North Central coach Leo Gorzinski talks with two of his standout players, quarterback Luke Gorzinski (11) and running back Dillon Raab (28), during a pause in game action against visiting Norway on Oct. 14. The Jets, who finished undefeated and won their third consecutive eight-player state title, were recently named “Team of the Year” by the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. (Dennis Mansfield/Daily News photo)

MARQUETTE — The North Central Jets continued to dominate their competition in 2022 and received their due during the 73rd annual football meeting of the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association held in Marquette shortly after the conclusion of the MHSAA playoffs.

The Jets finished 13-0, running their winning streak to a state-record 37 games and captured their third consecutive Division 2 state title in eight-player football.

North Central was selected Team of the Year in Division 2, with Munising (11-1) getting the nod in Division 1.

To nobody’s surprise, the Jets’ Luke Gorzinski was a unanimous pick as Offensive Player of the Year.

The senior quarterback finished his career with a state-record 10,384 all-purpose yards and has drawn recruiting interest from 12 colleges. He threw for four touchdowns, ran for another score and caught a TD pass in this year’s championship game.

Gorzinski passed for 1,301 yards and 19 TDs and ran for 1,215 and 20 scores in 2022 and threw only two interception throughout his four-year career.

Other North Central gridders earning Dream Team honors included junior offensive lineman Max Nason, senior defensive linemen Drew Webber and Jordan Messenger, and senior linebacker Dillon Raab.

North Central’s first-team selections include senior defensive end Owen Eichmeier and junior kicker Adrian Mercier, who hit a state-record 60 extra points this season.

Raab finished with 77 tackles, including 17 for loss and had two interception returns for TDs. Webber collected 36 solo tackles, including 22 for loss, and Messenger added 21 for loss. Eichmeier recorded 28 tackles, including 4 1/2 for loss, and broke up eight passes.

Senior wide receiver Carter Johnson, who finished with 1,045 yards receiving and 14 TDs, represents Rapid River on the Dream Team.

Mid Peninsula junior QB Brad VanDamme and senior wide receiver Michael Englund landed first-team berths.

VanDamme completed 94-of-174 aerials for 1,636 yards and 22 TDs and ran for 547 yards and eight scores.

Englund had 919 yards receiving and caught 12 TD passes and ran and added two on the ground for the Wolverines, who fielded a team for the first time in a decade.

Superior Central senior Wyatt Kulik also landed a first-team berth as return specialist. He returned 14 kickoffs and punts for 477 yards and two scores.

Area players earning special mention include North Central senior offensive lineman Colin Cordy, Superior Central junior offensive lineman Jason Kanerva, senior return specialist Lucas Swetich and linebacker Emmett Vining, and Mid Pen senior linebacker Tristin Syers.

Honorable mention recipients included North Central senior wide receiver Elijah Gorzinski and defensive back Dylan Plunger and Swetich at linebacker.

All-UP football

Eight-player

SPECIAL AWARDS

Offensive Player of the Year — Luke Gorzinski, North Central;

Defensive Player of the Year — Dillon Raab, North Central;

Division 1 Team of the Year — Munising;

Division 2 Team of the Year — North Central;

Coach of the Year — Joe Austin, Newberry; and

Mitchell Snyder Lineman of the Year — Mason Totzke, Ontonagon.

Dream Team

Offense

Lineman: Max Nason, North Central, 6-0, 200, Jr.;

Lineman: Riley Murk, Munising, 6-2, 266, Sr.;

Lineman: Mason Totzke, Ontonagon, 6-1, 319, Sr.;

Quarterback: Luke Gorzinski, North Central, 5-10, 175, Sr.;

Running back: Josiah Peramaki, Munising, 6-0, 181, Sr.;

Running back: Sam McKissack, Forest Park, 6-0, 185, Sr.;

Wide receiver/end: Bryce Buzzo, Ontonagon, 6-0, 160, Sr.;

Wide receiver/end: Carter Johnson, Rapid River 6-3, 190, Sr.; and

Hybrid: Matthew Rahilly, Newberry, 6-0, 175, Soph.

