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ALPENA -- Alpena High is ready to play some old-school football this week.
One week after getting outmuscled and banged up against Gaylord, the Wildcats (1-5) are licking some wounds, but hoping to turn the tables tonight when they play Flint Powers Catholic.
"This week with a full week (to prepare) and knowing (some players are) out, we've got some other things planned," Alpena coach Eric Mitchell said. "We're going to see a return to, let's just say, some smashmouth football."
Powers (2-4) matches up with Alpena for the first time since 1973. The two teams played annually from 1970-1973 with Powers winning the first three games. Alpena won the last meeting, 15-0, on Oct. 12, 1973.
The Wildcats will face the Chargers at historic Atwood Stadium, a venue which opened in 1929 and has hosted countless football games, minor baseball games, and even presidential speeches.
"It's been 49, 50 years since we've played," Mitchell said. "For us, I think we're excited to get to play at Atwood Stadium, a historic stadium that I know none of them have been to."
Alpena tried to hang with Gaylord last week, but injuries eventually allowed the Blue Devils to pull away. This week Mitchell expects his team to play another physical game, one where the Wildcats need to win the battles on both sides of the line and fight for every yard.
"I don't think there's a team on our schedule that's going to be as physical as Gaylord was," Mitchell said. "For us, that's a big point of emphasis this week is, let's return to a physical game. We know that we got out-physicaled last week and we don't want it to happen again."
Injuries to several starters has created opportunities for other players to get playing time, and both Alpena's varsity and JV squads spent time practicing together this week, a well-received move, Mitchell said.
"It's been fun to watch these guys realize they have a chance to get on the field and make the most of it," Mitchell said.
Powers has just two wins to its credit this season, but the Chargers have run into buzzsaws the last two weeks against Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and Detroit Country Day.
Knowing that, the Wildcats aren't looking past the Chargers -- who have won big in both of their victories this season -- and have plenty of capable, speedy playmakers to make things happen.
"We know that (they're good)," Mitchell said. "They played Detroit Country Day last week and lost, but looked ok at times...they do a lot of things that we've seen. They use motion to deceive us, I don't think running between the tackles they're great at, but they know how to get outside and make it hurt."