RAPID RIVER — Eight-player football has become a huge factor in Upper Peninsula football circles, and listening to nominations for the Great Lakes Eight Football Conference all-stars underlined that here Monday.

Pickford, 9-0 and ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press state poll, had four players fill seven spots on the all-star team in voting by the 13 league coaches at Jack’s Restaurant. The Panthers were the obvious choice as Team of the Year.

Engadine and North Central, the other primary eight-player U.P. teams this season, filled

five and four spots, respectively. Howard Hood of Engadine was named Coach of the Year.

There were numerous standouts earning all-star honors throughout the league.

Jimmy Story of Pickford was picked at quarterback and linebacker, teammate Matt Bush was a running back-defensive back and Isiah May was picked on the offensive and defensive lines.

For North Central, Noah Gorzinski was picked as a hybrid player and defensive back.

The coaches also selected all-star teams based on East and West divisions, with number of all-stars based on division order of finish.

Pickford won the East at 6-0, followed by Engadine 5-1, Rapid River 4-2, Cedarville 3-3, Rudyard 2-4, Superior Central 1-5 and Brimley 0-6.

North Central took the West at 5-0, followed by Forest Park 4-1, Stephenson and Ontonagon 3-2, North Dickinson 1-4 and Carney-Nadeau 0-5.

Six league schools have qualified for postseason games this weekend, with North Central hosting Forest Park and Rapid River visiting Engadine Friday night in rematches of regular season games – North Central won state titles in 2015 and 2016 and Forest Park won last year – Pickford hosts Fife Lake Forest Area and Cedarville visits Hillman.

All-Conference team

Quarterback – Jimmy Story, Pickford; Andrew Blanchard, Engadine.

Running back – Roubens Fink, Superior Central; Montel Glover, Stephenson; Matt Bush, Pickford.

Wide receiver – Brady Eichmeier, North Central; Nick Edington, Pickford; Tommy Showers, Forest Park.

Hybrid – Noah Gorzinski, North Central.

Offensive line – Dalton Hanchek, North Central; Jacob Peterson, Forest Park; Isiah May, Pickford; Alex King, Engadine.

Defensive line – Sam Orth, Rapid River; Caleb Walters, North Central; Isiah May, Pickford; Jarron Masuga, Cedarville.

Linebacker – Lenny Menary, Rapid River; Evan Hedtke, Forest Park; Jimmy Story, Pickford; Jonah Miller, Engadine.

Hybrid – Kyle Gould, Engadine.

Defensive back – Nate Olson, Rapid River; Roubens Fink, Superior Central; Noah Gorzinski, North Central; Matt Bush, Pickford.

Team of the year – Pickford (9-0)

Coach of the year – Howard Hood, Engadine

WEST DiIVISION

North Central – Dalton Hanchek, Caleb Walters, Noah Gorzinski, Brady Eichmeier, Anthony McVay, Leo Gorzinski Jr.; Honorable mention – Carter Holle, Eric Strahl.

Forest Park – Jacob Peterson, Tommy Showers, Evan Hedtke, Al Hoenig, Tommy Peltoma; HM – Gabe Scarlassara, Nathan Johnson.

Ontonagon – Ed Polakowski, Phil Bass, Henry Menigoz, Noah Kaarto; HM – Noah Lukkari, Noah Huntzinger.

Stephenson – Montel Glover, Reed Deklaurelle, Shaun Mikus, Colin Hauser; HM – Ty Miller, Merlin Thoune.

North Dickinson – Max Bruette, Brennan Donaldson, Devin Donaldson; HM – Jacob Butterfield, Zachary Depotie.

Carney-Nadeau – Brett LaFord, Hunter Dupont; HM – Jerry LaFord, Max Baumler.

EAST DIVISION

Pickford – Jimmy Story, Isiah May, Nick Edington, Matt Bush, Stephen Lamothe, Chase Warner. HM – Mitchell Miller, Luke Batho.

Engadine – Kyle Gould, Andrew Blanchard, Jonah Miller, Alexander King, Zachary King; HM – Hunter Dennis, Nicholas Nance.

Rapid River – Sam Orth, Lenny Menary, Gunner Larson, Tyler Sundling; HM – Nate Olson, Brent Lundquist.

Cedarville – Jarron Masuga, Chase Fisher, Gunnar Fountain, Tristen Masuga. HM – Grant Fountain, Sean Bale.

Rudyard – Maxwell Zeeryp, Trent McDowell, Drew Steiker; HM – Louie Mayer, Dylan Threlfffel.

Superior Central – Roubens Fink, Noah Groulx, Beau Rondeau; HM – DJ Johns, Nathan Frusti.

Brimley – Mason Harris, Hunter Lipponen; HM – Tristen Lyons, Garrett Johnson.