ESCANABA — The Upper Peninsula’s three poll leaders solidified their positions over the weekend, virtually securing Team of the Year honors with two weeks left in the high school football season.

Large School leader Calumet whipped Houghton 35-0, Small School pace-setter Ishpeming spilled poll runner-up West Iron County 14-0 and eight-player leader Pickford drubbed Superior Central 70-22.

Only three area schools are in their respective top five, with Escanaba No. 2 in the large schools, and in the eight-player ranks, North Central is No. 3 and Rapid River is No 4.

Escanaba (5-2) visits perhaps its strongest opponent of the season Friday with a trip to Traverse City Central (6-1), with Esky needing one more win to secure an automatic playoff berth.

North Central (6-1), which reached that qualifier Friday by beating Florence, Wis. 42-22, is an overwhelming favorite to beat Carney-Nadeau (0-7) Thursday, and Rapid River (5-2) goes to No. 2 Engadine (6-1) in need of one more win to guarantee a postseason assignment.

Westwood (5-2) replaced Marquette at No. 3 in the large school ranks after the Redmen (3-4) fell to fourth with a 20-14 loss at Minocqua, Wis. Lakeland. Kingsford (3-4) is fifth, with the Flivvers holding an outside shot a the postseason.

Kingsford visits Escanaba in the season-finale Oct. 19 in a game that will likely decide the playoff fate of each team.

Negaunee (4-3) and Sault Ste. Marie (4-3) received mention.

West Iron (5-2) remained second in the small school division despite its loss to Ishpeming, with Iron Mountain (5-2) third, Gwinn (5-2) fourth and St. Ignace (4-3) fifth. Munising (4-3) earned mention.

In the eight-player ranks, Engadine (6-1) is second and reigning state champion Forest Park (4-3) is fifth. Cedarville dropped into HM from fourth place after Rapid River rallied to beat the Trojans 28-20.