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Newberry upsets No. 1-ranked Norway, 28-14

NewberryÕs Jeff Rahilly, left, runs up field against Norway during a Mid-Eastern Football Conference game at the Knights' Ronberg Field on Friday, Oct. 6, 2017. The Indians downed the previously unbeaten Knights 28-14. (Iron Mountain Daily News photo by Burt Angeli)

By BURT ANGELI

Iron Mountain Daily News

NORWAY — Top-ranked Norway suffered its first loss of the season Friday, falling to Newberry 28-14 in a Mid-Eastern Conference football game Friday night at Ronberg Field.

George Sevarns threw a pair of touchdown passes and Jeff Rahilly ran for two 3-yard scores to lead the Indians (4-2, 3-1 MEFC) after their long trip to Dickinson County.

Norway (6-1, 2-1) trailed 14-0 in the second quarter but closed to within one score on two occasions in the Parents Night contest.

“We got to (a) 6-0 (record) by playing clean, mistake-free football,” Norway Coach Bob Madigan said. “We had key penalties and turnovers tonight, and that’s not the way we’ve been playing.

“We didn’t play solid, fundamental football, and we were not emotionally ready.”

Newberry launched its upset bid with Sevarns firing a pass to Jaylen James, who went 71 yards down the sidelines in the first quarter.

The first Rahilly score lifted the margin to 14-0 in the second quarter.

Norway got on the board just before halftime when quarterback Josh Plante found Connor Ortman from 45 yards out.

Rahilly’s second 3-yard scoring run, set up by a fumble recovery at the Norway 14, put the Indians ahead 21-7 in the third.

Plante answered with a 1-yard scoring plunge. Mitchell LeGrave’s run from punt formation, a 19-yard screen pass to Trevor Anderson, and a personal foul all aided the drive.

In the fourth, after each team exchanged fumbles, Alex Henry grabbed a 14-yard TD pass.

Newberry had two other scoring opportunities thwarted in the game, one by a Trevor Anderson interception in the end zone. The other occurred on a fumble that rolled out of the end zone in the fourth.

Norway gained 199 yards — 109 rushing and 90 passing. Wilson led the Knights on the ground with 39 yards on eight attempts. Plante was sacked three times.

Newberry had 329 yards — 179 passing and 150 rushing. Sevarns connected on five passes while James rushed for 52 yards on nine carries.

“Hats off to Newberry,” Madigan said. “They’re physical and fast. They beat us soundly.”

Newberry, Norway and Lake Linden-Hubbell share first place in the conference with one loss each.

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