Negaunee's Evan DellAngelo, right, jumps over teammate Derek McEachern, center, as the Miners’ Waylon Harvala readies to block on a kickoff return during a game played against Iron Mountain at Miners Stadium in Negaunee on Oct. 23. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MARQUETTE — Just like he carted off multiple awards in his conference, Negaunee’s Evan DellAngelo took home a pair of Dream Team awards in All-Upper Peninsula balloting when the U.P. Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association got together for its fall meeting on Wednesday at Northern Michigan University.

The 6-foot, 180-pound junior won three awards in the Copper Division of the West PAC — on offense, defense and special teams — and took home the maximum two in the top level of All-U.P. voting.

He couldn’t win three All-U.P. honors as the UPSSA only allows one Dream Team or First Team award between offense and defense. The group does allow a second win on special teams as it knows if it didn’t, there would hardly be any players left to vote on for special teams.

Specifically, DellAngelo was the leading vote getter for Dream Team as a wide receiver, then was unanimous as the Dream Team kick returner.

He was also nominated for All-U.P. as a defensive back, but wasn’t considered once his Dream Team nod was determined on offense.

As a wide receiver, he was noted for his unanimous selection at that position in the West PAC.

“He’s a special athlete and was mostly double-teamed as a receiver,” Miners head coach Jeff Niemi said in his nominating comments. Unfortunately, no statistics were available for Negaunee nominees.

But he didn’t really need stats as a kick returner, with Niemi noting DellAngelo had a kick or punt returned for a touchdown in each of his first five games before, as his coach noted, “Teams wouldn’t kick to him anymore. Sometimes they would make 10- or 15-yard kicks just to make sure the ball got out of bounds.”

He was also the unanimous Special Teams Player of the Year in the West PAC’s Copper Division.

In all, three Negaunee and three Marquette players each were named All-U.P. Dream Team, including DellAngelo getting his pair of awards.

There were six First Team honors handed out to players from Marquette, Baraga and Schoolcraft counties; five Special Mention awards from those areas; and nine honorable mentions, too.

Marquette senior Pavel McCutcheon earned All-U.P. Dream Team as a tackle on offense as a prelude to being named the Mitchell Snyder Lineman of the Year later in the meeting.

Two more Sentinels seniors also attained Dream Team status.

Ford Richardson was a near-unanimous choice and the leading vote getter at defensive back as he was noted for making five interceptions, three forced fumbles and nine pass breakups as he had 54 tackles.

“He understands the game and has very above-average instincts,” his coach, Eric Mason, said in comments supporting the nomination. “A true ball hawk, as extreme effort is all he knows.”

And that didn’t even take into any consideration his role as the Sentinels starting quarterback, where he threw for nearly 1,650 yards and gained more than 650 yards on the ground.

Also from Marquette, Pierce Pittsley was a Dream Team wide receiver, averaging 24 yards per catch as he made 21 receptions for 503 yards and six TDs.

“He has great speed, is an outstanding route runner and a very above-average blocker,” Mason said. “He also has great hands.”

Joining DellAngelo as All-U.P. Dream Team honorees from Negaunee are seniors Braylon Hakkarainen and Ethan Gauthier.

Hakkarainen earned his spot as a guard on offense, having earned First Team in the West PAC’s Copper Division.

“He’s a two-year starter, very strong run blocker, which is what we want to do,” Niemi said in supporting the nomination. “He’s a smart, intelligent kid and can make adjustments on his man while lined up waiting for the snap.”

Gauthier, who had also been nominated on the offensive line, won his Dream Team spot on the defensive line as another First Teamer in the West PAC.

“He’s an all-around player and one of the few players who earned all-conference awards on both sides of the ball,” Niemi said. “(He’s) playing with strength, speed and agility.

“He was pretty much unblockable most of the time. After awhile, teams would just run away from wherever he was on defense.”

The All-U.P. First Team brought in area players from three counties.

Marquette junior Clayton Edwards made First Team at defensive back as he had four caused fumbles and 89 tackles with seven of them for losses.

“He has a nose for the ball with great closing speed and relentless effort,” Mason said in support. “He’s a tough, hard-nosed player with a huge upside.”

Senior teammate Bjorn Anderson landed on the First Team as a tackle on the opposite end of the offensive line from McCutcheon, planning to attend Michigan Tech and play on the Huskies’ line.

“He is a smart, instinctual player, at the top of his class academically,” Mason said. “He has a high motor.”

Another Sentinels senior, Rocky Sholl, earned his First Team position on the defensive line.

“He has a great motor and plays with an edge with relentless pursuit to the ball,” Mason noted. “(He is) a great student of the game.”

Two players earned All-U.P. First Team recognition from L’Anse, which plays in the Iron Division of the West PAC.

Senior Daniel Connor, who was also nominated and earned honorable mention as a punter, made the First Team as a wide receiver — actually he’s a tight end — being noted for winning a spot on the Iron Division First Team for making 28 catches for 450 yards, including eight TDs.

Fellow Purple Hornets senior Hunter Thomas earned a First Team spot as a guard on offense, winning First Team in the West PAC and being noted for not allowing a QB sack while blocking for an offense that had 14 TD passes and 1,200 total yards offense.

From Schoolcraft County is All-U.P. First Team member Mack Pugh of Manistique, a senior who made it in a crowded crop of linebackers.

With the Emeralds also playing in the Iron Division of the West PAC, Pugh was noted for making several fumble recoveries and forced fumbles, along with seven tackles for loss among 51 total tackles.

Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.