ALPENA, MI - The Alpena Football team sent their Senior Class out with a big win as the Wildcats upset playoff-bound Chelsea, 28-14, on Friday night at Wildcat Stadium.  Logan Guthrie finished the game with 85-yards rushing, which was good enough to set the new School Record for career rushing yards.  Guthrie's 10-yard rush late in the 3rd quarter was enough to break Austin Leeck's 2011 record.  Chelsea (6-3) quickly took the lead on a 19-yard Touchdown pass from Quinn Starkey to Hunter Neff.  Alpena responded with a 10-play scoring drive capped off by Jordan Schultz 2-yard rush.  The Wildcats would again find the end zone with 1:25 in the 2nd Quarter when Eric Troy busted a seven-yard Touchdown rush up the middle. The 14-7 halftime lead last just 13 seconds in the 3rd Quarter when the Bulldogs returned the opening kick-off for a game-tying Touchdown.  Just as the Bulldogs were slowly gaining momentum Eli Winter stepped in front of a Starkey pass and sped down the far sideline for a 30-yard pick six.  On the ensuing kick-off, the Wildcats recovered a perfectly executed Kayden Wisniewski onside kick.  The Wildcats were unable to take advantage of the field position and again momentum turned back to Chelsea.  Early in the 4th Quarter, Chelsea scored on what appeared to be the go-ahead Touchdown but a holding call brought it back.  On the next play Eric Troy knocked the ball loose from Chelsea's Parker Murphy.  The Wildcats put the game on ice with a long scoring drive that was capped off by an Eli Winter four-yard Touchdown rush.  Jordan Schultz led the offensive attack for Alpena with 150 yards on 24 carries and a Touchdown.  The Wildcats finish the 2018 season 3-6 overall and 0-5 in the BNC, with 2 of their 3 wins coming against MHSAA Playoff teams.

ALPENA, MI - The Alpena Football team's 4th Quarter rally fell short during a 23-21 Homecoming loss to Petoskey on Friday night.  Trailing 23-6 with under seven minutes to play, the Wildcats scored twice to make the game interesting and had the ball near midfield as time ran down.  A fourth-down pass play with under 1:00 to play sealed the Northmen's victory.  Petoskey took the early lead on a Kaleb Kinsvatter 30-yard field goal, his first of two on the day.  Alpena quickly responded on a 77-yard Logan Guthrie Touchdown run to put the Wildcats on top 6-3.  Petoskey would dominate the game from that point building a 23-6 lead thanks to Parker Arms and his 2 rushing touchdowns.  Alpena would begin their rally in the 4th on a 23-yard Touchdown run by Eric Troy and then recovered the ensuing pooch kick.  Guthrie scored for the second time on the night from a yard out to make it 23-21.  Alpena would force a Petoskey punt after a crucial 3rd down sack by Eli Winter.  Alpena would get to midfield before Petoskey forced a turnover on downs to end the Wildcat comeback.  Logan Guthrie had 144 rushing yards and a pair of touchdown runs for Alpena and is only 38 yards away from breaking the school record for career rushing yards.  The current record of 2,652 yards was set by Austin Leeck in 2011.  The Wildcats (2-6, 0-5 BNC) wrap-up the 2018 season on October 19 when they host Chelsea.

TRAVERSE CITY, MI - The Alpena Football team got off to a rough start in a 42-7 Big North Conference loss to Traverse City Central on Saturday afternoon at Thirlby Stadium.  The Trojans jumped out to a 28-0 lead early in the 2nd Quarter thanks to the passing and running of Quarterback Tobin Schwannecke.  Schwannecke finished the day two passing touchdowns, 189 rushing yards, and a rushing Touchdown.  Alpena’s touchdown came when Jordan Schultz punched the ball into the end zone from two yards out.  The Wildcats had just 96 yards of total offense, which included Logan Guthrie's 33 yards and Schultz's 50 yards.  On defense, the Wildcats got interceptions by Kody Bertrand and Haydn Goebel, as well as a fumble recovery by Kelly Stark.  Alpena (2-5, 0-4 BNC) will host Petoskey on Friday night at Wildcat Stadium for the annual Homecoming game.

ALPENA, MI - The Alpena Football team couldn't complete the comeback on Saturday afternoon and dropped a 26-21 decision to Ypsilanti at Wildcat Stadium.  After Kelley Stark recovered an Ypsilati fumble, the Wildcats opened the scoring on a six yard Touchdown from Logan Guthrie.  The Grizzlies quickly responded when Chris Taylor completed a 50-yard pass to Treyveon McGee to set them up inside the Alpena 5.  Jaden Beavier responded two plays later on a two-yard run.  Ypsilanti struck again in the 2nd Quarter when Taylor hit McGee on a 40-yard Touchdown pass to give the Grizzlie the 14-7 lead.  Ypsilanti would add on to the lead when Alonzo Hones-Hollie caught another Taylor Touchdown pass to give them the 20-7 halftime lead.  Ypsilanti would fumble their first play from scrimmage in the 2nd Half, setting up Alpena inside enemy territory.  A fourth and goal stand by the Ypsilanti defense kept the lead at 20-7.  The Wildcats would finally cut into the lead when Guthrie scored his 2nd Touchdown of the day, this time from the 1.  Ypsilanto pushed the lead back to two scores when Emerson Wilson scored a three-yard run to make it 26-14.  Alpena would get back to within one score when Nathan Slominski took the counter handoff for the four yard score.  After a strong defensive stand late in the 4th Quarter, the Wildcats found themselves with the ball and one timeout.  They would get to midfield before a 4th down fumble ended the comeback for Alpena.  Logan Guthrie rushed the ball 37 times for 180 yards while Quarterback Anakin Sims had 44 yards on ten carries.  Alpena (2-4, 0-3 BNC) will travel to Traverse City Central on Saturday, October 5 at 1pm.

