POWERS — The North Central football team’s second half comeback wasn’t enough as the Jets just fell short in a 32-30 loss to Ontonagon Friday night.

“We were a little short handed with injuries tonight,” said North Central coach Kevin Bellefeuil. “They took it to us in the first half. We were able to get it going in the second half but weren’t able to finish it.”

Ontonagon started the scoring in the first quarter with a 33-yard touchdown run by James Domitrovich. They kept the momentum going in the second half with a 24-yard rushing score by Jaden Weisinger to enter halftime with a 14-0 lead.

Ontonagon extended its lead in the third quarter with a 34-yard touchdown run by Weisinger and an interception returned for a touchdown by Tanner Balcomb propeled it to a 26-0 lead.

North Central started making its comeback when Hunter Riley threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Trent Holle.

The Jets scored again in the third quarter when Riley threw a 50-yard touchdown strike to Carter Holle to pull within 26-16 heading into the final period.

North Central’s Lucas Dombrowski scored on a 1-yard touchdown to pull within four in the fourth quarter before Ontonagon scored on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Dustin Howard to Ed Polakowski to extend its lead to 32-22.

Riley would throw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Dombrowski with two minutes remaining but it was not enough to pull out the victory.

“We made a couple of scores and it fired us up a bit,” said Bellefeuil. “We got a stop and got another score. We just weren’t able to pull it out.”

Riley finished 14 of 33 for 220 yards and three touchdowns while Austin Poupore finished with six receptions for 69 yards and Dombrowski caught three passes for 69 yards and two total touchdowns. He also had 12 tackles on defense.

North Central will travel to Picksford Saturday to take on Baldwin.

The summary:

Ontonagon 6 8 12 6 – 32

North Central 0 0 16 14 – 30

First quarter

Ont. – James Domitrovich 33 run (run failed), 8:08

Second quarter

Ont. – Jaden Weisinger 24 run (Weisinger run), 11:02

Third quarter

Ont. – Weisinger 34 run (run failed), 10:58

Ont. – Tanner Balcomb int. return (run failed), 10:43

NC – Riley 26 pass to T. Holle (Dombrowski run), 7:36

NC – Riley 50 pass to C. Holle (Hunter to Poupore), 4:35

Fourth quarter

NC – Dombrowski 1 run (pass failed), 8:35

Ont. – Dustin Howard 4 pass to Ed Polakowski (run failed), 4:17

NC – Riley 45 pass to Dombrowski (Riley run), 2:01