Latest news, weather, high school sports for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

MARQUETTE, MI -- Rapid River has not won an overall state title in any sport.

The Rockets' girls basketball team came close a couple times in the 1990s.  But the Rockets new 8-man football team has a chance to bring home the big trophy Friday night in the Superior Dome against Carsonville-Port Sanilac.

The Rockets had their chance to work out in the Superior Dome Wednesday afternoon.  Most of the players have run track there, but it's been ten years or so since the football team hit the turf.

Just like 11-man football, this could be be decided in the trenches.

"It's going to be a challenge for our line," says Rapid River Coach Steve Ostrenga.  "If we can win the line of scrimmage, it's kind of what we've preached all year:  if we can do that, we'll be competitive."

"(We've) heard they're pretty good," according to Rapid River Quarterback Jake Pearson. "Obviously if they're in a state final, we'll have to come out and play our best ball."

"If you would have asked me three months ago, I probably would have told you that we wouldn't be here.  But now I'm excited to play in the state final game.  Right now it looks like our running game will be a big part of (our) showdown on Friday."

Both the Rockets and Tigers are 11-1.

If you can't get to the Superior Dome Friday night for a 7 p.m. kickoff, the game will be televised on Fox Sports Detroit ....channel 33 on Charter Cable, or 663 on DirecTV.