Gladstone Braves, NCA Jets Remain Ranked No. 1
MARQUETTE---The Gladstone Braves remain the top-ranked 11-man football team in the Upper Peninsula, and the North Central Jets are a unanimous choice as the top 8-man team.
That's according to the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association poll, released Tuesday morning by the organization.
The Braves (4-0) are still ranked #1 after they shook off a sluggish start and posted a 40-0 win in St. Ignace against the previously umbeated Saints, in which Cole Potier had 287 yards of offense and five touchdowns.
The Negaunee Miners are also 4-0 after mercying Manistique and are ranked second, and the Sault High Blue Devils are ranked third, also 4-0 after they blew out a Canadian team on Saturday. Iron Mountain is ranked fourth and Kingsford checks in at #5.
In Eight man ball, the North Central Jets are a unanimous #1 and are also #1 in all of Michigan. The two-time defending state champions look to win a state record 28th straight eight-man game this Saturday against Lake Linden-Hubbell on the road.
Norway, Munising, Forest Park, and Newberry followed the Jets in the poll.
ASSOCIATED PRESS STATEWIDE POLL
The Gladstone Braves are now tied for fourth in the state with Standish-Sterling in the Division Six poll, with the Negaunee Miners in the #6 spot statewide. In Division Eight, Iron Mountain is ranked #7 and Bark River-Harris is #10. Those two teams play this Friday night.
In the statewide Eight-Man polls, Norway is ranked #5 and Munising #6 in Division One. In Division Two, North Central is top-ranked, but only two points ahead of second place Colon (39-37). Lake Linden-Hubbell, who NCA plays Saturday, is ranked sixth in the state, and Forest Park is also ranked sixth in the state.
U.P. Eleven Player Poll:
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Gladstone (4) 4-0 24
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Negaunee 4-0 19
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SS Marie (1) 4-0 16
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Iron Mountain 3-1 11
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Kingsford 2-2 3
U.P. Eight Player Poll
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North Central (5) 4-0 25
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Norway 4-0 18
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Munising 4-0 17
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Forest Park 3-1 9
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Newberry 3-1 4
