Munising quarterback Josh Huotari drops back to pass during a high school game at Gwinn on Oct. 25, 2019. (Journal file photo by Ryan Spitza)

MUNISING — The Munising High School football program are going through what a number of Upper Peninsula schools of their size have had to do — transition from 11-player to eight-player football.

Though it is the second campaign of the eight-player game for the Mustangs, it has the feeling of a debut season after the depths of the coronavirus pandemic going on at this time last year.

Munising was actually one of the few schools to get all six regular-season games and a postseason game in without losing any due to COVID-19. The Mustangs felt fortunate and thankful to get them all in, according to head coach Matt Mattson, and the team is looking forward to this fall for the transition to become even more seamless.

“I think this year just having a year under our belts and a full off-season, no delays with COVID or anything, the transition has been much smoother and the kids are a lot more comfortable this year, along with the coaching staff,” he said.

Player numbers are close to what they’ve been in the past, with 15 varsity and 17 JV players, Mattson said. The Mustangs had five sophomores as starters a year ago, and although the team is young, there’s experience.

Junior Kane Nebel will play quarterback this fall but has been out due to injury that could go into the season, Mattson said. Junior twin brothers Josiah and Micaiah Peramaki will be players to watch for Munising this season, along with running back and linebacker Jacob Mattson.

Munising finished 4-3 last season after a 34-22 loss to Indian River Inland Lakes in the first round of the MHSAA eight-player Division 1 playoffs.

The schedule this fall will be tough, including the first two games against powerhouses Cedarville and Pickford. The Mustangs fell to Cedarville 32-8 last year, and Pickford was looking for another state title before its season was cut short due to COVID-19.

MHS also welcomes downstate Suttons Bay in Week 5 for a Saturday showdown, with the Norsemen coming off of a state runner-up appearance. The Mustangs need to be ready, or it could be an embarrassing season, Mattson said.

“It feels like when I was coaching back in the Mid-Pen(insula Conference) when you started off with Norway and Negaunee because they’re Cedarville and Pickford, two great programs, fantastic coaching staffs,” Mattson said. “We have our work cut out for us, we don’t have all of our health back for Week 1 or Week 2, but we’re going to go into it and battle.”

Friday night lights return in Munising with the Mustangs’ season and home opener against Cedarville at 7 tonight.

Travis Nelson can be reached by email at tnelson@miningjournal.net.