By Dan Hardenbrook
The Newberry Indians varsity football team kicked off the 2025 season with an eye-opening win over Crystal Falls, the defending MHSAA 8 Player Division 2 State Champion.
It was Newberry’s first-ever victory over the Trojans, and the 22-20 victory sent shockwaves across the Upper Peninsula: This year’s team may be the one to watch.
Finishing 2-7 last season, the Indians leaned on a new focus and philosophy to flip the script on the Trojans, who beat Newberry in last year’s season opener.
After Levi Maki forced a fumble on the opening kickoff, the Trojans got a lucky bounce, fielding the loose ball and running it deep into Indians territory. It took just two plays for Forest Park to claim the first score, with the extra point making it 7-0 Trojans in the opening minutes.
Newberry answered the call, racking up big yards on the ground behind the rushing duo of Matthew Luebkert and Garrett Lewicki. A pair of missed snaps stopped the first drive in its tracks, and the Indians’ second drive was fruitless as well.
While the offense was finding its rhythm, the defense kept punishing and pressuring the Trojans. Lewicki forced and recovered a fumble, and Gabe Hamilton keyed another turnover covered up by Kadin Kellogg to swing momentum the Indians’ way. Newberry scored in the second quarter when Lewicki punched in Newberry’s first touchdown on a QB sneak, then scored again on a 19-yard pass to Kellogg. After a big play from the Trojans, Newberry led 16-14 at the half.
The Indians kept control in the second half. Luebkert essentially took over, posting a monster second half that included a long touchdown run. Luebkert, a breakout star late last season, totaled nearly 200 yards rushing in the victory.
To seal the total team effort, the Indians defense stood tall again and again with the game on the line. They locked up the Trojans on a key fourth-down attempt, denied a potential game-tying two-point conversion late in the fourth, and Gaijye Depew intercepted a late pass to clinch the first win of the season.
The Indians hope to avenge another loss this week. They will travel to play the Ontonagon Gladiators on Friday. Ontonagon also enters the week at 1-0 after upsetting Ishpeming on the road in week one. The Indians and Gladiators will kick off at 7 p.m. eastern Friday.
