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ISHPEMING — A change in the number of players on the field isn’t slowing down the Ishpeming High School football team when it comes to playoff time.

With a rich history in the MHSAA playoffs in 11-player football, particularly in the past 15 years, the Hematites played their first year of eight-player football this fall.

And Ishpeming won an entertaining 44-38 victory over Norway in its introduction to the Division 1 playoffs in this brand of the sport on Saturday afternoon on its field at the Ishpeming Playgrounds.

Ishpeming quarterback Caden Luoma breaks free to gain a few rushing yards for Ishpeming in the first quarter of their MHSAA eight-player Division 1 football playoff game at the Ishpeming Playgrounds on Saturday. (Journal photo by Caden Sierra)

Led by standout quarterback Caden Luoma, Ishpeming overcame a late-game deficit, securing its spot in the regional finals against Pickford, which produced a 67-12 win at its home field over Munising on Friday night.

Entering the postseason on a hot streak, Ishpeming wrapped up its regular season with three consecutive blowout wins, each by scoring 50 points or more, to run its record to 7-2 overall.

Friday night, however, the Hematites had to muster everything they had as they battled back from multiple deficits before finally taking control in the fourth quarter.

“We … keep reiterating not giving up, keep battling, next-play mentality,” Hematites head coach Mike Lyman said. “It’s the playoffs, for every team it’s win or go home, so you’re going to get everybody’s best.”

As the Hematites gear up for a tough regional final matchup against undefeated Pickford, which has won every game by at least 28 points, Lyman emphasized the need for discipline and precision.

Ishpeming quarterback Caden Luoma, center, celebrates after scoring a touchdown as Ishpeming would take its first lead since early in the game, 36-32, in the third quarter of an MHSAA eight-player Division 1 football playoff game played against Norway at the Ishpeming Playgrounds on Saturday. (Journal photo by Caden Sierra)

“We’ve got to clean some stuff up,” he said. “We’ve got to play a cleaner football game. We’ve got to eliminate penalties, drive killers with bad snaps, and just got to tackle well and block well.”

The Hematites travel to the eastern end of the Upper Peninsula to take on the Panthers at 1 p.m. Saturday, according to the MHSAA website, www.mhsaa.com.

Against Norway, Ishpeming set the tone early, recovering a fumble on the Knights’ first possession at their 35-yard line. Moments later after the recovery, Grady Gauthier broke through for a 15-yard rushing touchdown, giving Ishpeming a 6-0 lead.

But Norway quickly countered, with quarterback Cole Baij finding his brother, Owen Baij, for a 27-yard TD pass. A successful 2-point conversion put the Knights up 8-6 after one quarter.

Norway continued to capitalize on big plays, using a 50-yard TD pass to extend its lead to 16-6 early in the second. Ishpeming rallied back as Luoma scrambled for a 7-yard touchdown run to close the gap to 16-12.

But Norway struck again, moving the ball swiftly downfield to make it 24-12 with less than three minutes left in the first half.

Unfazed, Luoma launched a successful drive in the final minute before the intermission, connecting with Derek Meyer for an 11-yard scoring aerial, then running in the 2-point conversion himself. The Hematites entered halftime trailing by just four points, 24-20, to set up a high-stakes second half.

Receiving the ball to open the third quarter, Ishpeming struggled initially with a botched snap, ultimately turning it over on downs. Norway took advantage as Dallas DeBernardi powered into the end zone to widen the Knights’ lead to 32-20. But Luoma responded with an explosive 34-yard TD run, following it up with a successful 2-point conversion to cut Norway’s lead to 32-28.

From there, the Hematites’ defense reared up, forcing the Knights to punt and giving Ishpeming’s offense another chance to take the lead. With just over a minute left in the third, Luoma pushed his way into the end zone for a 5-yard TD run, and his successful 2-point run finally put Ishpeming in front, 36-32.

But, of course, Norway wasn’t done, retaking the lead with a 44-yard TD pass to Landon Amundson just before the end of the period, putting the Knights back on top, 38-36.

Starting the final quarter down by two points, the Hematites wasted no time reclaiming the lead. Gauthier powered through for a rushing touchdown in the first minute of the fourth, followed by Luoma converting yet another 2-point attempt to put Ishpeming ahead 44-38.

Down the stretch, the Hematites’ defense stepped up with several critical plays, including an interception by Gauthier that gave Ishpeming the ball at its own 40. Norway’s defense also held strong, forcing a punt, but Ishpeming’s defense continued to make key stops. A pass breakup on fourth down near the midpoint of the quarter handed the Hematites a chance to run out the clock.

In a final dramatic moment, Ishpeming threw an interception with just over two minutes left, giving Norway one last shot. The Knights moved quickly, driving down to Ishpeming’s 12-yard line in the final minute. But Ishpeming’s defense held firm, breaking up a pass on fourth down to secure the win.

Caden Sierra can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 551, or by email at csierra@nmu.edu.