Rudyard made the long trip to Ispheming and fell to the Hematites 34-6 Friday, October 28, Newberry hosted Norway Saturday, October 29, and the Knights returned home with a 19-16 win over the Indians during the Division 7 playoffs.

Turnovers hurt the Bulldogs early on, as Ispheming capitalized on two Rudyard mistakes for a 16-0 lead. The Hematites increased the lead to 28-0 at halftime with second quarter touchdowns and, early in the third quarter, completed their scoring.

Jordan Gaskin scored the Bulldogs’ only touchdown as the senior recovered a blocked punt and scampered 15 yards to the end zone.

Knights Edge Indians

Newberry trailed 7-0 at halftime. Jake Pann rambled to the end zone from 58 yards out on the first possession of the second half and the senior running back added the two-point conversion for a 8-7 lead at the 9:19 mark of the third quarter.

The remainder of the third quarter was scoreless, but in the final period Norway tallied two touchdowns for a 19-8 advantage before the Indians marched 80 yards and scored on a 10-yard pass from Andrew Schultz to Brandon Wheeler. Pann chipped in the two-point conversion to cut the Knights’ lead to 19-16, but with only 35 seconds left in the game.

Newberry attempted an onside kick, but the kick failed to go the necessary 10 yards and Norway downed the ball on the first play as time expired.

Playoff Scores

Kingsford defeated Cheboygan 39-22 in Division 4, Menominee shut out Negaunee 49-0 in Division 5, Iron Mountain upended West Iron County 28-14 and Ironwood downed Calumet 45-14 in Division 6, and in Division 8 Baraga defeated Lake Linden-Hubbell 22-16, and Crystal Falls-Forest Park dominated North Dickinson 61-30.

Former Saints coach Charlie Otlewski and his Haslett Vikings defeated Chelsea 22-14 and will entertain Lansing Sexton in the Division 3 district finals. The Vikings have been in the playoffs the last eight years and this is the fourth undefeated season in the 12 years at Haslett for Coach Otlewski.

The playoff schedule for this week in Division 8 has Crystal Falls-Forest Park entertaining Baraga and Cedarville hosts Mid Peninsula. In Division 7 Norway is at Ispheming, in Division 6 Ironwood travels to Iron Mountain, in Division 5 Menominee plays Roscommon, and in Division 4 Kingsford is at Grayling.