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Undefeated Jets to face Trojans on Saturday

Dating back to their first meeting in 1978, the all-time series between Forest Park and North Central has been very one-sided, with Forest Park holding a 20-4 advantage.

After defeating the Trojans 39-18 in their 9-0 1980 season, the Jets didn’t get another victory until 2016, when they won 60-42. Former NC head coach Kevin Bellefeuil and his Jets also defeated FP in their playoff meeting that season, 60-50.

This Saturday’s Great Lakes West Division eight-player meeting will be a chance for the 5-0 (2-0) Jets and head coach Leo Gorzinski to avenge a first round playoff loss to FP last season, 36-24, at Powers. Last season’s regular season meeting was won by NC, 52-28, in Week 6 at Dick Mettlach Field in Crystal Falls.

Forest Park, 4-1 (1-0), suffered its lone loss this season in Week 1 at Pickford by a score of 48-16. The undefeated Jets defeated Pickford 20-14 in Powers on Sept. 14.

NC is ranked No. 1 in the UPSSA 8-Player Poll this week, receiving all eight first-place votes. Forest Park is No. 3 in the UPSSA poll this week, and No. 5 in the Michigan Associated Press Poll. NC is ranked No. 2 in the AP poll, receiving three of eight first place votes.

“Saturday is going to be a great regular season test for both teams, that will likely both make the playoffs” Gorzinski said, “For us, home field advantage throughout the playoffs will probably be on the line. We’re going to play our style of football. We know what they bring to the table, so it’s up to us to play physical and fast.”

FP head coach David Graff was frank about Saturday’s matchup, saying, “To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best. NC is the best and we’re aspiring to get to their level. We are getting better every game and hope to continue that throughout the rest of the season. Saturday is going to be a battle, we hope to find a chink in the armor, and have a shot at victory in the end.

Kickoff at Powers is at 1 p.m.

West Iron County (4-1, 3-0) at Lake Linden-Hubbell (3-2, 2-1), Saturday, 12:30 p.m. (Central) – West PAC Iron Division

Being the last school in the U.P to have their own 11-player football team and no lights on their field, the Lakes host West Iron County Saturday afternoon. Head coach Mike Berutti’s Wykons suffered their only loss to No. 1-ranked Calumet 14-0. The Wykons are ranked No. 2 in this week’s UPSSA Small School Poll. LL-H is ranked No. 5 one point behind fourth place Ishpeming.

The Lakes and head coach Andy Crouch come into this week after a 14-0 road loss last week at the hands of the No. 3 UPSSA ranked L’Anse Purple Hornets. This game will certainly have playoff implications for both teams, with West Iron projected to be a Division 7 or 8 qualifier, while LL-H is a potential Division 8 participant. These teams have not faced a common opponent on the season, though they play in the same division in the West PAC.

North Dickinson (1-4) at Newberry (3-2), Saturday. noon (Central) – non-conference

Having played one another for five straight seasons, 2012-2016, while both were members of the Mid Eastern Conference, these teams haven’t faced one another the last two seasons. The Nordics and head coach Mike Christian made the switch to eight-player competition in 2017, while this is the first season of eight-player for Newberry.

The Indians are playing this season as an independent. After winning their first three games, they’ve lost two straight.

The Nordics are coming in off a tough home loss to undefeated North Central. “After watching film on Newberry, I know they have both decent size and speed. As long as we can play like we’re capable of, it should be a good game,” said Christian. This is ND’s second long trip to the Eastern U.P on the season, having traveled to Brimley back on Sept. 13.

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