Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By JASON JUNO
MARQUETTE — Iron Mountain dominated the major 11-player awards given up out by the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association at its 75th annual football meeting last week.
The Mountaineers finished 11-1 and advanced to the Division 8 regional final where it lost 14-7 to Beal City, which is playing Riverview Gabriel Richard for a state championship Friday morning.
Iron Mountain was named Small School Team of the Year, with the retiring Robin Martilla Coach of the Year. Running back Alex Jayne was voted the U.P.’s Mr. Football with quarterback Ian Marttila Offensive Player of the Year and end Alec Haferkorn Defensive Player of the Year.
Marquette’s Talon Smith was selected as the Mitchell Synder Lineman of the Year. He is a Central Michigan University commit.
The amount of teams playing 11-player football in the Upper Peninsula continues to go down with just 17 teams on the field compared to 21 8-player teams.
Large School Team of the Year Kingsford and Iron Mountain both finished the regular season with perfect 9-0 records.
Menominee lost to Kingsford 13-12 for its only regular-season loss.
Like Iron Mountain, the Maroons advanced to the regional final, but in Division 7, where they lost 23-0 to North Muskegon.