Nelson, Hyrkas, Zapolnik Named to 11-Player Football Dream Team

High School

Three local players have been named to this year’s Upper Peninsula high school football 11-player Dream Team. In voting by members of the U.P. Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association, Calumet’s Dryden Nelson was honored as a running back. Fellow Copper King Chet Hyrkas was named as a linebacker, and Houghton’s Xander Zapolnik made the squad as a defensive end.

Members of the 11-player First Team include Houghton defensive back Nathan Erva and tackle Jack Borree, and Calumet defensive tackle Lenny Bjorn.

Players who received honorable mention votes included Alex Kissel and Steele Jondreau from L’Anse, Paul Sturos and Dean Loukus from Calumet, and Ted Halonen from Houghton.

MTU

The Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan University hockey teams will play a home-and-home non-conference series this weekend, with tonight’s game in Houghton, and tomorrow’s contest in Marquette.

The MTU women’s basketball team has been picked for a second-place finish in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division. The coaches’ poll released yesterday put Ferris State on top. Northern Michigan was picked to finish third. Lake Superior State placed sixth.

Ashland University was picked to win the South Division.

Cassidy Trotter and Ellie Mackay of the Huskies were named to the pre-season all-division team.

NBA

The Detroit Pistons shut down the Washington Wizards 97-86 last night. Josh Jackson came off the bench to lead Detroit with 17 points.

The Pistons conclude their exhibition schedule tomorrow night at Washington. 

Detroit opens the regular NBA season Wednesday at Minnesota. Listen for select Pistons broadcasts on 99.3 The Lift.

NFL

In last night’s NFL contest, the Los Angeles Chargers edged the Las Vegas Raiders 30-27 in overtime. The scored was tied 24-24 at the end of the third quarter. The Chargers missed two field goals in the fourth quarter that could have won the game. The Raiders connected on a 23-yard field goal on the first possession of overtime. The Chargers countered with a 75-yard drive, culminating in a one-yard Justin Herbert quarterback sneak for the winning touchdown.

There are two NFL games tomorrow. The Bills visit the Broncos at 4:30, and the Packers host the Panthers at 8:15. Hear both contests on 99.3 The Lift.

The Lions visit the Titans for a 1:00 Sunday afternoon game on 99.3 The Lift.

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