Justin St. Ours | Daily Press Gladstone’s Hunter Potier (center) sacks Sault Ste. Marie’s Jakob Davie (1) Oct. 22 in Gladstone.

ESCANABA  — Three area football players were named to Michigan High School Football Coaches Association All-State Teams last week.

Gladstone’s Hunter Potier (11-player, Division Six), Rapid River’s Carter Johnson (8-Player, Division Two) and Superior Central’s Zach Frusti (8-Player, Division Two) were all named to their respective All-State Teams by the MHSFCA.

Potier, a senior, was selected as part of the Division Six First Team Defense.

He tallied 63 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 13 sacks and two forced fumbles in the 2021 football season. The MHSFCA honor comes on the heels of Potier being named 2021 11-Player Defensive Player of the Year by the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.

Jeff Hansen, former Braves head coach, put it simply when it came to his thoughts on Potier.

“The most dominant defender in the U.P.,” said Hansen. “He was the career sack leader and tackles for loss leader in the history of Gladstone football with 37 sacks and 39 tackles for loss. All-GNC and All-U.P. as a sophomore, junior, and senior. MHSFCA all-region and all-state as a junior and senior.

“Considered to be the most dominant defender in the last 50 years of Braves football with the likes of Kent King and Jared Vuksen. Relentless motor, truly a generational talent and future Braves Hall of Famer.”

Rapid River Rockets junior Carter Johnson was named to the 8-Player Division Two First Team Offense as a wide receiver.

Johnson put 827 yards under his feet on 43 receptions this football season. He collected a total of nine touchdowns with five successful two-point conversions on the year to boot.

Johnson was also recently named to the UPSSA All-U.P. 8-Player Dream Team as a wide receiver.

“He’s got phenomenal hands, and he earned everything he got,” said Rockets coach Steve Ostrenga. “He worked hard. He’s a captain. He certainly is an excellent receiver that is only going to blossom more. He is certainly deserving. He’s the real deal.”

While senior Zach Frusti led his cougars from the quarterback position, the work he did with his legs earned him a spot on the 8-Player Division Two First Team Offense as a running back.

Rushing, Frusti collected 1,701 yards on 157 attempts (10.8 per carry) with 15 TDs. He added 252 yards passing with a 14 yards per pass avg and 4 touchdowns. In total, Zach averaged 325.3 all-purpose yards per game.

Frusti was also named to the 8-Player UPSSA First Team in the Athlete position.

“Anyone who played against us planned 100 percent on how to stop Zach. That’s the truth,” said Cougars coach Sam Eggleston. “He didn’t fail to have a 100-yard game, put up over 400 in a game that we lost and 385 in another we lost and was just about as dangerous of a runner as they come.”