NEWBERRY — A special football season for the Norway football team got more memorable Friday night when the UPSSA eight-player top-ranked Knights defeated Newberry 34-14 to start the season 7-0 for the first time in 29 years.

“Proud of the way our guys came out and played after another long road trip and the inclement weather,” Norway coach Andrew Mendina said, referring to his team’s third trip to the eastern Upper Peninsula this season. “I told the guys they had the chance to go 7-0 for the first time since 1996 for Norway and they were able to go out and put it all together from the first snap.”

The Knights took an 8-0 lead after the first quarter and then extended that advantage to 22-0 at halftime. The Knights tacked on 12 more in the third to go up 34-0 before the Indians (5-2) put up 14 after the game was decided.

Josh Schiltz led Norway offensively with 132 yards rushing and scored three touchdowns. Owen Baij ran for 131 yards and added a score.

Elliot Kraemer caught two passes for 50 yards, Schiltz hauled in four for 17 yards and Cameron Varda recorded one reception for 22 yards.

The Knights finished with 381 total yards while holding Newberry to just 153.

Keith Burcar led Norway defensively with eight solo tackles, four assisted tackles and two tackles for loss. Landon Ross contributed five solo tackles and three assisted tackles while Vardan posted one TFL.

Baij picked off a pass for the Knights, as well.

The Knights return home for the final two games of the regular season.

“Looking forward to finishing out the season at home for the last two regular season games against Rudyard and Munising,” Mendina said.

The Knights will be heavily favored in both games. Rudyard will bring a 2-5 record to Ronberg Field Friday and Munising currently sports a 0-7 mark.

Prep Football Scores

Friday, Oct. 10

ELEVEN PLAYER

Bark River-Harris 38, Iron Mountain 14

Menominee 40, Negaunee 12

Kingsford 42, Westwood 0

West Iron 49, L’Anse 40

Gladstone 34, Houghton 22

Marquette 27, Petoskey 17

Gaylord 34, Escanaba 30

EIGHT PLAYER

Niagara 24, Florence 16

Ironwood 64, Forest Park 42

Norway 34, Newberry 14

North Central 66, Ontonagon 36

Gogebic 42, Lake Linden-Hubbell 12

Stephenson 52, Superior Central 6

St. Ignace 36, Ishpeming 30