The St. Ignace Saints' (from left) Nick Montie, James Peterson, and Derek Marshall were members of the East All-Stars. The game was played Saturday, June 28, at the Superior Dome. Turnovers made the difference in the annual Upper Peninsula Football All-Star game as the West capitalized on three East mistakes in the first half, en route to a 38-14 victory at the Superior Dome in Marquette Saturday, June 28.

This was the first time the event was held since 1951.

On the opening possession, the East lost possession on a fumble during a punt. Four plays later, the West's Ethan Shaver (Menominee) scored on a five-yard run. Nick Koskiniemi (Calumet) kicked the extra point for a 7-0 West lead at the 8:22 mark.

Seven minutes later, the Copper Kings kicker added a 16-yard field goal to build the West lead to 10-0.

The West continued to build on its lead, using an offensive air attack to score its next two touchdowns. West quarterback Emmet Bjorn (Calumet) connected with Ryan Peroceschi (Norway) on an 11-yard scoring pass, then, from 17 yards away from the end zone, hit Shaver for a touchdown pass. After Koskiniemi's successful extra point kicks, the West took a commanding 24-0 lead.

The Pickford Panthers' (from left) Jordan Potter, Richard Gibson, and Joe Jenkins were members of the East All-Stars. The East scored two secondhalf touchdowns as Casey Hares (Ishpeming) and Pete Formolo (Sault Ste. Marie) each answered from one-yard out. J.P. Theriault (Sault Ste. Marie) kicked the extra points.

The West closed out its scoring attack as Josh Droese (Kingsford) and Kyle LaVacque (Crystal Falls- Forest Park) scored second half touchdowns. Koskiniemi added the extra points.

87 Players on All-Star Teams

There were 87 players from 33 schools participating in the East- West All-Star game, playing in front of more than 3,200 fans and media. Area players included: St. Ignace - Nick Montie, Derek Marshall, and James Peterson; Pickford - Richard Gibson, Joe Jenkins, and Jordan Potter; Engadine - John Troyer; Cedarville - Sheldon Tassier; Rudyard - Pete Lawlor; Sault Ste. Marie - JP Theriault, Pete Formolo, Zach Anderson, Nick Cushman, and Nate Moran.

Members of the East All-Star's include (from left) Sheldon Tassier of Cedarville, John Troyer of Engadine, and Pete Lawlor of Rudyard. For the East team, there were also four players from Negaunee, three from Powers-North Central, Marquette, Manistique, Rapid River, and North Dickinson, two from Ishpeming, Gladstone, and Westwood, and one each from Escanaba and Bark River-Harris.

St. Ignace's Nick Montie and Engadine's John Troyer were named captains for the East during the week of practice.

The West team included five players from state champions Menominee (Division V) and Crystal Falls-Forest Park (Division VIII), and Stephenson, four from Ewen Trout-Creek and Kingsford, three from Calumet, Norway, and L'Anse, two from Iron Mountain, Lake Linden-Hubbell, West Iron County, and Baraga, and one from Wakefield-Marenisco, Houghton, Bessemer, and Ontonagon.

The Superior Dome, on the campus of Northern Michigan University, is the home of the NMU Wildcats, United States Olympic Education Center, and the Upper Peninsula All-Star football game. History of U.P. All-Star Game

The first Upper Peninsula allstar football game was played in 1946 at Negaunee, with the North defeating the South 21-7. In the second year, the North posted a 25- 6 win over the South.

In the four years that followed, the South prevailed 6-0, 7-0, 6-0, and 13-7, however, the annual game ended in 1951.

Todd Goldbeck of Madison, Wisconsin, founder of Xcel Sports Training Company, teamed up with Recruiting Combines to restore the annual Upper Peninsual East-West Football All-Star game.

Mr. Goldbeck's company specialized in holding sporting events. Teaming up with Recruiting Combines, a program that is designed to test high school athletes in various physical categories that college football programs across the country use to assess incoming freshmen worked well and the game was brought back this year after a 57-year absence.

The East All-Star captains included (from left) Cody Kangas of Manistique, John Troyer of Engadine, Nick Montie of St. Ignace, and Casey Hanes of Ishpeming. "We are excited to continue the tradition that started back in the 1940's," said Goldbeck. "We hope this is the start of an annual event."

Steve Mariucci Speaks to

Athletes

Steve Mariucci was the guest speaker at the banquet to honor more than 100 athletes and coaches at the University Center Thursday, June 26.

Mariucci is a former Iron Mountain High School and Northern Michigan University (NMU) standout quarterback. He is also a former head coach of the Detroit Lions and San Francisco Forty-Niners, and was an assistant coach with the Green Bay Packers.

Mariucci spoke about keeping football fun, the power of parents, and his love of the huddle.

"This game is great for the players and coaches. We are here to celebrate Upper Peninsula football," said Mariucci.

This banner represented four players and their mothers that included (from left) Sherry Potter (Jordan-69), Tracy Gibson (Richard-10), and Cindy Jenkins (Joe-78) of Pickford, and Kathy Tassier (Sheldon-52) of Cedarville. Now an analyst for the National Football League network, he spoke about how his father, Ray Mariucci, reminded him about his love of football when he wanted to quit the game before his freshmen season at NMU. Mariucci stayed, and later went on to earn All- American honors while leading the Wildcats to a national championship in 1975.

"The huddle is 11 guys bunched together and is my favorite thing about football," added Mariucci. "The huddle consists of players from a variety of backgrounds, but mostly they listen and take instructions from the leaders, whether it be the quarterback on offense or linebacker on defense."

All-Stars Teach Youth

Fundamentals

The East-West All-Star players split into separate skill groups and coached athletes from first grade through seventh grade about the fundamentals of football at the Superior Dome Friday, June 27.

"This is a way for the All-Stars and youths to really connect," said Mr. Goldbeck, who sponsored the event. "We wanted to emphasize the fundamentals of football, and this was a way for both groups to work together."