News File Photo Alpena running back Logan Guthrie (34) carries the ball while being pursued by Escanaba defenders Jared Nash (25) and Christer Carne (21) during a game at Wildcat Stadium in August. Guthrie is on the verge of breaking two program records tonight when the Wildcats host Chelsea and could set new records for career rushing yards and career scoring.

Since joining the Alpena High School varsity football team as a sophomore, Logan Guthrie has spent countless hours doing whatever he could to become a better football player and teammate.

Two years and more than two dozen games later, Guthrie’s hard work and dedication have paid off.

With one final game remaining for the Wildcat senior, Guthrie is on the verge of making history and has the opportunity to end his high school career on a historic note by breaking Alpena’s career rushing and career points records tonight against Chelsea at Wildcat Stadium.

“This goes to show that all of the hard work has been paying off. Out of all of this and being so close to these records, the most important thing I want is to get this last team win with all of my brothers,” Guthrie said. “The records would be good to hold on my back and it would be a good way for me to leave my mark at Alpena High School.”

Guthrie has made the most of his 26 varsity football games and is within striking distance of two noteworthy Alpena football records.

Guthrie has 2,615 rushing yards in his career and is just 38 yards away from breaking the career record set by Austin Leeck who finished his career with 2,652 rushing yards in 2010.

“Logan is a hard working kid and I think he’s definitely well deserving of the record and his accomplishments. He is the walking definition of hard work (paying) off,” Leeck said. “I’m okay with Logan breaking my record. He has busted his tail to reach the level he’s at and it clearly shows. After all, records are meant to be broken.”

If his career numbers are any indication, the 38 yards Guthrie needs to become Alpena’s new rushing king should come easy. During his career, Guthrie has averaged 101 rushing yards per game and averages 5.9 yards per carry. He has been a workhorse for three years, carrying the ball 447 times, scoring 28 total touchdowns and has never fumbled the football in his career.

Guthrie and Leeck’s career numbers are similar. Leeck played 27 varsity games over three years and toted the rock 474 times, averaging 5.6 yards per carry, 97 yards per contest and finished with a school record 34 total touchdowns.

“Austin was such a good player and I used to idolize him when I was younger. Again it goes to show that all of the hard work has been paying off and I’m just blessed to be mentioned along with some of the great players that have been here at Alpena High School,” Guthrie said. “Breaking the record, a lot of it goes to coach (Aaron) Sims. He puts me in a position to be successful and gives me the opportunity to have a chance at getting these yards with all of these carries and have a chance at breaking these records. Just being in the same category as all of these great players, it’s like a dream come true and I’m glad that I’ll be able to leave my mark here.”

Guthrie has been a perfect fit in Sims’ Wing-T offense since he took over Alpena’s football program in 2016. Sims values hard work and dedication and makes sure his athletes put in their time working during the season as well as the offseason.

Guthrie bought into Sims’ plan and has reaped the benefits.

“You couldn’t ask for anything more. When you talk about starting a program from scratch and building blocks, you get a guy like Logan and he’s a seven day a week guy in the weight room and eats it up. He’s definitely one of the hardest working guys in the room all of the time, he’s humble, he’s just always positive and working hard for the program,” Sims said. “He’s a great teammate and is quick to congratulate anybody on their success and you really can’t ask for much more than that. Good things happen to people that work hard and he has a couple of records that are within his reach and if we come out and do what we’re capable of doing, there’s no reason he can’t smash them.”

Along with the career rushing record, Guthrie could also become the program’s all-time scorer. He has 200 career points and appears poised to break Dave Kaiser’s mark of 211 set over four years. Kaiser’s mark has stood since 1952 and is the longest standing football record in the program.

Guthrie had three rushing touchdowns and a receiving score in 2016. During his junior season, he reached the end zone 10 times on the ground and twice through the air while converting seven two-point conversions.

This season he is just 12 yards away from a 1,000 yard season, but Guthrie also has 11 rushing touchdowns and has converted nine two-point tries to put him two touchdowns or 12 points away from breaking Kaiser’s mark.

Having both records would put Guthrie in an elite place within the program, but he’s hoping he can help the Wildcats end the season on a winning note during their Senior Night tonight.

“I know having these records within reach are going to push me to go harder throughout the game, but again, all I want is to get this last win with all of my teammates,” Guthrie said. “It’s crazy to think that my high school career is coming to an end, but I’m sure not going to waste a second of it on the field and I’m going to make sure all of my seniors’ last game be a memorable one and I can’t wait to go out there and battle with them.”