ESCANABA — Marquette remained atop the recent U.P. football poll for 11-player teams voted on by the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.

The Redmen (4-1) bested the Escanaba Eskymos most recently, 27-6, and lead second-ranked Kingsford (3-1) — who moved up from third — by five votes.

Sault Ste. Marie (3-2) dropped down one place to third, after a 40-6 loss at Kingsley with just nine votes.

Rounding out the rest of the top seven are fourth-ranked Houghton (2-1), and a three-way tie between Calumet (2-2), Iron Mountain (5-0) and Menominee (3-2).

Gladstone was unranked this week as was Escanaba. Both teams finished their season facing off against the other at Gladstone Friday.

On the eight-player side, Pickford and North Central remained atop the list separated by just one vote. Pickford (4-1) — who recently forfeited to unranked Rapid River (4-1) — received 23 votes, while North Central (5-0) received 22. The Jets recently triumphed over Lake Linden-Hubbell 34-22 to remain undefeated.

Cedarville (4-1) moved up to No. 3 with 14 votes after a 32-8 win against Munising, while Lake Linden (2-3) maintained its position at fourth with nine votes.

Rounding out the eight-player rankings are Munising (4-1) at fifth, and Forest Park (3-1) at sixth.

The Mustangs dropped two ranks, and the Trojans pushed Stephenson off the list.

In the recent AP prep football poll, previously unranked West Iron County (5-0) jumped up to No. 8 with 11 votes in Division 8 after a 20-14 overtime win against Gwinn recently. Iron Mountain dropped out of the top ten, but still received three votes.

Reading took control of Division 8 at No. 1, followed by Centreville, Addison, Sand Creek, Clarkston Everest Catholic, Fowler, Johannesburg-Lewiston, West Iron County, Flint Beecher and Beal City.

In the eight-player division, the Jets moved up one spot and topped the list with 66 votes. Previous No. 1, Pickford, dropped to third with 49.

Adrian Lenawee Christian (5-0) split the local teams at No. 2 with 62.

Finishing off the rankings were Portland St. Patrick at No. 4, Suttons Bay, Morrice, Merill, Pellston, Colon and Indian River-Inland Lakes.

Lake Linden was unranked but received five votes.