Alger County football players found themselves well represented on the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association’s (UPSSA) All-U.P. football teams, with seven Munising and Superior Central players recognized for their efforts on the gridiron.
Leading the way for local players were two 8-Player Dream Team selections from Munising in lineman Joe Kelley and wide receiver Jack Dusseault. Kelley was a Mitchell Snyder Lineman of the Year candidate for his effort on both sides of the line, but made the Dream Team as a defensive lineman. He led nominated players in the division with 112 tackles, 12 of which were for a loss. He also had three fumble recoveries and eight sacks.
Dusseault was a shoo-in for the wide receiver/ tight end category, leading eight-man wide receivers in receptions with 52 and finishing second in both reception yards (931) and touchdowns (12). He also added 163 yards of rushing.
Superior Central received its highest nomination with First Team defensive lineman Jason Kanerva. He is joined on the First Team defense with Munising’s Carter Deatsman.
Eli Penney and Gavin Vining of Superior Central and Reece Cotey of Munising were also recognized in the voting.
The UPSSA also awards the Mr. Football awards, which were won in 11-man by Kingsford’s Elizin Rouse and eight-man by Newberry’s Matthew Rahilly. The last time an Alger County player won a Mr. Football or Player of the Year award was in 1985 by Munising’s Steve Blank.
The UPSSA is an association of Upper Peninsula sports media members in print, radio, television and online-only formats. The Munising Beacon has one vote amongst 26 outlets from Ironwood to St. Ignace, Menominee to Calumet.
8-PLAYER AWARDS Special Awards Mr. Football: Matthew Rahilly, Newberry Offensive Player of the Year: Tommy Storey, Pickford; Matthew Rahilly, Newberry Defensive Player of the Year: Ian Popp, Norway Division 1 Team of the Year: Pickford Division 2 Team of the Year: Lake Linden-Hubbell Coach of the Year: Brett Gervais, Lake Linden-Hubbell Mitchell Snyder Lineman of the Year: Kevin Giuliani, Crystal Falls Forest Park
Dream Team Offense Line: Kevin Giuliani, Forest Park, 6-4, 245, Jr.
Line: Haydn Rader, Pickford, 6-0, 250, Jr.
Line: Max Nason, North Central, 6-0, 275, Sr.
QB: Danny Marcotte, Lake Linden-Hubbell, 5-8, 180, Sr.
RB: Tommy Storey, Pickford, 5-9, 165, Jr.
RB: Matthew Rahilly, Newberry, 6-0, 185, Jr.
WR/E: Alex Ortman, Norway, 6-2, 170, Sr. WR/E: Jack Dusseault, Munising, 6-3, 181, Jr. Athlete: Lane Gorzinski, North Central, 6-0, 185, Jr. Defense Line: Nick Halberg, St. Ignace, 6-3, 205, Sr. Line: Joe Kelley, Munising, 5-10, 178, Sr. Line: Matthew Showers, Forest Park, 6-2, 195, Jr. End: Gabe Luck, Newberry, 6-0, 210, Sr. End: Gabe Popko, Lake Linden-Hubbell, 6-3, 205, Sr. LB: Gabe Harju, Gogebic, 5-8, 160, Jr.
LB: Aiden Bickel, Rudyard, 5-8, 171, Sr.
DB: Ian Popp, Norway, 5-10, 175, Sr.
DB: Eli Sprague, Rudyard, 5-9, 162, Sr.
Special Teams K: Dietrich Rasner, Forest Park, 5-4, 130, Fresh.
P: Gabe Quevedo, Forest Park, 5-9, 155, Jr.
RS: Wyatt Spade, Norway, 6-3, 205, Sr.
First Team Offense Line: Grady Smith, Rapid River, 6-1, 300, Sr.
Line: Redd Strong, Ontonagon, 6-3, 270, Sr.
QB: Cole Baij, Norway, 6-1, 195, Jr.
RB: Felix Quevedo, Forest Park, 5-9, 165, Sr.
RB: Sammy Roberts, Lake Linden-Hubbell, 6-1, 185, Sr.
WR/E: Easton LeGault, Ontonagon, 6-1, 165, Sr.
WR/E: Nick Miskovich, Ironwood, 6-2, 175, Soph. Athlete: Jacob Gorzinski, North Central, 5-8, 150, Sr. Athlete: Cam Peterson, Rudyard, 5-11, 187, Sr. Defense Line: Jason Kanerva, Superior Central, 6-0, 250, Sr. Line: Tucker Carlson, Rapid River, 6-1, 220, Sr. End: Ian Browne, Pickford, 6-3, 170, Sr. End: Ty Norris, Cedarville-DeTour, 6-4, 250, Sr. LB: Hayden Amundson, Norway, 5-9, 160, Sr. LB: Carter Deatsman, Munising, 5-9, 161, Jr.
DB:
DB:
Aidyn Burton, North Central, 5-10, 155, Jr.
