The Newaygo Lions concluded their 2024 regular season with a battle against the Fremont Packers, a former conference foe. Fremont and Newaygo spent 2016-2021 together as members of the CSAA Gold, 2006-2011 in the Lakes 8 Conference and 1998-1999 as members of the Western Waterways Activities – South B, leaving these schools extremely familiar with one another. The series all-time dated back to 1980, and Fremont entered tonight with a one-game lead. After four quarters, the series is now tied, as Newaygo escaped 21-14.
Porter Slominski started the scoring for Newaygo, bowling across the goal line from a yard out. Quickly after, Fremont was able to respond. Karter Frens broke free for a 68-yard sprint to the end zone. His run, paired with a Khai Noordyk two-point conversion, gave the Packers an 8-7 edge.
Fremont would extend their lead late in the second quarter. Brayden Crosley took to the air, pairing up with Asa Barnhard on a 40-yard touchdown strike. A failed conversion left the Packers’ lead at seven, 14-7. They would take this advantage to the locker room.
Coach Ralph Munger’s Lions hung in there early in the second half, and it paid off. Slominski was able to rip off another touchdown run, this time from 25 yards out. Ethan Reyburn added a tw0-point run, and Newaygo took a 15-14 lead.
In the closing seconds of the third quarter, Newaygo found some breathing room on the scoreboard. Blake Kerr and Wesley Manning paired up for a 21-yard touchdown pass.
This last Lions’ touchdown would prove to be the cushion they needed to maintain the lead throughout the evening. With this victory, Newaygo improves to 7-2 on the regular season. This is the most wins they have recorded since 2018, and the most in the regular season since 2017. The Lions will learn their playoff foe on Sunday.
Fremont ends the season at 2-7. The Packers match their season record from 2023, and will look to improve next fall amidst the always challenging competition of the WMC-Lakes.
