(Matt McCarthy/Daily News photo) Marion junior Mason Salisbury (7) pushes North Central's Owen Eichmeier (14) out of bounds shy of the endzone, after catching a long pass in a MHSAA Division 2 8-player state semifinal game, Saturday at North Central High School. The Jets defeated Marion, 73-8.

POWERS — The defending MHSAA Division 2 8-player state champion North Central Jets hosted Marion in a 2021 Division 2 8-player semifinal game on Saturday. The Jets, who trailed 8-7 midway through the opening quarter, went on to defeat the Eagles, 73-8 at North Central High School.

North Central, who also defeated Marion, by the score of 50-2 in the 2020 state semifinals at the Superior Dome in Marquette on Jan. 9, will return to the Superior Dome to defend their state championship.

North Central will take on 2019 8-player Division 1 state champion Colon in this season Division 2 state title game, on Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. Eastern at the Superior Dome on the campus of Northern Michigan University in Marquette.

Colon (11-1) defeated host Au Gres-Sims, 42-6 on Saturday to advance to face North Central.