Jason Juno/Daily Globe Ontonagon's Jake Witt was named All-U.P. Dream Team in the eight-person division.

Jake Witt proved what he could do catching the ball as a junior and, as a senior, he proved what he could do with a less glamorous role.

The versatile player was named an All-U.P. Dream Team player both years.

Witt and three of his Ontonagon Gladiator teammates were named to the All-U.P. eight-player football teams at Wednesday’s 68th annual football meeting of the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and

Sportscasters Association.

Witt and defensive tackle James Domitrovich were named to the Dream Team. Running back Jaden Weisinger and defensive end Tanner Balcolmb were First Team selections.

Witt moved in from perimeter receiver last year to a blocking tight end for the first time this year. He’s 6-7, 240 pounds and is as tough as he is fast.

Thirteen of his 28 catches were for touchdowns and he totaled 651 receiving yards. But the Gladiators also rushed for 2,000 yards as a team as opposing defenses were worried about him getting loose.

“His reputation as a pass receiver caused defenses to play him like he was going to run deep routes all the time. Just the threat of him being able to do it caused defenses to keep someone really, really far back. That gave us some advantages in the Xs and Os department,” Ontonagon coach Ben Mayer said. “He’s a very good blocker, he’s not afraid to do it and he’s huge. He had 28 reception and 13 touchdowns on the season. Teams played him like he was going to do that on them.”

Plus, “he worked really hard at (blocking). He can bend and get really low for a really big guy. It’s really impressive.”

He adjusted without complaint from his role at Ewen-Trout Creek, where he set a multitude of state records as a receiver, to a more obscure role out of the spotlight in Ontonagon where the Panthers and Gladiators combined this year for a co-op.

“He’s a team-first kid,” Mayer said. “If I would have asked him to play center, he would have done it. He doesn’t think about stats, he doesn’t think about being featured in something, he just doesn’t do that kind of stuff. I think if you look at someone who I want him working with me, or I want him as a teammate, he’d be No. 1 on the list.”

Witt was also a force on defense. He had 61 tackles, 18 for a loss in the regular season.

“And that’s with nobody running at him,” Mayer said. “If you run at him, he pretty much will make the tackle. It’s kind of amazing to watch. The speed at that size is amazing. If you run away from him, he’ll catch you. He’s all over the place, especially as a player that hasn’t really done it much.”

Witt’s fellow Dream Teamer, Domitrovich, stood out enough to be named the top defensive lineman in the Western 8 Conference, considered one of the best in Michigan.

“He’s everywhere on the field,” Mayer said. “If you run at him, he’s there. If you run away from him, he’s there. He’ll chase plays 15, 20 yards down the field if he has to. And he’s slippery, which helps.”

Domitrovich had 89 tackles, including 14 for a loss. He had eight sacks, one interception, four fumble recoveries, two of which he scored on.

“He has a knack for the big plays,” Mayer said. “He’s a very, very good pass rusher, too.”

Weisinger has been the focal point of Ontonagon’s offense for the last few years. He rushed for 1,240 yards on 137 carries. He had big games against good teams, including 182 yards against North Central and 270 against conference champion Rapid River. He had 16 touchdowns.

“He’s really quick and has really good vision,” Mayer said. “I don’t think he’s a typical running back build-wise, but he’s a really sudden player – he’s really explosive and he’s very smooth. He’s deceptive with it.”

Balcomb earned a spot at defensive end.

When teams ran away from Witt, they found Balcomb, and that wasn’t good for other teams.

“He held up really well,” Mayer said. “He’s played a ton of football, he’s pretty much a four-year starter. He plays defensive end. He gets to the sideline.”

Ontonagon center Micah Blake was honorable mention. He was Ontonagon’s best run blocker before getting injured, Mayer said.