By John Raffel
BIG RAPIDS — Alma broke a two-game losing streak and will enter the playoffs at 7-2.
Brec Alward’s 53-yard touchdown run with 3:51 broke a 33-33 tie in Alma’s favor for a 39-33 win over Big Rapids on Friday.
It was a memorable first half which ended with Big Rapids ahead 27-19. The Cardinals had 268 total yards compared to 203 for Alma (7-2) in the first half.
For the game Alward scored five touchdowns.
“It was ugly but we finally started playing some defense,” Alma coach Dan Falor said. “This is the way we’ve been playing most of the year but finally got it back.”
Alma had 340 yards rushing led by Alward with 268. Big Rapids rushed for 287 yards, led by Deion Jones with 105 and Nathan Smith with 72.
Alma was penalized for 110 yards and Big Rapids 96 yards.
Alma, which enters playoff action next week, had started out 6-0 but lost the last two weeks 24-14 to Freeland and 36-19 to Saginaw Swan Valley. Alma beat Big Rapids 30-0 a year ago in Alma.
The Cardinals, were 2-2 after four games but ended the season losing four of their last five games.
“I told the seniors we appreciate all their efforts and to the juniors, they have to get in the weight room,” coach Mike Selzer said.