Local Sports Journal

REED CITY – Newaygo scored with 3:12 left in the game and gambled on a 2-point conversion to decide the game.

The Lions only needed the extra point to send the Division 5 district final game into overtime, but instead, converted the 2-point conversion and a 30-29 win over host Reed City.

Newaygo (9-2) advances to next Friday’s regional final against Grand Rapids West Catholic at 7 p.m. West Catholic was a 13-6 winner over Oakridge.

Trailing 29-22 late in the fourth, Newaygo was able to mount a final drive which ended with Heath Harrington scoring from 2 yards out to cut the lead to 29-28.

The Lions went for the win as Conor Bradley took a shuttle pass from Weston Butler and dove into the corner of the end zone for the go-ahead score.

Butler started Newaygo’s scoring with a 1-yard run in the second quarter as the Lions went to halftime down 14-7.

After Reed City increased its lead to 21-7, Butler (1 yard) scored and then found Max Harrington on a 13-yard touchdown pass to pull within 21-20.

Harrington then ran the ball in on the ensuing 2-point conversion to give Newaygo its first lead of the night, 22-21.

Reed City answered on a Jonathan Green 24 yard TD run to regain the lead, 29-22.