Justin St. Ours | Daily Press Escanaba’s Scott Hiller (1) tries to shake Alpena’s Kadyn Budnick (right) Friday in Escanaba. Looking on for the Eskymos is Griffin Erickson (52), Tristan McGuire (58) and Casey Bray (10). Looking on for Alpena is John Short (60).

ESCANABA — This is nearly as tough as it gets.

Alpena senior Ryan Voltz scored on a quarterback sneak in overtime as the Wildcats handed Escanaba a 26-20 football loss here Friday night.

The Eskymos had a chance to win the non-conference contest at the end of regulation, but senior Karson Krutina’s field goal attempt from 27 yards was blocked to force the overtime.

Alpena then won the toss and elected to play defense.

Esky, however, managed just four yards before junior Casey Bray’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete.

“The coin flip means a lot in overtime,” said Esky coach Dave Wilson. “We thought about going for a field goal but already had an extra point and field goal blocked in regulation. We also didn’t think that would be enough. We had to execute that play and just didn’t do it. This was a very hard-fought game. Every play counted.”

Voltz tossed a nine-yard pass to senior Kadyn Budnik to start Alpena’s overtime possession, setting the stage for his game-winning run.

“Ryan has been playing great,” said Alpena coach Eric Mitchell. “We knew 25 (Krutina) was their kicker, but when they got to the right hash mark, we knew it was a tough kick because you’re going across your body. We gained momentum right there. We obviously had to get a stop, and our guys got it done.”

The Eskymos were trailing 20-7 late in the third before Bray fired a 45-yard pass to senior Scott Hiller, which got them to Alpena’s six-yard line.

Krutina then scored on a four-yard run through the left side. The extra-point kick, however, was blocked and the Eskymos still trailed 20-13 with 10:33 left in the contest.

With 4:06 left to play, Esky tied the score on Bray’s 53-yard aerial to Krutina.

Voltz returned the ensuing kickoff to the Alpena 43. The Wildcats, however, lost a fumble on the next play.

Esky then moved the ball within field goal range before coming up empty at the end of regulation.

The Wildcats (2-6) used a little bit of trickery on the opening kickoff as they executed an onside kick and recovered it on Esky’s 41.

Alpena then marched 41 yards in eight plays, taking a 7-0 lead on Voltz’s 10-yard pass through the middle to junior Colt Gray.

Fifty-five seconds into the second quarter, Voltz then gave the Wildcats a 13-0 advantage on a two-yard run up the middle.

“The onside kick set the tone for the night,” said Mitchell. “The kids played hard tonight. We managed the clock as well as we could. Colt made some big-time catches and blocked well for us. We’ve taken some strides. We looked good at times, but that wasn’t good enough. This is a big boost for our kids.”

Esky (1-7) responded on its next possession, trimming its deficit to 13-7 on Bray’s nine-yard pass to senior Casey Royer.

Alpena, which received the second-half kickoff, maintained possession for nearly 5 1/2 minutes before gaining a 20-7 advantage on Budnick’s five-yard run up the middle.

The Wildcats outgained Esky 279-269 in total offense. Budnick led in rushing with 103 yards on 19 carries.

Esky ran for 120 yards, led by sophomore Ben Johnson’s 55 in 11 attempts. Krutina finished with 50 on 14 carries. Bray was 10-of-19 passing for 149 yards and two TDs.

“After they scored in the third quarter, we could have packed it in, but the guys made some plays,” said Wilson. “We got some turnovers to get us back in the game. We couldn’t have asked for a better effort.”

The Eskymos end their season Oct. 23 at Gaylord where they’ll meet Hastings. Alpena hosts St. Johns in its finale Oct. 22.