Large group of Petoskey players earn All-Big North football honors

Drew Kochanny, The Petoskey News-Review

PETOSKEY — Bigger is always better, right?

Well, when you have a name like the Big North, but only four teams make up your conference, finding a way to be bigger was a necessity.

And that came in 2023.

The Big North Conference for football grew to seven this fall and the competitiveness of the league grew with it, though it was an original staple of the league that rose to the top in a historic season.

There were no questions asked after the season, Gaylord’s 6-0 record within the league spoke for itself and the Blue Devils’ dominance in an 11-1 season was as good as it got.

Marquette enjoyed a successful league season at 5-1, though struggled outside the league overall with just a 5-4 record.

Petoskey's Joe McCarthy stepped up his game in every level in 2023 and was recognized as the Big North's first team quarterback for his play.
Petoskey's Joe McCarthy stepped up his game in every level in 2023 and was recognized as the Big North's first team quarterback for his play.

For Petoskey, up and down play had them come away with a 4-2 record in BNC play and 6-5 mark overall, though the talent was throughout the football field.

That’s highlighted in the recent release of the All-Big North Conference football teams, with the Northmen earning five first team honors, three on the second team and two within the honorable mention group. There was also one special mention.

More: The 18 area boys basketball players to know heading into 2023-24 season

More: Area football standouts earn MHSFCA All-Region; Charlevoix, EJ defenders earn All-State

OFFENSE

When Jim and Jared Webb took over the Petoskey offense just a couple years back, they did so with change in mind, while playing to the strength of the athletes that made up the team.

That change was never more obvious than in 2023 and the All-BNC selections for Petoskey showcase that potent passing attack by Petoskey this season, which passed for over 600 more yards than they put on on the ground.

Petoskey senior quarterback Joe McCarthy, senior tight end Lucas O’Donnell and junior wideouts Seth Marek and Mitch Eberhart all earned conference honors, as did offensive tackle Brody Shaw and senior wideout Brian Pike.

McCarthy was named the first team quarterback after throwing for 2,112 yards and 21 touchdowns, to go with 451 yards rushing and five scores. McCarthy finished his career with every passing record within the books at PHS.

Petoskey’s Lucas O’Donnell had a knack for finding the endzone at times and was recognized with second team All-BNC honors this season.
Petoskey’s Lucas O’Donnell had a knack for finding the endzone at times and was recognized with second team All-BNC honors this season.

Marek earned first team wideout honors with 859 yards and 13 touchdowns – both single-season records – while Eberhart earned honorable mention within the conference with 533 yards receiving and four touchdowns. The yardage mark would have been a single-season record if not for Marek’s total.

O’Donnell, a second team tight end, was a reliable threat in the redzone, finishing with four touchdown receptions, then Shaw earned first team as an anchor along the offensive line at tackle.

Pike was also special mention after starting the season off strong, before missing time with an injury that kept him away from the field and catching passes. He finished his career with just over 650 yards receiving.

More: Takeaways from a memorable Gaylord football season

DEFENSE

Just as the Petoskey offense went through changes in 2023, the Northmen defense changed for the better as well.

PHS allowed its fewest points in a season (156) since 2015 by a wide margin and gave up just 14 points a game.

Against BNC foes, that total dropped to just 9.6 points a game. They also had four games of allowing a touchdown or less this season.

At every level of the Petoskey defense players were recognized with postseason honors, from Brody Shaw (75) and Korbin Sulitis (20), to Tyler Ray (33), Logan LaHaie (3) and Haden Janes (4).
At every level of the Petoskey defense players were recognized with postseason honors, from Brody Shaw (75) and Korbin Sulitis (20), to Tyler Ray (33), Logan LaHaie (3) and Haden Janes (4).

There were two things that changed the most for the Northmen, centered around a pass rush and ability to lock teams up in the second level. Petoskey totaled 17 interceptions this season, to go with 18 sacks.

And everyone that helped the most in those categories was recognized.

Along the defensive front, junior Korbin Sulitis earned first team honors, while senior Luke Matelski earned honorable mention.

Sulitis made 100 tackles, 14 for a loss and 6.5 sacks this season, while Matelski contributed 62 tackles, eight for a loss and 6.5 sacks as well.

At the next level, both junior Logan LaHaie and senior Tyler Ray earned second team recognition as linebackers.

LaHaie led the team with 107 tackles, while Ray had 60 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble.

Petoskey’s final defensive honoree was junior safety Haden Janes, who earned first team defensive back recognition. He finished up the season with 67 tackles, six interceptions and eight pass deflections and will have a shot at the career interceptions record next season.

Petoskey senior Luke Matelski capped off his career with All-BNC recognition along the defensive front.
Petoskey senior Luke Matelski capped off his career with All-BNC recognition along the defensive front.

COMPLETE TEAMS

First Team Offense: Joe McCarthy (QB), Petoskey; Jacob MacPhee (TE), Marquette; Seth Marek (WR), Petoskey; Wyatt Lakenen (WR), Marquette; Ben Johnson (RB), Escanaba; Ty Bensigner (RB), Gaylord; Russell Hush (RB), Gaylord; Brody Shaw (OL), Petoskey; Bailey Wade (OL), Cadillac; Dasan Smith (OL), Marquette; Talon Smith (OL), Marquette; Landon Smith (OL), Gaylord.

First Team Defense: Korbin Sulitis (DL), Petoskey; Dasan Smith (DL), Marquette; Callan Campbell (DL), Sault Ste. Marie; Keaton Abraham (DL), Gaylord; Noah Gagne (LB), Escanaba; Brady Pretzlaff (LB), Gaylord; Riley Hush (LB), Gaylord; Kaydin Lujan (LB), Sault Ste. Marie; Haden Janes (DB), Petoskey; Eli Main (DB), Cadillac; Ford Richardson (DB), Marquette.

First Team Specialist: Connor Byram (K), Gaylord.

Second Team Offense: Charlie Howell (QB), Cadillac; Lucas O’Donnell (TE), Petoskey; Kyle McGowan (WR), Cadillac; Easton Srebnick (WR), Alpena; Connor Vermeulen (RB), Cadillac; Ryver Ryckeghem (RB), Sault Ste. Marie; Tuck Welch (RB), Marquette; Chris Kiekhaefer (OL), Sault Ste. Marie; Gage Smith (OL), Gaylord; Connor Calano (OL), Gaylord.

Second Team Defense: Evan Arbic (DL), Sault Ste. Marie; Evan Hughes (DL), Cadillac; Logan LaHaie (LB), Petoskey; Tyler Ray (LB), Petoskey; Kutler Braun (LB), Marquette; Carter Sitz (LB), Gaylord; Carter Stark (DB), Alpena; Ryan TenEyck (DB), Sault Ste. Marie; Caleb Aungst (DB), Gaylord.

Second Team Specialist: Charlie Howell (K), Cadillac.

FINAL BNC STANDINGS

1. Gaylord 6-0 (11-1); 2. Marquette 5-1 (5-4); 3. Petoskey 4-2 (6-5); 4. Cadillac 3-3 (4-5); 5. Sault Ste. Marie 2-4 (5-4); 6. Escanaba 1-5 (2-7); 7. Alpena 0-6 (1-8).

Contact Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: All-Big North football teams released, Petoskey fills first team

Advertisement