News Photo by Leslianne Johns Alpena's John Dargis goes up against a Gaylord player on Friday at Gaylord.

ALPENA — The Alpena Wildcats faced a tough challenge Friday night against the undefeated Gaylord Blue Devils, falling 41-0 on the road in a physical Big North Conference matchup.

From the opening drive, Gaylord set the tone with an 80-yard march down the field capped by a 13-yard touchdown run from Jaron Bensinger, establishing control early. Despite Alpena’s efforts to push through Gaylord’s defensive line, the Wildcats struggled to move the ball consistently and were met with strong tackles that halted momentum before drives could build.

Penalties were frequent throughout the game, disrupting rhythm for both sides. Alpena showed flashes of grit on defense, forcing a fumble and a punt in the first half, but could not capitalize on the opportunities and turned the ball over on downs three times before halftime. By the break, Gaylord had built a commanding 21-0 lead.

In the second half, Gaylord’s rushing attack took over completely. The Blue Devils piled up an astounding 321 rushing yards after halftime alone, wearing down Alpena’s defense with long, sustained drives. Kaven Cole led the way for Gaylord with 242 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while Bensinger added 79 yards and two scores.

For Alpena, junior Andrew Szymoniak stood out once again, battling through Gaylord’s stout defense to record 111 rushing yards on 18 carries, along with 70 passing yards and 15 receiving yards — totaling over 100 all-purpose yards despite constant defensive pressure.

Gaylord’s balanced ground attack and defensive strength proved too much for the Wildcats to overcome, extending Alpena’s record to 0-6 overall and 0-4 in the Big North Conference, while Gaylord improved to 6-0 (4-0 BNC).

The Wildcats will look to regroup and make the most of their next opportunity as they return home to face Sault Ste. Marie at 7 p.m. Friday for their homecoming game.