ALMA — It’s an odd season where postseason hopes end for a team after just three games, but the Escanaba football team is living it after a 28-14 loss against Alma here Saturday.

“We didn’t like the way it ended, but we had a good bonding experience for the last time,” Esky coach Dave Howes said. “That means much more than winning the football game.

“I hope our seniors enjoyed it, and I feel terrible it wasn’t a real season. At least they got to play football, and they got to experience it.”

Things looked good for the Eskymos after a 60-yard pass to Bryant Maki from Brandon Frazer earned a touchdown and a 6-0 lead early.

However, the Panthers owned the rest of the game — except for a fourth-quarter TD from Frazer to Tyler Lawson along with a successful conversion.

“It’s the season that’s never going to be forgotten with everything going on,” Howes said. “You know, with COVID(-19), and the ups and downs of having a season or not having a season. Especially with only having three games with the playoffs this year.

“It wasn’t really about winning or losing this year. We had three games. I just wanted the kids to go out there and have a good time and have a good experience. It was pretty much day-to-day and week-to-week, and we didn’t know what was going to happen. They stuck it out. They tried their hardest and had fun. With a season like we had, I think that was what it was all about.”

Despite the odd season, it was the last one some of the Eskymos may experience.

“After the game, I told them how proud I was of them for putting in four years of hard work and dedication for the Escanaba football program,” Howes said. “Just to be able to play the three games this year. They were just so happy about it.

“A lot of the kids were thinking of not playing with all the uncertainty, but they hung around. Not one person quit. They kept fighting, and that makes them winners no matter what. I’m very proud of the kids for doing. It was uncertain, but just to see them out there on the field made me very proud of them.”

Alma visits Cadillac Friday for the second round of the Division 4 playoffs.