MARQUETTE — They tried hard, but the Onekama Portagers were unable to avoid the sting of defeat in a 44-28 football loss to Felch North Dickinson in an eight-player Division 2 state semifinal contest Saturday.

The victory enables the Nordics (12-0) to make their first state finals appearance since 1998, taking on Portland St. Patrick (12-0) inside Northern Michigan University’s Superior Dome next Saturday at 2 p.m. Onekama finishes the season 11-1.

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