ALPENA, MI - The Alpena Football team struggled to get going offensively in a 21-0 home loss to the Traverse City West Titans on Friday night at Wildcat Stadium.  Alpena started strong as they forced a Titan punt early in the opening quarter.  As Alpena was gaining momentum a botched handoff was picked up by Braden Rubinas and returned 32-yards for the Titan score.   The two teams battled evenly through much of the 1st half until a 4th down stop by the Titans gave them the ball near midfield.  The Titans drove the ball 57-yards and capped it off with a Sam DeKuiper run to take a 14-0 halftime lead.  The 2nd half again saw both teams evenly playing each other as the Wildcats defense kept the Titans off the scoreboard for most of the half.  However, the Alpena offense could not break through the Titan defense.  Traverse City West put the game out of reach when DeKuiper found Odin Soffredine for a touchdown to put the Titans up 21-0.  Logan Guthrie carried the ball 30 times for 138 yards and Jordan Schultz added 38 yards rushing.  The Titans held Alpena to just 187 yards of total offense.  The Wildcats (2-3, 0-3 BNC) host Ypsilanti on Saturday at Wildcat Stadium.  Ypsilanti is 1-4 on the season and is coming off of a 35-32 loss to Tecumseh on Friday.

CADILLAC, MI - The Alpena Wildcats took a 13-7 lead into the 4th quarter but fell to the Cadillac Vikings 14-13 on Friday night in Cadillac.  Things started well for Alpena when Cody Bertrand picked off a Viking pass on the game's third play and returned it to the Cadillac 15.  However, penalties and botched snaps quickly moved the ball backwards.  Cadillac took the early lead on a 24-yard run by Noah Cochrane on their second possession of the game.  Alpena responded on their next drive with a 5-yard Touchdown run by Bob Sheldon.  Alpena's defense held strong to keep the game tied at 7-7 entering the half as Cadillac threatened.  In their first possession of the 2nd half, Alpena got a huge 48-yard Touchdown run on 4th and inches by Sheldon but had the Extra Point blocked.  The 13-7 lead held until the 8:28 mark of the 4th when Tipp Baker scored from the 1-yard line.  Alpena drove into Cadillac territory before a holding call put Alpena in a long yardage situation.  Logan Guthrie was stopped short on 4th and 7 to turn the ball over on downs.  Alpena returned the favor by forcing a turnover on downs with only 0:38 to play.  A completed pass from Anakin Sims to Sheldon and a roughing the passer call moved the ball into Viking territory.  Baker picked off a Sims's pass with 0:10 left to secure the victory for Cadillac.  Alpena (2-2, 0-2 BNC) will return home on Friday, September 21 when they host Traverse City West (2-2, 1-0 BNC), who upset crosstown rival TC Central (21-14).

GAYLORD, MI - The Alpena Varsity Football team fell behind early and couldn't recover in Friday night's Big North Conference opener at Gaylord, 31-22.  Gaylord took the early lead when Ryan Stefanski ran in a 9-yard score to put the home team up 7-0.  Alpena capitalized on a big kickoff return by Logan Guthrie and got to within 1 on a Guthrie rushing Touchdown.  Gaylord added a 31-yard Field Goal by Cory Deer, another 9-yard rush by Stefanski, and a red zone pass from Stefanski to Miller to take a 24-6 lead at the Half.  Alpena roared back in the 3rd quarter with a score from Guthrie and Bob Sheldon to cut the lead to 24-22.  But another Stefanski 9-yard score put Gaylord up 31-22 in the 4th.  The Blue Devil defense stopped Alpena on two 4th downplays to ice the game.  Alpena was led by Logan Guthrie who had 18 carries for 110 yards and 2 Touchdowns, as well as 7 tackles.  Bob Sheldon added 91 yards and a score on the ground and Jordan Schultz had 74 yards.  Alpena (2-1, 0-1 BNC) travels to Cadillac next Friday night.

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI - The Wildcat Football team leaned on their defense to move to 2-0 for the first time since 2004 with a 12-6 victory over the Sault Area Blue Devils.  The defense forced three Blue Devil turnovers, one was an interception by Haydn Goebel in the Alpena end zone.  Logan Guthrie rushed 18 times for 133 yards and a 32-yard Touchdown run in the 1st half.  Jordan Schultz had 14 carries for 81 yards and the eventual game-deciding Touchdown in the 3rd quarter.  Kelley Stark had seven tackles, Kody Bertrand had an interception, and Zak Suszek recovered a fumble that was forced by Bertrand.  The Wildcats (2-0) open conference play on September 7 when they travel to Gaylord.

ALPENA, MI - The Alpena Varsity Football team opened the 2018 season with a 30-21 victory over Escanaba on Friday night. The Eskymos, coming off an appearance in the Division 4 Semi Finals a year ago, looked to be in control after a 7:00 late third quarter drive put them ahead 21-14. But a pair of Logan Guthrie Touchdowns helped Alpena (1-0) pull off the upset. Guthrie finished with 118 yards and three score while Jordan Schultz had 92 yards and a score. Eli Winter has two crucial interceptions on defense while Noah Cannon anchored the defensive line. Alpena will travel to Sault Ste Marie next Friday night to play the Blue Devils, who are also 1-0 after their 6-0 win over Cheboygan.