The Newaygo Lions, back in the playoffs for the first time since 2020, welcomed the Montague Wildcats into town for the District Semifinal. Montague, a well-tested team in the WMC with a playoff pedigree worth admiration, would prove to be a formidable foe for the hosts. A strong fourth quarter allowed the Lions to secure their first playoff win since 2018, 30-17.
In the first quarter, Montague got the scoring started with a 25-yard field goal by sophomore Jonah Henderson. This was the only scoring play in the opening stanza.
Newaygo would find their way into the end zone as the first half wound to a close. With just seven seconds left, Hunter Yearsovich hauled in a Blake Kerr touchdown pass from 19-yards out. The Lions elected to go for two, but it failed, leaving them ahead by three at halftime.
Montague would again take the lead midway through the third quarter, with a solid rushing attack. Ryver Jarka capped off the scoring drive with a 5-yard carry. Henderson’s extra point gave Montague its largest lead at 10-6.
On the opening play of the fourth quarter, Newaygo seized the lead from the Wildcats’ grasp. Porter Slominski powered across the goal line from three yards out. A successful two-point try gave them a 14-10 advantage.
After recording a stop, the Lions struck again. This time, Slominski broke free for a 26-yard touchdown run. Another successful two-point pass lifted their lead to twelve, 22-10.
Montague, in desperate need of some momentum, received a boost from their kick return unit. Talen Degan caught the kickoff at his own 20 before weaving 80 yards down the field for a touchdown. With 6:24 left to play, Montague was suddenly back within five, 22-17.
Newaygo would not flinch, and they took three minutes to ice this game away. A 13-yard pass from Kerr to Henry Wood, paired with a Porter Slominski tw0-point run, created a lead that Montague could not overcome.
With this win, Newaygo advances to the District Finals. They will host that game next Friday, welcoming Central Montcalm into town. This is a rematch from Week 2, when the Lions won 21-12.
