Category: Football

Two MSHS Football student-athletes signed their respective commitments to attend Michigan Tech University to compete as members of the Huskies Football program during a signing ceremony that took place from the REDspn Studio at MSHS today (February 1).

Family members, friends, coaches and staff were on-hand as both Nate Benninger (Senior; Running Back/Safety) and Peter Closner (Senior; Running Back/Linebacker) celebrated their recent decisions to attend MTU and play football at the college level.

Benninger and Closner each have two years of experience on the MSHS Varsity Football Team with each having excelled at their respective positions on the field as well as in the classroom.  In addition to their individual statistics and accolades listed below, both student-athletes were members of the 2021 team that captured the Great Northern Conference (GNC) Championship and earned a berth in the MHSAA Division 3 Playoffs.

Nate Benninger – Senior – Running Back/Safety

• Benninger’s season statistics (offensive): 29 catches, 182 yards, 2 touchdowns
• Career Accolades:  2021 All-U.P. Honorable Mention, 2021 All-Great Northern Conference First Team
• Planned Area of Study at MTU:   Exercise Science
• Why Nate Chose MTU:  “I chose to continue my education at Michigan Tech University because of the distinguished school and football program.  Coach Mettlach being announced as the head coach this year made Michigan Tech an easy decision, as I connected with him immediately.  MTU has excellent academics and a great Exercise Science program, which is the degree I will pursue.  Many of my former teammates are currently playing at MTU, and I am thrilled to be able to play with them again.  I am beyond excited and grateful to continue my academic and athletic career at Michigan Tech!  Go Huskies!“

Peter Closner – Senior – Tight End/Linebacker 

• Closner’s season statistics (defensive):  105 tackles, 9 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 3 blocked punts
• Closner’s season statistics (offensive):  27 catches, 340 yards, 8 touchdowns
• Career Accolades:  2021 All-State First Team, 2021 U.P. Defensive Player of the Year, 2021 All-U.P. “Dream Team”, 2021 Great Northern Conference Defensive Player of the Year and 2021 All-Great Northern Conference First Team
• Planned Area of Study at MTU:   Engineering
• Why Peter Chose MTU:  “I chose to further my football and educational career at MTU because I instantly felt at home in the coaching program.  I think the program has taken step in the right direction with head coach Dan Mettlach stepping in this year.  I’m excited to see what type of program I can contribute to building in the next four years.  MTU also has a great engineering program which I will choose to study in my following years as it is a great career decision as well.  Very excited to get to work, GO HUSKIES!”

Senior linebacker Peter Closner was recently selected to the 2022 All-State First Team for Divisions 3-4 by the Associated Press.

The All-State selection adds to an already long list of postseason accolades that Closner has accumulated.  Those awards include U.P. Defensive Player of the Year, All-U.P. “Dream Team”, Great Northern Conference Defensive Player of the Year and All-Great Northern Conference.

During the 2022 football season, Closner accumulated defensive stats of 105 tackles, 9 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and 3 blocked punts.  This adds to his offensive numbers of 27 catches for 340 yards and 8 touchdowns as a wide receiver.

Click here for a full listing of the 2022 AP All-State Football Teams for Divisions 3-4 (courtesy of M Live).

The 2022 All-Upper Peninsula Football Awards were published today (November 21) and MSHS had three of its football student-athletes listed among the honorees announced by the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.

Senior Peter Closner highlighted the list of MSHS honorees when he was selected as the U.P.’s “Defensive Player of the Year”, in addition to earning a spot on the All-U.P. “Dream Team” as a linebacker.  Closner, who was also named as the Defensive Player of the Year in the Great Northern Conference (GNC), was a force for MSHS both as a linebacker and as a tight end.

• Closner’s season statistics (defensive):  105 tackles, 9 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 3 blocked punts
• Closner’s season statistics (offensive): 27 catches, 340 yards, 8 touchdowns
• Coach Mason on Peter Closner:  “Peter is an exceptional leader!  He is long and gifted athletically, and works hard both on and off the field.  He is just starting to scratch the surface in terms of his potential and will be a player to look for at the next level.”

Junior Dasan Smith earned a spot on the All-U.P. “Dream Team” as an offensive tackle.  Smith also was named as the GNC’s “Lineman of the Year.

• Coach Mason on Dasan Smith:  “Dasan has the potential to be one of the best lineman we have had in Marquette for some time.  He is a great combination of size, strength and tenacity.   He always plays to the whistle and has a great motor.  As good of a football player as he is, he is an even better young man!  I expect big things from Dasan next year!”

Senior Nate Benninger earned All-U.P. Honorable Mention honors as a wide receiver.  This comes after earning All-GNC first team honors at the same position.

• Benninger’s season statistics (offensive): 29 catches, 182 yards, 2 touchdowns
• Coach Mason on Nate Benninger:  “Nate is one of the hardest working young men I have had.  Great team leader and a player that others gravitated towards.  He is very gifted athletically, won’t be outworked, and understands the mental part of the game.  He is a solid player that I expect to see playing on Saturdays.”

2022 All-U.P. Football Press Releases:

• Click here for the 2022 U.P. Football Major Awards press release.
• Click here for the All-U.P. “Dream Team” and First Team listings.
• Click here for the All-U.P. Special Mention and Honorable Mention listings.

Earlier this week, football coaches from the Great Northern Conference (GNC) gathered to make selections for the 2022 All-GNC Teams.  Member schools within the GNC include Marquette, Escanaba, Gladstone, Kingsford and Menominee.

