Calumet’s Brent Loukus breaks a tackle against Hurley on Sept. 8 at Agassiz Field. (Jason Juno/Daily Globe)

TRAVERSE CITY — Calumet has faced its share of power football teams throughout the season, but none compare to the Traverse City St. Francis Gladiators. 

TCSF averaged 268 rushing yards per game (6.9 per carry) while utilizing a T-based offense with four players gaining over 340 yards this season. 

On the defensive side, they’ve been even more impressive, limiting opponents to just 7 points per contest. The dominance on both sides of the ball has allowed TCSF to outscore its opponents 324-64, making the Copper Kings an underdog Saturday in a Division 6 district semifinal at Thirlby Field in Traverse City at 1 p.m.

“They certainly have the best group of linemen that we’ve seen,” Calumet coach John Croze said. “Their backs are physical and they’re going to come right at you, and you have to be able to withstand that.

“One of the keys will be keeping that offense off the field and keeping our offense on the field.” 

TCSF’s line has paved the way for its multi-back system. Joey Muzijakovi leads the way with 614 yards (9.0 per carry) and 11 TDs, while Teddy Prichard gained 519 yards (5.6) and scored eight TDs and Danny Passinaul racked up 450 yards (9.0) and six TDs. Aaron Simon chipped in with 343 yards (7.6) and seven TDs. 

“That’s our identity as a program,” TCSF head coach Josh Sellers said of his multi-back system. “It’s a running back by committee, more so this year than others.

“The kids are unselfish that way and no one complains about the number of carries they get. We definitely want to run the ball and control the clock. We’re not necessarily a quick-strike team.”

TCSF has also been able to capitalize in the red zone, scoring a TD in 25 of 30 red zone trips.

For as efficient as TCSF’s offense has been, they rather identify themselves with the things they do on the defensive side of the ball. The Gladiators (8-1) limit their opponents to 2.7 yards per carry and have allowed just nine touchdowns on the season.

“Our defensive coordinator, Joe Forlenza, does a great job getting kids ready for their opponent,” Sellers said. “The kids understand one of our goals is to be assignment first and swarm to the ball as quickly as they can. That’s what we hang our hat on — our defense.”

Calumet enters the matchup playing its best football of the season. The Copper Kings (6-3) closed the season with three consecutive wins and clinched a postseason berth with a 20-16 win over the Gladstone Braves (7-2) in Week 9.

“We’re not doing anything different than we did all year,” Croze said. “We’re just executing a little better, and we’re not our own worst enemy at this point.”

Against Gladstone, Calumet averaged 6.2 yards per carry and finished with 242 yards rushing while limiting Gladstone to 126 yards on the ground (3.9). 

Junior back Travis Ojala paced Calumet with 121 yards and a TD on 14 carries in what was one of the finest offensive rushing games for Calumet this season.

“One of the things we have to do against (TCSF) is be disciplined and keep plugging away at them,” Croze said attacking TCSF’s defense. “They’re very aggressive and you don’t see them making many assignment mistakes.”

TCSF will be the clear-cut favorites Saturday. The Gladiators were ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press state poll before a 19-13 loss to Boyne City in the season finale dropped TCSF to No. 2 in the final poll. TCSF is rich in tradition, boasting a .764 winning percentage since the program’s inception in 1951 and has won five state championships this century. And this season, they have a team looking to make a similar deep run.

“Now that we’re in the playoffs, no use not trying to win the whole thing,” Sellers said. “That’s our expectation in the program and everyone else has the same goal. Just like the proud and tradition-rich program like Calumet.” 

Calumet understands its underdog role in what will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools, and they’re content with that. The Copper Kings’ playoffs started three weeks ago when they were at 3-3 and needed to win out to make it to this point. 

“We just got to keep playing and doing what we’re doing,” Croze said. “I think teams had us as underdogs these last three weeks, so we don’t mind that role. We’re just going to play hard.”

The winner will play either Maple City Glen Lake (6-2) or Boyne City (9-0).