Iott, from Whiteford, and Gaskell, from Milan, play in the state All-Star Football Game

SOUTHFIELD – Jake Iott continues a tradition.

The recent Whiteford graduate played in the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association All-Star Game on Saturday in Southfield, the third Whiteford player to play in the East-West Classic in the last three years.

He’s also continuing a family tradition.

His father, John, was the first Whiteford player to play in the state All-Star game.

More: Monroe County Wins All-Star Football Game Against Lenawee

“It was very different back then,” the elder Iott said. “We played Michigan State. We stayed there for a whole week. It was a great experience.”

Iott played with some of the biggest names in Michigan high school football history – including Mill (Thrill) Coleman and Jerome Bettis.

“I still remember that game,” he said. “I still think about it from time to time.”

Iott, who was All-State for Whiteford in 1990 after leading the Bobcats with 111 tackles and nine sacks, still has his jersey from the game framed in his home.

Jake’s shirt is next to get the framed treatment. He played linebacker Saturday for the East team, which lost 13-12. East was coached by Jason Mensing, the coach who brought Jake up to varsity his freshman season and inserted him into the starting lineup at middle linebacker.

He ended up appearing in 49 career games, helping the Bobcats to a state semifinal appearance as a sophomore, the state championship as a junior and the state championship game as a senior. He is Whiteford’s all-time leading defender and was a two-time All-State selection.

He was a two-way starter at Whiteford the past few seasons, rushing for more than 1,000 yards as a junior. On Saturday he played only defense. In his first entry onto the field, he suffered three tackles in the first four plays.

“It was an incredible experience for him, just like I had,” his father said.

Jake was happy to have participated in the game.

“It was a cool experience to see all the talent from all over the state,” he said. “We don’t see all the greats like that in Division 8. Everyone here is an elite athlete on their team.”

Milan graduate William Gaskell was also in the East squad and played in defense of the ball.

The East trailed 13-6 late in the game as they scored a goal, crossing the goal line with 31 seconds left to pull within one point at 13-12. Mensing attempted a 2-point conversion in the win, but the pass was incomplete and West took the victory. Grand Rapids West Catholic’s Ryer Snow, a West defensive standout, was named MVP.

Mensing coached Whiteford from 2012 to 2021 before accepting the head coaching position at John Glenn in Westland. This past off-season, he moved to Florida to become the coach of the Lemon Bay Manta Rays, but returned to coaching in the All-Star Game.

“I committed to this a long time ago and I wanted to keep it,” he said. “It was a great experience being here with the children. It wasn’t the result we wanted, but the main thing was the relationships that are built in a scenario like this.”

This article originally appeared in The Monroe News: Iott follows in his father’s footsteps by playing in the state All-Star Game