Marquette, after compiling a 2-2 GNC record on the season, had two of its players receive major awards to go along with placing two on both the All-GNC Offense and All-GNC Defense.  In addition, five others received Honorable Mention nods.

2022 Great Northern Conference Players of the Year:

• Player of the Year:  Nic Nora – Kingsford
• Offensive Players of the Year:  Cole Potier – Gladstone; Kaeden Calcari – Menominee
• Defensive Player of the Year:  Peter Closner – Marquette
• Lineman of the Year:  Dasan Smith – Marquette
• Coach of the Year:  Craig Ness – Gladstone

2022 All-Great Northern Conference Offense:

• Josh Racine – OL – Gladstone
• Vinny Howes – OL – Gladstone
• Garrett Veale – OL – Kingsford
• Dasan Smith – OL – Marquette
• Lucas Thoune – OL – Menominee
• Nate Young – QB – Gladstone
• Cole Potier – RB – Gladstone
• Ben Johnson – RB – Escanaba
• Cole Myllyla – RB – Kingsford
• Kaedan Calcari – RB – Menominee
• Nic Nora – WR – Kingsford
• Nate Benninger – WR – Marquette
• Trent Lawson – WR – Escanaba
• Tyler Darmogray – WR – Gladstone
• Kaden Gibbs – WR – Gladstone

2022 All-Great Northern Conference Offense:

• Noah Johnson – DL – Kingsford
• Hunter Thornson-Westby – DL – Menominee
• Josh Racine – DL – Gladstone
• Cole Potier – DL – Gladstone
• Dasan Smith – DL – Marquette
• Elizin Rouse – LB – Kingsford
• Landan Bardowski – LB – Menominee
• Noah Gagne – LB – Escanaba
• Mitch Cartwright – LB – Gladstone
• Peter Closner – LB – Marquette
• Braden Sundquist – DB – Gladstone
• Kaiden Brown – DB – Escanaba
• Cole Myllyla – DB – Kingsford
• Trevor Theuerkauf – DB – Menominee
• Nic Nora – DB – Kingsford

2022 All-Great Northern Conference Special Teams:

• Nolan White – Kicker – Kingsford
• Kaiden Brown – Punter – Escanaba
• Nic Nora – Return Specialist – Kingsford

2022 Great Northern Conference Honorable Mention:

• Bodhi White – DB
• Easton Miller – LB
• Eli Lusk – OL
• Kyler Young – OL
• Xander Marshall – DL

Varsity Football (3-6; 2-2 Great Northern Conference)

Marquette 13, Petoskey 26 

Game Recap:

• Recap courtesy of Fox Sports Marquette is available at this link.

Week 9 Subvarsity Scores:

• JV:  MSHS 8, Petoskey 7 
• Freshman:  MSHS 32, Petoskey 12 

Senior Night:

Friday’s game served as “senior night” as 12 members of the Class of 2023 were honored prior to the start of the contest along with their parents/guardians.  Congratulations to these football student-athletes and the success that they have achieved while playing for MSHS!

• #1 – WR/LB – Peter Closner
• #5 – RB/DB – Nate Benninger
• #7 – WR/DB – Bodhi White
• #15 – WR/DB – Ben Flynn
• #24 – WR/DB – Tristin Potila
• #58 – RB/LB – Easton Miller
• #60 – OL/DL – Theo Adams
• #67 – OL/DL – Ethan Jennings
• #70 – OL/DL – Matthew Lipe
• #72 – OL/DL – Holden Hutter
• #75 – OL/DL – Xander Marshall
• #77 – OL/DL – Kyler Young

Varsity Football (3-5; 2-2 Great Northern Conference)

Marquette 6, Midland 28 

Game Recap:

• Recap courtesy of Fox Sports Marquette is available at this link.

Week 8 Subvarsity Scores:

• JV:  MSHS 12, Midland 31 
• Freshman:  MSHS 30, Menominee JV 14 

Next Up:

All three levels of the MSHS Football Program will host Petoskey for the final week of regular season play.  Games will take place on Friday, 10/21/22, with respective start times for the Freshman/JV/Varsity of 3:00/5:00/7:00 p.m.

Immediately after the conclusion of the JV contest, Class of 2023 Seniors within the Football and Cheer Programs will be recognized along with their parents/guardians.

Varsity Football (3-4; 2-2 Great Northern Conference)

Marquette 21, Menominee 6 

Game Recap:

• Recap courtesy of Fox Sports Marquette is available at this link.

Week 7 Subvarsity Scores:

• JV:  MSHS 54, Menominee 0 

Next Up:

The MSHS Varsity and JV Football teams will each host Midland in Week 8 of the regular season with the Freshman team traveling to Menominee.

• Varsity:  Friday, October 14 vs. Midland – 7:00 p.m. 
• JV:  Friday, October 14 vs. Midland – 4:00 p.m.
• Freshman:  Thursday, October 13 at Menominee JV – 6:00 p.m. EST 

Varsity Football (2-4; 1-2 Great Northern Conference)

Marquette 21, Escanaba 13 

Game Recap:

• Recap courtesy of Fox Sports Marquette is available at this link.

Week 6 Subvarsity Scores:

• JV:  MSHS 16, Escanaba 31 
• Freshman:   MSHS 28, Escanaba 21

Next Up:

The MSHS Varsity and JV Football teams will be in action against Menominee in Week 7.

• Varsity:  Friday, October 7 at Menominee – 7:00 p.m. EST
• JV:  Thursday, October 6 at Marquette – 6:00 p.m.