Todd Rose | Daily Press Escanaba’s Tyler Lawson (9) and Gladstone’s Cam Ballard (19) leap for a pass from Escanaba quarterback Brandon Frazer Oct. 23 in Gladstone. Lawson came down with the ball for an Eskymos touchdown.

MARQUETTE — Despite difficulties during the season, 10 local area football players were honored for their skill by the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Wednesday by being elected to the 11-Player All-U.P. Dream and First teams.

Escanaba — who was only able to play three games — senior Brett Schlenvogt was the sole appointee to the Dream Team offense at guard. Schlenvogt made the All-Great Northern Conference team this season and was All-U.P. First Team last season.

“He’s a student of the game,” Esky coach Dave Howes said. “It’s like having a coach on the field.”

Joining Schlenvogt on the Dream Team is Esky senior Kahler Geyer and Bark River-Harris senior Tyler Racicot as defensive tackle and defensive back respectively.

Like Schlenvogt, Geyer made the All-GNC this season and was selected to the All-U.P. First Team last season.

“He’s our most consistent and dominant defensive player,” Howes said.

As for Racicot, the 6-foot-2, 170 pound senior made the All West-PAC Iron Division team at defensive back and was elected the Defensive Player of the Year for the conference.

Racicot racked up five interceptions throughout the Broncos’ 5-3 season where they advanced to the district finals.

Filling four slots on the First Team offense are BR-H junior Dominique Ortega, Braves’ seniors Peter Noblet and Cam Ballard, and Eskymos’ senior Bryant Maki.

Ortega, who was named West-PAC Iron Division Lineman of the Year, was selected at tackle.

Joining him on the line is Noblet at guard, an All-GNC offensive lineman.

“Peter anchored our defensive line,” Braves’ coach Jeff Hansen said. “We got behind him on every down.”

Ballard — an All-GNC wide receiver — earned a spot at that same position. He finished the season with five touchdowns under his belt.

“He was double-teamed after the first couple of games,” Hansen said. “He was a ball-catching machine and averaged more than 10 yards a catch.”

Joining Ballard at wide receiver is Maki, who was selected to the All-GNC team this year and made the All-State First Team and the All-U.P. Dream Team last year.

“He’s a great player and a great person,” Howes said.

Rounding out local players on the First Team defense are Esky seniors Riley Lamb and Tyler Lawson and Braves’ senior Ryan Polley.

Lamb, who was selected as a defensive end, is a two-time ALl-GNC first team member and was an All-U.P. honorable mention last year.

“He set the edge for two years straight at defensive end and controlled his side-to-side game,” Howes said. “He’s one of the better defensive ends to come through Escanaba.”

Lawson, who made the list as a defensive back, was an All-U.P. Dream Team selection in 2019 and earned a spot on the All-GNC team at wide receiver this season.

“He’s a complete player and a playmaker,” Howes said.

Polley, who earned an All-U.P. Dream Team spot last year, was selected as a linebacker. Polley racked up 56 tackles, including seven for a loss.

“Ryan was our field general out there,” Hansen said. “He plays side-to-side and hits like a ton of bricks.”

Receiving honorable mentions were Escanaba’s Collin Arnt and Ryan Randall, Gladstone’s Hunter Potier and Bark River-Harris’ Riggins Stenberg, Trevor Lippens, Dylon Lippens and Carter Zawacki.