Newberry ends 12-year championship drought undefeated run

By Jamie Maier

What began as a season focused on rebuilding ended in dominant, historic glory for the Newberry 7/8 Tackle Football team. Through sheer dedication, heart, and relentless effort from both players and coaches, Newberry completed an impressive undefeated 5-0 season—bringing home a championship title that the program hasn’t seen in 12 years.

The team set the tone early in their season opener on September 19, delivering a commanding 42-8 victory against Brimley. Building on that initial momentum, Newberry kept their foot on the gas the following week with a decisive 30-0 shutout victory against Pickford on September 26.
Newberry’s grit and disciplined play only grew stronger. On October 3, they put on another offensive display, defeating Rudyard 39-6. Week four saw the defense step up once again to secure a second 30-0 shutout, this time against St. Ignace on October 10, sealing the team’s spot in the title matchup as the number one seed.

Facing off against St. Ignace for a second consecutive week in the championship game on October 17, Newberry rose to the occasion. With teamwork and determination on full display, they fought hard to secure a 29-6 victory, officially claiming the championship title, finishing undefeated, and snapping a 12-year drought.

Beyond the impressive scores, this season was a true testament to the character and work ethic of the entire program. Entering the year with work to do, every player and coach bought in, putting in the hours to build something truly memorable.

As we celebrate this accomplishment, we also want to send a heartfelt recognition to our older players moving on to high school next year: #15 Alphon Lyman, #22 Rylan Gravelle, #28 Noah Fox, #42 Cody Blakely, #52 Kaden Abram, and #68 Michael Bliss. Thank you for your leadership and dedication.

On behalf of the Youth Football Board, we wish you all the best in your next chapter and can’t wait to cheer you on as your hard work continues to pay off.
Congratulations to the players, coaches, and families of the Newberry 7/8 Tackle Football team on a remarkable, historic championship season!