ESCANABA — Three area football teams are among 18 from the Upper Peninsula to qualify for post-season playoffs.

Gladstone (7-2) hosts Benzie Central (6-3) in a Division 6 district opener Saturday at 1 p.m.

Bark River-Harris (7-2) travels to St. Ignace (7-2) for a D-7 match-up and two-time defending state champ North Central (9-0) hosts Stephenson (6-3) in an eight-player, D-2 regional opener. Both games kick off at 7 p.m. (EDT).

In other 11-player games, Kingsford (6-3) hosts Kingsley (7-2) in a D-5 district opener Friday at 7.

Negaunee (9-0) hosts Houghton (6-3) and Calumet (6-3) visits Menominee (5-4) in D-6 openers Friday at 7.

L’Anse (4-5) travels to Traverse City St. Francis (9-0) for a D-7 opener Friday at 6 and Ishpeming (4-5) goes to Iron Mountain (8-1) for a 7 p.m. contest.

In other eight-player regional openers, Forest Park (7-2) hosts Lake Linden-Hubbell in a D-2 contest.

Norway (6-3) visits Munising (9-0) and Newberry (8-1) travels to Rogers City (9-0) for D-1 games, both starting Friday at 7.