Hancock’s Aaron Barnes looks for an opening against Gogebic on Sept. 1. (George Leinonen photo)

MENOMINEE — During his 80-plus hours of research into Hancock’s football history, current coach Ted Holmstrom discovered the earliest matchups with schools across the U.P., including the Menominee Maroons. 

Hancock and Menominee first met in 1904 and played to a 0-0 tie. Three weeks later, Hancock took a train to Menominee for a rematch that would decide the U.P. Championship. Menominee was victorious, 6-5, back when TDs were worth five points, leaving the extra point as the difference-maker. 

It’s safe to say more points will be scored between the two in Saturday’s Division 5 district semifinal at Blesch Field in Menominee at 2 p.m. EDT. 

Hancock enters with the most prolific offense in school history (315 points, 35 per game) and managed to set the school record for points in just seven games. The Bulldogs gained over 1,900 yards rushing and passed for over 1,500. 

The Maroons have been even better on offense, scoring 326 points and averaging 36.2 per contest. 

“We feel comparable and we feel competitive, but we have to prove it,” Holmstrom said. “When the ball is placed and ready to play, you just have to go out and do it.”

Saturday marks Hancock’s third-ever playoff appearance. The Bulldogs have yet to win a playoff game, losing 32-15 to Whittemore-Prescott in 1995 and were blown out by Calumet, 42-7, in 2006.

And then there’s Menominee, who qualified for the state playoffs for the 22nd consecutive season. The Maroons (6-3) topped the Marquette Redmen 34-17 in the final week of the regular season to automatically qualify for the postseason.

“We had to basically fill 18 spots from last season’s team,” Menominee coach Joe Noah said. “This group of sophomores, juniors and seniors has jelled together as one. We’re playing as one at the right time and have been working on that all year.”

While the names have changed throughout the years, the Maroons’ offensive success has been based on the single wing. The power-running formation could create problems for a Hancock defense that has had trouble stopping the run against Lake Linden-Hubbell (249 yards rushing), West Iron County (274), L’Anse (294) and Hurley (333).

“When you get into late October and November, we know we have to run the football,” Noah said. “The single wing bodes well for that and has helped us for a quite a while. There’s other things we do now other than that with other formations that we access based on what the other team is doing.”

Saturday won’t be Holmstrom’s first instance in dealing with the single wing; as a player for Marquette in the 1970s, he went up against Menominee’s single wing for four seasons. 

“They’re running the same offense as they were in the 70s when I played,” Holmstrom said. “As the coaches went through the plays and watched film (this week), the coaches were shocked how much I knew even though I’ve never seen them play.

“They showed their favorite run plays and favorite pass plays. They run a spread version they didn’t run 30 years ago, but in general, it’s the same system with great coaches and everybody knows the system as far as players go. You’re not going to fool them.”

Much of what Menominee does, offensively and defensively, is ran through senior Ethan Mileski — a three-year starter on both sides of the ball who was named the GNC Defensive Player of the Year and was selected as a GNC First Team running back.

“When he’s on and playing well, he’s a really good runner and throws the ball extremely well,” Noah said. 

Hancock (7-2) has its own share of offensive playmakers in sophomore quarterback Colton Salani (1,481 yards passing, 322 rushing, 24 total TDs), junior back Alex Nordstrom (1,068 total yards, 11 TDs), senior back Aaron Barnes (1,157 total yards, 16 TDs) and senior end Grant Hokenson (40 catches, 812 yards, nine TDs). 

But in addition to Hancock’s personnel, Menominee has spent this week prepping for Hancock’s no-huddle attack where the Bulldogs run a play as soon as the umpire places the ball down.

“We found that our offensive scout team is getting tired from doing it,” Noah said. “It’s been an interesting week of prep.”

Both teams are somewhat familiar with each other. For the past three preseasons, the two schools have scrimmaged each other. But this matchup is for real.

“When you start getting to playoff football, the best players on your team always have to play their best in the biggest games,” Holmstrom said. “That’s really when you found out who your best players are. It’s win or go home. You have to bring it up to the next level.”

The winner will play whoever advances between Kingsford (7-2) and Gladstone (7-1).