Stayin’ Home

Homecoing game. Lions will play second straight playoff game on their home field

Lions cage ‘Cats, host District Final this Friday, 7pm.

Story By Ken DeLaat
​Photo by Alexis Mercer

Newaygo 30 Montague 17
A rematch looms in Newaygo Friday night  when the Central Montcalm Hornets buzz into town for the District Finals. Newaygo held home court in a big way Friday keeping a productive Wildcat offense in check while slapping 30 points on their impressive new scoreboard.
The Lion offense featured yet another top shelf performance by Porter Slominski who took it in twice on the ground and a pair of TD strikes from Blake Kerr to Henry Wood and Hunter Yearsovich.The defense was led by Luis Alvarez who was in on 11 tackles with Konner Bisel and Wood adding 8 apiece.
Now Coach Munger and his staff will prepare the Lions for a rematch with a red hot Central Montcalm squad. The 9-1 Hornets haven’t lost since Newaygo stifled their potent offense during an  early September game in Stanton. Since then QB Emmett Lingeman and Co. have been ripping through the schedule, claiming the CSAA White title along the way.

And a bit of history:
​The last time a Lions team won a District title was the magical 2012 season.  Under the tutelage of Coach Andy Busch who took over the position just prior to the season they advanced to game 11 with a pre-district win over longtime rival Grant. 
Interviewing Coach Busch after the game he spoke of how the team had battled all season and  praised the work of his linemen but it was clear there was one thing on his mind.
“Now we have some business to take care of up North.”
That business was the District Final to be played in Reed City. The Coyote team that had humbled the Lions with a 4 touchdown pummeling  in week 4. Others were gathered around and after Coach B. went to the locker room someone said “I don’t know about that. Reed City is beating up on everyone and they looked great against us.”
Mike Mercer (Sheriff at the time) was part of the group and replied to the comment,“It’s not easy beating a good team twice and that’s a good team that just won that game.”
The following Friday the Lions went north and indeed ‘took care of business’ handing the ‘Yotes their first loss of the season and moving on to the Regional. 
There the magic came to an end in a loss to eventual state runner-up West Catholic (who incidentally took home the next 5 State titles).
Three other seasons saw Newaygo play in a second postseason game. The ‘94 team lost to Constantine, the ‘05 squad fell to eventual state champion Oakridge and in ‘18 it was Montague that sent the Lions home. But the ‘12 team was the only time Lion players have advanced to a third game.
So far, that is.
Go Lions!

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