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Experience, deep receiving group have Wildcats aiming for more wins in 2021

Courtesy Photo Alpena’s varsity football team includes from left to right: front row: Logan Momrik, Everett Zann, Ryan Voltz, Kayden Budnick, Jake Zann, Brady Pagels, Mason Mumford, Luke Young, Nic Geister and Jason Smolinski; second row: Sam Cook, Ryan Ritter, Wesly Elliot, Zack McDonald, Derred Weitting, John Short, Gunner Spencer, Cameron Stevens, Mason Villareal, and Reggie Rambus; third row: Colt Gray, Carson Frisch, Tristian Pilarski, Zack Kunath, Ethan Johnson, Joe Blewett, Christian Wicklund, Brady Niedzwiecki, Andrew Dargis and Colin Hansen; back row: manager Sawyer Haugerud, assistant coach Andrew Wolfgang, head coach Eric Mitchell, assistant coach Steve Zann, assistant coach Rick Voltz and manager Mya Bellanger.

ALPENA — It’s up to us.

That’s the mantra the Alpena football team is taking as it looks to change its fortunes in 2021.

The Wildcats have experience, talent and hunger, but finding success this season will hinge on whether or not Alpena can put those pieces together on Friday nights.

“After our scrimmage I think all of us understand, it’s up to us. We have the ability and it comes down to how hard we want to work and how hard we want to play,” Alpena coach Eric Mitchell said. “I think we’ll be a better team. We have a great group of guys that gel well together. That was part of our battle last year, but this year they’re all after it. They’re all hungry.”

On offense, the Wildcats return an experienced offensive line and arguably one of the deepest groups of receivers they’ve had in years. The Wildcats are hoping that’s a sign of good things to come after scoring just 40 points last year.

An experienced line and athletic playmakers should help whoever steps under center at quarterback. For now, that race is down to sophomore Jake Zann and junior Brady Pagels.

On the line, all five starters are seniors and Mitchell said their leadership and communication skills have been invaluable. Logan Momrik will anchor the line at center, Reggie Rambus and Ryan Ritter will line up at the guard spots and Everett Zann and Ethan Johnson will bookend the line at the tackle spots.

“They’re smart kids, they talk, which is huge,” Mitchell said. “These guys can echo calls throughout the line and that’s already played a huge role this year in how well we’ve been able to block and just the success of our run game.”

Out wide, Alpena’s receiving corps should help keep opposing defenses off balance and has plenty of playmaking ability.

Senior Mason Mumford returns after being named an all-Big North Conference second team selection and catching 18 passes for 355 yards and two scores. He’ll be joined by senior Luke Young and junior Brady Niedzwiecki among others. Senior Christian Wicklund and junior Colt Gray could provide two more big targets at tight end.

Zann or Pagels could also join that group and Ryan Voltz, Alpena’s quarterback the last two seasons, is returning from off-season surgery and will figure into the Wildcats’ offensive game plan too.

“Without a doubt, probably one of the deepest. We’ve got five guys that can really go up and catch the ball and not one of them is under six feet; that’s huge for us,” Mitchell said. “We’re going to find a good matchup somewhere.”

In the backfield, seniors Kayden Budnick and Jason Smolinski return and junior Nic Geister could be among several other players to see carries. Budnick led Alpena last season with 377 rushing yards and a touchdown and Smolinski added 59 yards.

Mitchell said Alpena will have defense by committee, but should have an experienced defensive line and returns Budnick and Zann, who were both standouts at linebacker in 2020.

Alpena’s schedule remains challenging with an annual slate of tough Big North Conference games on tap, as well as non-conference matchups with Marquette, St. Johns, Escanaba and Cheboygan.

Alpena finished 0-7 last season and had a quick exit from the postseason. On the flip side, many teams, including two Big North schools went on lengthy playoff runs, extending their season into January.

That extra time on the field gave some teams momentum heading into this season and Mitchell knows his team will need to work hard and compete to give itself a chance to win.

“Both Traverse City (schools) are going to be good like always. If you look at how Central’s season ended, they’re going to look to continue,” Mitchell said. “Cadillac’s another team that made it all the way to the finals.”

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