Special Teams K: Steven Kirschner, Rudyard, 5-8, 143, Soph.
P: Kennedy Depew, Newberry, 5-10, 180, Sr. RS: Matthew Rahilly, Newberry, 6-0, 185, Jr.
Special mention
Ethan Pavey, OL, Newberry, 6-2, 320, Jr.; Austin Gordon, athlete, 6-1, 170, Jr.; Bradley VanDamme, QB, Mid Peninsula; Reece Cotey, RB, Munising, 5-10, 192, Sr.; Kennedy Depew, RB, Newberry, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Kordell Killscrow, RB, St. Ignace,
5-11, 180, Sr.; Hayden O’Neil, RB, Engadine, 5-4, 145, Sr.; Cale Maciag, Pickford, WR/E, 5-10, 165, Sr.; Wes Bennett, DL, Cedarville-DeTour; Kurt Bissell, DE, Ironwood, 6-2, 190, Sr.;
Eli Penney, DE, Superior Central, 6-0, 185, Sr.; Eli MacDonald, LB, Pickford, 5-11, 170, Jr.; Jacob Mohar, LB, Newberry, 5-11,
185, Sr.; Nate St. Onge, Lake Linden-Hubbell, LB, 5-7, 135, Jr.; Ethan Shepard, LB, St. Ignace, 5-11, 175, Jr.; Caden Besonen, DB, Ontonagon, 5-10, 150, Jr.; Hunter Cameron, DB, Engadine, Jr.; Owen Lester, DB, St. Ignace, 5-10, 140, Sr..
Honorable mention
Jack Cifelli, OL, Rudyard, 6-3, 227, Jr.; Mason Holzberger, Lake Linden-Hubbell, 6-2, 185, Sr.; Hunter Kuusinen, OL, Cedarville-DeTour; Ethan McLean, QB, St. Ignace, 6-2, 180, Sr.; Jason Barr, RB, Cedarville-DeTour; Cody McPhail, RB, Cedarville-DeTour; Trevor Visnaw, RB, St. Ignace, 5-9, 155, Sr.; Hunter Kuusinen, DE, Cedarville-DeTour; Spencer Willa, DE, North Central, 6-1,
220, Jr.; Jackson Barr, LB, Cedarville-DeTour; Perrson McKeage, LB, Engadine, 5-10, 165, Sr.; Nik Stephens, LB, Forest Park, 5-11,
145, Jr.; Gavin Vining, LB, Superior Central, 5-11, 155, Fresh.; Gaven Rintala, DB, Forest Park, 5-11, 155, Sr.; Caleb Loftquist, LB, Mid Peninsula.
11-PLAYER AWARDS
Mr. Football: Elizin Rouse, Kingsford Offensive Player of the Year: Elizin Rouse, Kingsford Defensive Player of the Year: Noah Johnson, Kingsford Large School Team of the Year: Kingsford Small School Team of the Year: Iron Mountain Coach of the Year: Robin Marttila, Iron Mountain Mitchell Snyder Lineman of the Year: Dasan Smith, Marquette Dream Team
Offense C: Eli Cody, Negaunee, 5-10, 185, Jr.
G: Connor Owens, Iron Mountain, 5-10, 215, Sr.
G: Lucas Sischo, Bark River-Harris, 5-9, 215, Sr.
T: Dasan Smith, Marquette, 6-6, 300, Sr.
T: Aaron Hughes, Gladstone, 6-5, 230, Jr. QB: Nate Young, Gladstone, 5-8, 185, Sr.
RB: Elizin Rouse, Kingsford, 6-0, 215, Sr.
RB: Luke Wolfe, Iron Mountain, 6-0, 195, Sr.
RB: Kai Lacar, Negaunee, 5-9, 175, Sr. WR: Matthew Colavecchi, Iron Mountain, 6-1, 175, Sr.
WR: Wyatt Demers, Manistique, 6-3, 170, Sr. Defense DT: Mitch Paltzer, Negaunee, 6-1, 250, Sr.
DT: Jacob Perryman-Seymour, Gladstone, 5-9, 200, Sr.
DT: Carlos Perez, Ishpeming, 6-2, 295, Jr.
DE: Callen Campbell, Sault Ste. Marie, 6-5, 250, Sr.
DE: Noah Johnson, Kingsford, 6-1, 225, Sr.
LB: Alan Bjorn, Calumet, 6-1, 225, Sr.
LB: Noah Gagne, Escanaba, 5-7, 180, Sr.
LB: Kaydin Lujan, Sault Ste. Marie, 6-2, 215, Sr.
DB: Eli Berthaume, Gladstone, 5-10, 170, Sr.
DB: Austin Solis, Gladstone, 5-8, 160, Sr.
DB: Trevor Theuerkauf, Menominee, 6-0, 170, Sr. Special Teams K: Sawyer Johnson, Marquette, 5-10, 165, Jr.
