By Dan Hardenbrook

The season opener is weeks away, but football play returns to Newberry when the Indians welcome several schools for partial squad scrimmages. These matches are part of a summer series prior to the start of official practice on August 12.

It’s a small sample of what’s to come this season, and the next major step in preparation for the 2024 season.

MHSAA rules now allow football programs to practice multiple times during the offseason. While no full team activities are permitted, and contact is off limits, teams can have up to 15 optional practices during the summer, with a focus on individual skill development, training, and conditioning.

As part of these summer workouts, teams can also participate in partial squad scrimmages (five players per side for 8-man teams and seven players per side for 11-man teams commonly referred to as 5-on-5s or 7-on-7s). Newberry will host weekly 5-on-5 scrimmages on Wednesday nights at the Newberry football field.

Varsity Head Coach Zach Clickner, staff, and Newberry’s football players have been hard at work all summer. In partnership with local trainer Aaron Donovan from Big Lake Strength and Fitness, players have been training multiple days each week, typically on Tuesdays and Thursdays, while those optional practices and skill sessions have been Mondays and Wedsnesdays.

The Indians are taking every advantage of the new summer schedule. Newberry has made the MHSAA Playoffs for five straight seasons, but has yet to advance past the second round. With eyes on a deep run this season, work is underway and the team is ahead of where it’s been entering recent seasons.

Tonight’s 5-on-5s will see Newberry face off against St. Ignace, Munising, and Manistique. Both the JV and varsity teams will participate. The five-man scrimmages are designed for skill position players (quarterbacks and running backs/receivers) to work on timing and game-like situations.

In addition to the scrimmages, offensive and defensive lineman will have their own series of challenges and competitions.

Tonight’s 5 on 5’s begins at 6 p.m. The community is invited to attend and there is no cost for admission.

Newberry’s season opener is scheduled for August 29 at home against Crystal Falls Forest Park.