Ishpeming’s Hunter Smith runs the ball against Negaunee on Sept. 21 in Ishpeming. (Journal photo by Corey Kelly)

UPSSA High School Football Polls

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This week’s U.P. Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association poll (with first-place votes, if any, record, total votes and last week’s poll position):

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Large Schools

1. Calumet (6) 7-0 30 1

2. Escanaba 5-2 21 2

3. Westwood 5-2 16 4

4. Marquette 3-4 11 3

5. Kingsford 3-4 9 T5

Others: Negaunee (4-3) 2, Sault Ste. Marie (4-3) 1

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Small Schools

1. Ishpeming (6) 7-0 30 1

2. West Iron County 5-2 21 2

(tie) Iron Mountain 5-2 21 3

4. Gwinn 5-2 10 5

5. St. Ignace 4-3 6 4

Others: Munising (4-3) 2

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Eight Player

1. Pickford (6) 7-0 30 1

2. Engadine 6-1 24 2

3. North Central 6-1 18 3

4. Rapid River 5-2 10 T5

5. Forest Park 4-3 6 —

Others: Cedarville (4-3) 2

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IRONWOOD — Another area team makes its first appearance of the season today in the weekly high school football polls voted on by select members of the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.

Munising (4-3) received two votes and missed the Small Schools top five by a pair of votes. The Mustangs outlasted Lake Linden-Hubbell 20-16 on the road Saturday to move above the .500 mark for the first time this fall.

L’Anse (3-4) didn’t receive votes this week in the Small Schools rankings for the first time since the initial week of polling on Sept. 11.

The other five area teams in the rankings didn’t move more than one spot this week.

In the Small Schools poll, Ishpeming (7-0) is one of the three undefeated and unanimous picks atop its rankings.

The Hematites join Calumet (7-0) in the Large Schools and Pickford (7-0) in the Eight Player to earn that lofty distinction.

The Hematites blanked No. 2 West Iron County (5-2) 14-0 on Saturday, knocking the Wykons into a tie for second with Iron Mountain (5-2).

In the Small Schools, Gwinn (5-2) rose a spot to fourth after knocking off Norway 26-21.

In the Large Schools, Westwood (5-2) and Marquette (3-4) switched places, the Patriots rising to third and the Redmen slipping to fourth, after Westwood shut out L’Anse 22-0 and MSHS fell at Minocqua, Wisconsin, Lakeland Union 20-14.

Negaunee (4-3) remained just outside the Large Schools top five with two votes after the Miners dispatched winless Gogebic 50-8.

The Associated Press announced Monday that it wouldn’t be releasing a state football poll today like it usually does each Tuesday.

The AP didn’t indicate if the release would be delayed or canceled for this week.

Among the big games involving area teams this week, Munising is at Ishpeming, WIC is at Gwinn and L’Anse is at Iron Mountain, all Friday night.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.