• Opening kickoff at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Superior Dome in Marquette

• Radio on Fox Sports 99.9 & 105.1 FM (live), TV on WLUC-TV6 at 11 a.m. Sunday (taped)

• Tickets are $7 per person available online at NMU Tickets website, nmu.universitytickets.com

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On the opening play from scrimmage, Ishpeming quarterback Hunter Smith, bottom, is sacked by Negaunee's Drake Spickerman, on top of him, as the Miners' Easton Palomaki rushes in on the play, too, during their high school game played at the Ishpeming Playgrounds on Sept. 23. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

MARQUETTE — As a lineman even on a high-profile team like state runner-up Negaunee High School, Drake Spickerman didn’t garner a whole lot of attention during Miners’ high school football games.

But on Wednesday afternoon, he had his chance to make a name for himself at the Skills Challenges held in the Superior Dome as part of the week leading up to Saturday afternoon’s 16th annual Upper Peninsula Football All-Star Game.

Spickerman similarly cashed in during all-league, All-U.P. and all-state voting held around the end of the season last fall.

This time around, he showed some of his raw abilities by winning two of the Challenges, nearly setting a record in one of them during friendly competition held in the Superior Dome’s weight room and on the playing field.

Spickerman, one of eight Negaunee players who will suit up in the game Saturday, made 23 repetitions of lifting a 225-pound weight on the bench press to tie Red teammate Adam Horrigan of Sault Ste. Marie for the third most reps all-time, according to a news release on the event provided by game organizer Todd Goldbeck.

A trio of Negaunee players walk back after a play during the MHSAA Division 6 Finals in 11-player football played against Grand Rapids West Catholic at Ford Field in Detroit on Nov. 25. From left are Phil Nelson, Nico Lukkarinen and Mitch Paltzer. (Photo courtesy Heather Abram)

Spickerman and Horrigan shared the title of Strongest Man among linemen, while Gladstone’s Cole Potier was close behind them in the non-lineman division of Strongest Man as he made 22 reps. Potier’s feat is second all-time in the non-lineman category.

Spickerman also showed his versatility by winning the Receiver Challenge for linemen, while Escanaba’s Trent Lawson took the banner in the non-lineman category. No numerical scores were listed for this event.

So far, all these winners will be members of the Red team on Saturday.

Miners’ teammate Nico Lukkarinen made it a three-win day for Negaunee after he won the Fastest Man among linemen, though he’s rather a hybrid of the lineman/non-lineman as a running back on offense and linebacker on defense. His time in the 40-yard dash was 5.32 seconds, while non-lineman winner Carter Oshelski of the Soo clocked 4.68 seconds at the same distance.

Both Lukkarinen and Oshelski will play for the Black team Saturday.

Other winners Wednesday were the Red team’s Brayden Altoft of Pickford in the Quarterback Challenge with a throw of 55 yards, the Black team’s Kaedan Calcari of Menominee in Punting with a kick of 53 yards and the Black team’s Riccardo Moauro of Gogebic in Field Goal Kicking with a boot of 43 yards.

Goldbeck mentioned that the Skills Challenges gave players a much-needed rest from the grind of two practices per day, and each event had a gallery of players watching and cheering them on. With friendly rivalries within each event, the atmosphere was casual as parents, fans and media were also in attendance.

Players were scheduled to hold their Youth Football Camp at the dome Thursday evening, with the All-Star Banquet at Northern Michigan University’s University Center at 6 p.m. Friday.

The All-Star Game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday in the dome, with tickets $7 per person and available online at the NMU Tickets website.

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