Defense

Lineman: Ashton Wymer, Munising, 5-5, 217, Sr.;

Lineman: Drew Webber, North Central, 5-10, 180, Sr.;

Lineman: Jordan Messenger, North Central, 6-0, 200, Sr.;

Defensive end: Micaiah Peramaki, Munising, 6-1, 194, Sr.;

Defensive end: Gabe Luck, Munising, 6-1, 190, Jr.;

Linebacker: Jacob Mattson, Munising, 5-8, 212, Sr.;

Linebacker: Dillon Raab, North Central, 5-9, 170, Sr.;

Defensive back: Kane Nebel, Munising, 6-1, 185 Sr.; and

Defensive back: Ian Popp, Norway, 5-9, 150, Jr.

Special teams

Kicker: Jacob Nolan, Rudyard 6-1, 170, Sr.;

Punter: Gabe Quevedo, Forest Park, 5-8, 150, Soph.; and

Return specialist: Wyatt Spade, Norway, Jr.

First Team

Offense

Lineman: Blake Doke, Newberry, 6-1, 225, Sr.;

Lineman: Kirby Koskela, Lake Linden-Hubbell, 5-10, 215, Sr.;

Lineman: Kevin Guiliani, Forest Park, 6-3, 210, Soph.;

Quarterback: Brad VanDamme, Mid Peninsula, 5-11, 180, Jr.;

Running back: Marco Juarez, Newberry, 5-8, 170, Sr.;

Running back: Brayden Altoft, Pickford, 6-2, 190, Sr.;

Wide receiver/end: Michael Englund, Mid Peninsula, 6-0, 163, Sr.;

Wide receiver/end: Spencer Kramer, North Dickinson, Fr.; and

Hybrid: Cam Peterson, Rudyard, 5-10, Jr.

Defense

Lineman: Elijah Penney, Superior Central, 6-0, 200, Sr.;

Lineman: Eli Sprague, Rudyard, 6-0, 160, Jr.;

Defensive end: Owen Eichmeier, North Central, 5-10, 170, Sr.;

Linebacker: Zach Burton, Newberry, 6-0, 190, Sr.;

Linebacker: Devan Groleau, Stephenson, 5-10, 170, Sr.;

Defensive back: Aiden Bickel Rudyard, 5-7, 170, Jr.;

Defensive back: Cody Daab, Ironwood, 6-2, 185, Sr.; and

Defensive back: James Milkey, Lake Linden-Hubbell, 5-9, 165, Sr.

Special Teams

Kicker: Adrian Mercier, North Central, 6-1, 170, Sr.;

Punter: Riccardo Maouro Gogebic, 5-1, 160, Sr.; and

Return specialist: Wyatt Kulik, Superior Central, 5-7, 140, Sr.

Special mention (two or more votes): Colin Cordy, North Central; Jason Kanvera, Superior Central (offensive line); Austin Gordon, Ontonagon; Cole Baij, Norway (quarterback); Mason Hotzberger, Lake Linden-Hubbell; Tristin Syers, Mid Peninsula (linebacker); Ethan Anderson, Stephenson (defensive back); Lucas Swetich, Superior Central (return specialist).

Honorable mention: Carter Dahl, Stephenson; Ty Norris, Gabe Popko, Lake Linden-Hubbell; (offensive lineman); Caden Besonen, Ontonagon; Tristan Kacynski, Stephenson; Seth Miller, Pickford; Michael Peterson, Norway; Sam Roberts, Lake Linden-Hubbell; Lucas Swetich, Superior Central (running back); Elijah Gorzinski, North Central (wide receiver); Garrett Osborne, Pickford; Mike Perkins, Cedarville-DeTour; Emmett Vining, Superior Central (linebacker); Dylan Plunger, North Central; Felix Quevedo, Forest Park (defensive back); Aiden Bickel, Rudyard (return specialist).