Alma’s football team is off to a spectacular start and third-year varsity player and senior Brec Alward is playing no small role in the effort.
“He’s had a great senior season so far,” coach Dan Falor said. “He already has 20 touchdowns.”
Alward has 1,086 yards on 132 carries, for 8.23 yards per carry, 217.2 yds per game and 17 touchdowns and nine catches for 160 yards and three Tds.
“Brec is a very hard worker and will do anything that the team needs him to do,” Falor said. “He had a great junior season but so far he has exceeded his output. He works extremely hard in the offseason and I’ve seen gains in his overall strength and explosiveness.”
There’s one particular play from Alward, which Falor won’t soon forget.
“The last play before halftime against Shepherd, he was not going to be denied the end zone and made a spectacular 30-plus yard run to score with zero seconds on the clock,” Falor said. “I expect it is going to get tougher for Brec because teams are going to focus on stopping him but he’s going to still be the focal point of our offense.
“Brec is one of the hardest workers we’ve had come through Alma. His hard work is paying off this season.”
Alma has a major test comng up on Sept. 28 with Saginaw Valley. But the Panthers are 5-0 after wins over Ionia (34-20), Bridgeport (35-14), Shepherd (50-6), Standish Sterling (33-7) and Bullock Creek (33-13).
Alward is now playing basketball and baseball. But he’s hoping to have long football postseason.