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Ê MANCELONA - Mancelona's football team certainly took care of business this season, winning its first Ski Valley Conference title since 1994 and making the playoffs for the second straight year.

The Ironmen earned the league championship by rallying from a 25-21 deficit against Forest Area, a surprise entrant in the title race, for a 26-25 victory.

It took a 22-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Greg Blanco to running back Adam Duerksen with 1:06 left in the game to seal the deal.

Forest Area had scored what the Warriors thought was the clinching touchdown only a minute earlier, and then regained possession of the ball when they forced a punt.

But the Ironmen got off a tremendous kick, pinning the Warriors deep in their own territory.

All the Warriors had to do was pick up a first down or two and they would secure a spot in the playoffs, and gain a share of the league title. Mancelona had other ideas, however, and its defense shut down the Warriors' offense to force a punt.

Blance revealed after the game that the game-winning play was an audible called at the line of scrimmage.

"Adam was supposed to run a curl pattern, but he went deep," Blance said. "I threw it up to him, and he made a great catch."

The Ironmen qualified for the playoffs with the win, and then sliced themselves a piece of the SVC title by knocking off Bellaire the next week. Mancelona shared the league title with Central Lake.

Mancelona then won its first playoff game in school history, rolling to a 36-14 victory over Rogers City on the road.

Duerksen carried the mail for the Ironmen, rushing for 243 yards on 36 attempts and scored four touchdowns.

James Johnson added 58 yards on 15 carries, and scored once. Blanco led the defense with 8 tackles.

The Ironmen's playoff run ended the following week in Traverse City, where the Gladiators won easily on their way to the state finals.

But, it will be a season not soon forgotten in Mancelona school history.