U.P. All-Star Football Game schedule, rosters set
MARQUETTE — The U.P. Football All-Star Game has finalized the schedule and players for this year’s event.
It will be the 15th anniversary of the U.P. summer football classic. This year, the players selected as all-stars were again drafted by the coaches, just like NFL fantasy football leagues and are either on the Red Team or the Black Team.
Eastern U.P. players scheduled to compete in the game include Jakob Davie and John Robinson of Sault High, Connor Rintamaki and Eric Edwards of Newberry, and Drew French of Engadine on the Black Team. George Edington and Josh Sullivan of Pickford, Ryan LaPlaunt of Sault High, Johnny Nutkins of Newberry and EJ Suggitt of Rudyard are on the Red Team.
The draft took place in April, and was completed by the coaches. The coaches from both teams gathered at their own team’s draft location and submitted their picks online. The picks were also reported on social media. Prior to the draft, the coaches did extensive research of the players, so they could put together the best team possible to fit their offensive and defensive schemes. Having the players “mixed” by the draft means not only will players be competing against traditional rivals from other schools, they might also be competing against players from their own school.
The game will be played in Marquette at the Superior Dome on Saturday, June 25. Game time is set for 1 p.m. with the doors opening at noon.
Many activities are planned throughout the week for the players and coaches. On Monday, June 20, the players and coaches check in at the Superior Dome, and there will be a food drive for the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry at the check-in location from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
On Tuesday evening, June 21, will be the team and individual pictures, as well as media day. Players and coaches will be available for interviews from any media that are present.
Wednesday afternoon, will be the Players Skills Challenge. The players will compete for the titles of Fastest Man, Strongest Man, Receiver, Quarterback Challenge, Kicking and Punting Challenges.
All-Star players and coaches will host an All-Star Youth Football Camp in the Dome on Thursday evening from 6:30-8 p.m. All kids ages 6 and up are welcome to attend. The camp is free, but a $5 donation is welcome to help support the various donations that are made each year. All kids in attendance will be divided into age-appropriate groups and taken through various stations and drills aided by the All-Star players and coaches. The first 150 kids will receive a free camp t-shirt, provided by Culver’s and Loyal Tees.
Friday evening is the All-Star banquet. The banquet provides family and friends a chance to connect with the All-Star players after a long week of practice and activities. Players will be recognized for their accomplishments during the skills challenge and receive their All-Star rings.
The U.P. Football All-Star Game will be donating proceeds to Ironwood, Mid Peninsula and Norway High Schools. A lottery drawing is performed to select the schools each year, and donations will be made directly to the football program of those schools chosen. Each year, new schools have been chosen to receive donations from the game. All schools have now received the financial donation, so next year the lottery process will start over again with all schools being eligible. Several other schools (Ishpeming, Menominee, Houghton and Lake Linden-Hubbell) will also receive donations in the form of All-Star game equipment, including the practice jerseys and footballs.
This article originally appeared on The Sault News: U.P. All-Star Football Game schedule, rosters set
