By Jeff Steers
MHSSS Special Writer
The pride is back in Alma High School football for 2024.
Spurred by the Panther Pride Project, the Panthers open the season with a
home game against Shepherd with a new turf field.
Alma supporters Doug Yarnell, John Morgan, Kyle Lark, and Sherri
Downing – along with numerous Panther Pride Project members – raised
money and in-kind donations to make the project a reality.
“Our school board supported the project as Panther Pride Project brought it
nearly to the end,” AHS Coach John Mimranek said. “That game will be the
first competitive event on the new turf.”
A year after going 2-7, Alma is hoping the new turf means more wins in
2024 on the field.
“We have been impressed with kids showing up in the weight room and for
agility drills,” Mimranek said. “We have a huge freshman class coming in.”
The league will look different as Birch Run exits and each of the conference
schools have picked up Flint Powers Catholic for their 2024 calendar.
The Panthers will be anchored by Caylibe Thompson and Brighton Conn –
two three-year starters on the offensive and defensive lines for Alma.
Senior lineman Aidan Perdue (OL/DL) and junior Gavin McConnell (QB)
are two players the Panthers will count on this season.
“We were close in a lot of games last year, but mistakes made the
difference between winning and losing,” Perdue said.
McConnell believes Alma can win enough games to make it back to the
playoffs.
Alma opens with Shepherd on Aug. 30, plays conference games weeks 2-
5, faces Flint Powers Catholic on Oct. 4, battle for two more conference
games, and closes on Oct. 25 against Big Rapids.
“Frankenmuth and Freeland are the teams to beat in our conference,”
Mimranek said. “We have to get better at blocking and tackling.”
Tyler Brecht will serve as the offensive coordinator for Alma in 2024. The
2013 AHS graduate believes the Panthers are getting closer to being
extremely competitive.
“We were close in a lot of games last year … we could not finish games,”
Brecht said.
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