” he said.

The Wildcats will look to regroup and learn from this experience before heading to Cadillac on Friday.

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