Two North Central football players battle for the ball during practice on Oct. 29, 2024 at North Central High School. (“The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

SPALDING — An usually warm late October afternoon sets the stage for practice at North Central 8-player football.

A few players sneak out early before the evening practice to get extra work in. But an idea comes to the mind of a few players.

Inside the pile of dummies and blocking pads is a massive foam circle with a hole in it, similar to a wheel. One player has a bright idea.

Maybe, just maybe, someone could run fast enough and leap through the hole of the dummy. One brave soul walks up to the dummy and peeks his head through the hole. It’s a tight squeeze, but someone from the growing crowd of teammates mentions that if he gets a fast enough running start he can sneak through. Simple science.

So the players backed up. He gets a running start, moving like a runaway freight train barreling toward the dummy.

He leaps. The crowd holds its breath in anticipation.

The player’s head gets through the hole. That was it.

Much like Winne the Pooh trying to capture a jar of honey he was stuck in the dummy which, along with the player, ultimately falls to the ground.

While science may not be the strongest subject for Jets players, it is safe to say that football has been a strong subject for North Central throughout the last decade.

And when most teams are feeling the pressure of playoff football, North Central is as loose as can be. The bond this team has grown is apparent.

And strong.

“I lost all my cousins this time last year,” senior Lane Gorzinski said. “I do feel like I have a brotherhood and kinship with these guys for sure. Closer than last year’s (team).”

Since 2015 the Jets have captured five 8-player state championships, including a three-peat from 2020-2022 which featured a historic 45-game winning streak, the largest winning streak of any Upper Peninsula football team.

That all came to an end in 2023 with an 8-3 campaign which ended with a 37-18 regional championship game loss to Lake Linden-Hubbell, the same team which snapped the historic 45-game winning streak during Week 5 of the regular season.

Now it’s 2024. And while the group that captured three-straight state championships has come and gone, the standard for football at North Central has remained the same.

With an 8-1 regular season finish and a conference championship secured, the jets are back in the playoff picture in 8-player’s Division 2 field.

It all starts at 1 p.m. Saturday with a home regional semifinal matchup with 8-1 Gaylord St. Mary.

“Anytime you get to make a group of high school kids get their butts out of bed at 6 in the morning, hop on the bus and take a four hour ride, it’s always an advantage, especially when we can roll out of bed, have a team breakfast and then show up to the field,” Jets coach Leo Gorzinski said. “It’s a great thing. You like to hope that there’s some mystique over there when they get across the bridge, driving in anticipation when they’re coming into the Jet’s house. It’s gotta be worth something.”

The Snowbirds have consistently been of the stronger football programs north of US-10. This game will mark their 23rd playoff appearance since 1981 and their fifth playoff berth since joining the 8-player ranks in 2019 to the tune of a combined regular season record of 34-17, missing the postseason just once in 2022 after a 6-3 finish.

“We don’t really get to play downstate teams very often, only when it comes to playoffs,” senior Spencer Willa said. “There’s always an excitement in the air when we get to play them.”

As for the Jets, the build to this season began in Week 1, a showdown with No. 1 Pickford. This game also featured a brand new offensive line in the trio of junior Drayden Preaseau, sophomore Kayden Dodson and freshman Myles Nehring. The Panthers toppled the Jets 40-12, a 28-point loss. But the 28 points is the closest anyone has come to topping Pickford (9-0), who outscored opponents 494-60 in 2024. It’s also why the Panthers are favorites to make a deep run in the 8-player Division 1 bracket.

But the Jets have continually improved since the Week 1 loss. In fact, the Jets improved to 5-1 by defeating their next five foes by a combined score of 290-38.

Then came a 78-43 win over Ontonagon and a 40-13 win over Gogebic, who was the second team left outside of the Division 1 playoff picture.

They were 7-1 with a game to go. The offensive line had meshed.

“These guys were so young and so fresh,” Leo Gorzinski said of the offensive line. “We don’t just block. We zone block and block straight up, but we survive on our twists, our stunts and our traps. They’re strong kids, but it’s the timing and the confidence. They’ve grown up front. It’s been tremendous for us.

All of that set up a colossal Week 9 road showdown against Crystal Falls Forest Park, then the No. 1 8-player team in the U.P.. The winner claimed a conference championship and pivotal momentum entering the playoffs.

Behind 403 total yards and six total touchdowns from Lane Gorzinski on offense and a mind boggling 13 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and an interception on defense, the Jets earned a 45-34 win over the Trojans, upsetting the No. 1 team in the U.P..

“They’ve built up through the season,” Leo Gorzkinsi said. “We told them all year long that if we can come into the playoffs healthy we will be the most dangerous team. And right now, I don’t want to burst their bubble, but that’s how I feel we are. We’re a very dangerous team entering the playoffs.”

Tickets for Saturday’s game are $7 and must be purchased at gofan.co.