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UNANIMOUS DECISION: Gladstone, NCA Still #1


MARQUETTE---The Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association released its weekly football polls Tuesday morning, and there's not much change from last week.

In the eleven-man poll, Gladstone remained top-ranked after the Braves whipped Marquette last Friday night, 48-21. Negaunee kept pace at the #2 spot after a 49-14 domination of Ishpeming. The Braves and Miners face each other in Gladstone in two weeks.

Statewide, in the Associated Press Dvision Six poll, the Gladstone Braves moved up to #3 in the state, and the Negaunee Miners are ranked #5 in the state.

Iron Mountain moved up to #3 and Sault Ste. Marie dropped to #4.

That's because the Blue Devils lost a heartbreaker to West Branch Ogemaw Heights, 7-6,  while Mountaineers routed Bark River-Harris, 42-8. Kingsforfd remained at #5 after a blowout win over Escanaba on Flivver Homecoming last Friday night.

Statewide, the Mountaineers are ranked #6 in the AP Division Eight poll.

The 8-man poll continues to be led by two-time defending state champion North Central. The Jets routed Lake Linden-Hubbell, 50-0, last Saturday, and NCA has outscored its four opponents  by a combined score of 256-3 (plus a forfeit win over Carney-Nadeau).

One change in the poll: Munising leaped over Norway into the #2 spot, despite both teams winning their games. The Mustangs whipped Suttons Bay, 64-24, on Saturday, while the Knights turned back Gogebic, 54-12, Friday night. Both teams won on the road.

Forest Park is ranked fourth and Newberry is ranked fifth.

Statewide, in the 8-man Division One AP poll, four of the ten teams are from the Upper Peninsula. Munising is ranked fifth, Norway is seventh, Newberry eighth, and Pickford is ranked tenth.

In the statewide 8-man Division Two AP poll, North Central is a unanimous #1 selection, and Forest Park is ranked sixth in the state. Lake Linden-Hubbeell is tenth despite last Saturday's lopsided loss to North Central.

UPPER PENINSULA ELEVEN PLAYER POLL
  1.   Gladstone   (5)   5-0   25
  2.   Negaunee           5-0   20
  3.   Iron Mountain   4-1   13
  4.   SS Marie             4-1   10
  5.   Kingsford            3-2     4
UPPER PENINSULA EIGHT PLAYER POLL
  1.  North Central   (5)   5-0   25
  2.  Munising                   5-0   18
  3.  Norway                      5-0   17
  4.  Forest Park                4-1    8
  5.  Newberry                  4-1    5