P: Elliot Vitito, Gladstone, 6-0, 170, Sr. RS: Kai Lacar, Negaunee, 5-9, 175, Sr.
FIRST TEAM
Offense
C: Tyler Smith, Menominee, 6-1, 175, Sr.
G: Travis Hyrkas, Calumet, 6-0, 210, Sr.
G: Josh Racine, Gladstone, 6-0, 230, Sr.
T: Fulton Stroud, Iron Mountain, 6-1, 180, Sr.
T: Garrett Veale, Kingsford, 6-1, 240, Sr.
QB: Ian Marttila, Iron Mountain, 6-0, 175, Jr.
RB: Landan Bardowski, Menominee, 5-8, 175, Sr. RB: Ben Johnson, Escanaba, 5-10, 190, Sr.
RB: Cam Anderson, Calumet, 5-8, 165, Sr.
WR: Kaden Gibbs, Gladstone, 6-0, 180, Sr.
WR: Kyler Sager, Marquette, 6-1, 175, Jr.
Defense
DT: Grayson Palmer, Kingsford, 6-0, 220, Sr.
DT: Michael Bouche, Manistique, 6-3, 220, Sr. DT: Christopher Steele, Ishpeming, 5-5, 180, Jr.
DE: Vinny Howes, Gladstone, 5-10, 220, Sr.
DE: Alec Haferkorn, Iron Mountain, 6-1, 175, Jr.
LB: Hunter Smith, Ishpeming, 5-9, 170, Sr.
LB: Ben Shiverski, Bark River-Harris, 6-1, 195, Sr. LB: Chase Cloutier, Escanaba, 5-7, 145, Sr.
DB: Gavin Trevillian, Kingsford, 5-10, 165, Jr.
DB: Parker Graphos, Manistique, 5-8, 170, Sr.
DB: Caden Luoma, Ishpeming, 6-0, 175, Jr.
Special Teams
K: Luke Inghram, Gladstone, 5-11, 160, Soph.
P: Bon LaChance, Escanaba RS: Matthew Colavecchi, Iron Mountain, 6-1, 175, Sr.
Special Mention
Jayce Patron, C, Westwood, 6-0, 215, Jr.; Cameron Gauthier, G, Menominee, 5-8, 220, Jr.; Talon Smith, G, Marquette, 6-6,
275, Jr.; Lucas Thoune, OT, Menominee, 6-2, 270, Jr.; Carsyn Hinkson, RB, Manistique, 6-1, 180, Sr.; Bradon Walstrom, RB, Iron Mountain, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Tucker Welch, RB, Marquette, 5-9,
185, Sr.; Tanner Theuerkauf, WR, Menominee, 6-2, 175, Soph.; Evan Gauthier, DE, Negaunee, 6-3, 240, Sr.; Hayden Hares, DE, Ishpeming, 6-2, 220, Sr.; Torin Davis, LB, Menominee, 5-9, 170, Sr.; Alex Rittenhouse, LB, Kingsford, 5-9, 210, Sr.; Wyatt Jenkins, DB, Houghton, Sr.; Ford Richardson, DB, Marquette, 6-0, 175, Soph.; Ryan Teneyck, DB, Sault Ste. Marie, 6-3, 185, Sr.; Elliot Vitito, DB, Gladstone, 6-0, 170, Sr.; Aaron McLeod, K, Sault Ste. Marie; Luke Mikkola, K, Hancock, Sr.; Landan Bardowski, RS, Menominee, 5-8, 175, Sr.; Casey Alworden, RS, Gladstone, 5-8,
160, Jr.
Honorable Mention
Ben Salzwedel, OT, Westwood, 6-5, 270, Jr.; Nolan Bink, Escanaba, QB, 6-1, 160, Soph.; Gage Gendron, RB, Kingsford,
5-11, 230, Sr.; Eli Beal, WR, Menominee, 6-1, 180, Sr.; Ian Engstrom, WR, Negaunee; Wyatt Lakenen, Marquette, 5-11, 185, Sr.; Jacob MacPhee, WR, Marquette, 6-6, 200, Jr.; Ben Rubick, WR, Ishpeming, 6-1, 175, Sr.; Alex Stalboerger, WR, Escanaba,
6-2, 195, Soph.; Evan Arbic, DT, Sault Ste. Marie, 6-3, 275, Sr.; Cole Cooper, DT, Menominee, 6-1, 225, Soph.; Reid Frustaglio, DE, Westwood, 6-1, 195, Jr.; Eddie Anderson, LB, Westwood, 6-1,
210, Sr.; Tramon Gauthier, Ishpeming, LB, 5-11, 160, Sr.; Weston Yesney, LB, Negaunee; Ethan Corp, DB, Ishpeming, 6-1, 170, Jr.; Connor Gauthier, DB, Ishpeming, 5-10, 150, Sr.; James Thomson, DB, Negaunee.
