PETOSKEY, MI - Eli Winter converted a 4th and 4 with 1:36 left to play as Alpena earned a major Big North Conference victory over Petoskey, 18-15, on Friday night.  The win, the first over Petoskey since 2006, sets up a "win and get in" scenario next Friday night for a birth in the MHSAA Playoffs.

The first quarter time of possession was dominated by Alpena as the Northmen ran a total of 3 offensive plays.  The Wildcats took the opening kick and drove the ball down the field on a 7:28 drive.  An Eli Winter Field Goal was no good and Petoskey took over at their own 26.  After a three and out, Alpena took possession once and again drove the ball into Petoskey territory.  The Northmen defense again stood tall and forced a 4th and long that Alpena could not convert on.  The Northmen would get into scoring range after a big pass play on 3rd and long from Gabe Whitmore to Nate Eberly-Rodriquez.  Whitmore would cap off the drive with a 1-yard quarterback sneak with 3:42 to play in the first half.  Alpena would block a Northmen field goal late in the first half to get to the halftime locker room trailing 7-0.  

Petoskey would receive the opening kick-off of the 2nd half but could not move the ball after a strong defensive stand by Alpena.  On the first play for Alpena in the 2nd Half, Jordan Schultz took the handoff up the middle for a 78-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 7-6.  Jordan Schultz and Anthony Villeneuve would record back-to-back sacks for the Wildcat defense forcing a Petoskey punt deep in their own territory.  The Wildcats would move the ball into Petoskey territory and face a 4th and goal from the 15.  Ryan Voltz found a wide-open Eli Winter on the crossing pattern for the critical 4th down conversion as the Wildcats took a 12-6 lead.  The only turnover of the game would come on the next possession for Petoskey as Charlie Williams recovered the fumble, setting up the Wildcats near midfield as the 3rd quarter came to an end. 

Eli Winter ran a perfectly executed halfback pass as he found Kelley Stark for the 30-yard pass completion down to the Petoskey 3 yard line.  Winter would finish the drive from a yard out to give Alpena the 18-7 lead.  Petoskey would move the ball deep into the Alpena RedZone thanks to their running attack.  Facing a 4th and 5 from the Wildcat 9, Whitmore sprinted out to his right and found Jarrin Kelly wide open in the endzone to get the Northmen to within three at 18-15.  Alpena's running attack would begin to bleed the clock out as the Wildcats got the ball to the Petoskey 41 with 1:36 to play.  Alpena decided to go for it and Eli Winter took the handoff behind a crushing block by Jordan Schultz for the first down.  Alpena then got into victory formation and ran the clock out for the victory.

Alpena (4-4, 3-2 BNC) take on St Johns next Friday night in the final regular-season game of the year.  A win by Alpena would secure the team's first winning season and playoff birth since 2004.