He is in one of the most unenviable positions in the Upper Peninsula, trying to take an MHSAA Division 3 school — last year it was Division 2 — to the playoffs when no other U.P. school is larger than Division 4.

It’s unenviable because the Sentinels start behind the 8-ball even before the season begins, trying to accumulate playoff points against schools in their division that are, for the most part, playing schools their own size.

Smaller-sized opponents mean fewer playoff points, something that quite likely bit MSHS as Marquette went 6-3 a year ago and still couldn’t reach the playoffs.

Now, though, the Sentinels have come back to Division 3 when they’d made the playoffs in four of Mason’s first five years.

Marquette head coach Eric Mason talks to the Sentinels after defeating Gladstone in their season-opening game played at William R. Hart Stadium in Marquette on Aug. 29, 2024. (Journal file photo)

And it seems he has the horses to take advantage of that rejiggering of their status.

“I’m pretty happy with the 47 kids we have out,” Mason said last week about his varsity team just a few days into fall practice.

He mentioned his seasoned quarterback, senior Ford Richardson, a wealth of running backs — “I’d be comfortable with any of these kids playing” — depth and great size on the offensive line — “I’m very happy with our line” — and even five possibilities at kicker.

“But there’s going to be a lot of unknowns this season, since five our our nine opponents have new (head) coaches,” Mason said.

That includes a “new” opponent on the schedule to kick off the season — next-door neighbor Negaunee.

Marquette center Bjorn Anderson, front center, hikes the ball to Sentinels quarterback Ford Richardson in a game against Escanaba at William R. Hart Stadium in Marquette on Oct. 4, 2024. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

The teams have a long history of playing each other, dating back to 1894, thought to be one of the oldest high school rivalries in the nation. But their matchup ended after the 2017 season when Negaunee and its Mid-Peninsula Conference brethren joined the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference with a schedule that allowed no games outside the teams in the reconstituted West PAC.

There was no word whether this renewal of their rivalry will continue beyond this year.

No matter what, Negaunee is one of the Sentinels’ opponents with a new coach, Jeff Niemi, after the offseason retirement of 25-year head coach Paul Jacobson.

During those opening days of practice, Mason was definitely concentrating on his own troops, though.

He feels particularly good about Richardson, a third-year varsity player and second-year starter at QB, who is the son of Northern Michigan University football head coach Shane Richardson.

Marquette’s Grant Simon fends off a Gaylord defender in the first quarter of their game played at William R. Hart Stadium in Marquette on Sept. 14, 2024. (Journal file photo)

“He has a tremendous amount of experience now, and it shows; he’s one of our captains,” Mason said of the younger Richardson. “One thing I can say, I don’t think I’ve ever been around a more competitive kid than Ford.

“And he’s an all-around athlete — he’s a smart kid and a good athlete. He reads defenses at a more advanced level than a ‘regular’ high school kid.

“He loves the game. It’s just the intangibles — being competitive, understanding the game, his instincts. You really can’t ask for more in a football player.”

Richardson had some pretty good statistics last season, reportedly running for more than 500 yards and passing for more than 1,100 yards while accounting for more than two dozen touchdowns combined on the ground and in the air.

He’ll be leading the Sentinels’ spread offense that Mason said is masterminded by assistant coach Chris Messano.

Marquette’s Pierce Pittsley celebrates with a gesture after scoring the Sentinels’ opening touchdown in the first quarter of a game played against Gaylord at William R. Hart Stadium in Marquette on Sept. 14, 2024. (Journal file photo)

“We’re a spread team, usually lining up three or four wide,” Mason said about his skill players.

But don’t take that as an all-throw, no-run philosophy.

“We actually run more than we throw,” Mason said. “But because I feel we’re on par or above athletically with most of our opponents, we want to give our athletes more space to work. It’s just a better fit for us.”

Those never-forgotten running backs will be led by a trio of seniors and a junior — seniors James Goodwin, Brady Audette and Bodi Bennett and junior Landon Faccio.

Possibly the most talented back, however, will be senior Grant Simon, who’s just coming back from ACL knee surgery.

Among the receivers, both the “wide” type and the tight ends, are seniors Pierce Pittsley, Jacob Norman and Halen McCollum, and juniors Brody Clements and Braylon Zdunek.

Of course, none of that special brew that Mason, Messano & Co. is stewing will be possible without a solid offensive line. That’s something else Marquette has plenty of, even with the graduation the past two years of each of the Smith brothers, named in consecutive years as the U.P. Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association All-U.P. Lineman of the Year — Dasan Smith in 2023 and Talon Smith in 2024.

It wouldn’t be surprising if this year’s senior leader on the line, 6-foot-7, 290-pound Pavel McCutcheon, might give the Sentinels’ a shot at a U.P. Lineman of the Year three-peat. He’s already committed to college at perennial NCAA Division II national championship contender Grand Valley State after both Smiths are now at Division I Central Michigan.

He’ll get plenty of support from a pair of senior returning starters, Bjorn Anderson and Andy Thurston. And Mason sees another trio making a good push for starters’ spots — senior Drew Erickson and juniors Brecken Goodwin and Jameson Bourdage.

Moving to defense, a number of the starters on offense likely will be two-way starters.

Coming off his knee surgery, Simon is being counted on by Mason as his most versatile defender.

“He’s our leader,” the coach said. “He can can play all four positions in our 3-4 defense.”

On the D-line, McCutcheon, Anderson and Thurston are likely starters, but so are seniors Riley Sanville and Evan Hawley and juniors Russell Bess and Rocky Sholl.

Linebackers not only include Simon but also Audette, Bennett, senior Alex Brennan and junior Tyler Hendrickson.

Moving into the secondary, Richardson may lead the way as he’ll be joined by McCollum, Zdunek, Clements and senior Ben Rayhorn.

In the kicking game, it was a bit early to sort everyone out, but Mason mentioned that Audette was last year’s punter, while Zdunek and Connor Dunn are among candidates as kicker and Zdunek and Pittsley as kick returners.

Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.