News Photo by Leslianne Johns Alpena Wildcats quarterback Andrew Szymoniak trots into the end zone for a touchdown during the Wildcats’ 41-0 victory over the Sault Area Blue Devils on Friday. The win came during homecoming in Alpena.

By: LESLIANNE JOHNS

Special to The News

ALPENA — The Alpena Wildcats football team gave their fans something to celebrate on homecoming night, earning their first win in 21 games with a dominant 41-0 shutout over Sault Ste. Marie.

From the opening drive, Alpena’s offense looked sharp and in control. Junior quarterback Andrew Szymoniak led the charge with an outstanding performance, running for 216 yards and four touchdowns. His strong night included two long scoring runs from 54 and 52 yards, which helped set the tone early and keep the Wildcats in command.

Szymoniak opened the scoring late in the first quarter on a short five-yard run, giving Alpena a 7-0 advantage. Early in the second, he found the end zone again from seven yards out to double the lead. Moments later, Alpena pulled off a reverse play that saw senior Brady Chapman, this year’s homecoming king, sprint 33 yards for another touchdown. Szymoniak added one more long run before halftime to push Alpena ahead 27-0 at the break.

The Wildcats didn’t slow down after halftime. On the second play of the third quarter, Szymoniak broke free for another 52-yard touchdown. Later in the quarter, senior Aidan Aube punched in a short run from three yards out to close out the scoring and give Alpena its largest win in nearly two decades.

Alpena’s defense controlled the game from start to finish, limiting the Blue Devils’ offense and forcing several stalled drives. The win marked the team’s first shutout since 2007 and ended both a 21-game overall losing streak and a 20-game Big North Conference skid.

The Wildcats (1-6, 1-4 BNC) will look to carry that momentum into their next matchup as they host Escanaba for Senior Night on Friday at 7 p.m.