The Port Huron High School football program has been on an upswing for several years.

As head coach Ryan Mullins enters his tenth season at the helm, the Big Reds can boast having one of the top programs in the Blue Water Area.

But last season proved to be far from the norm. The Big Reds struggled against the heavyweights of the Macomb Area Conference White Division and ultimately fell short in keeping their nine year postseason appearance streak alive.

“It’s obviously tough and it’s all about the seniors,” Port Huron coach Ryan Mullins said. “You don’t want to let down your senior group. We have a lot of great kids and leaders. The record didn’t show it but we played a tough schedule and there were games that could have gone either way.

“The sophomores and juniors last year were a part of that and they know it’s their duty to keep the program moving forward.”

After finishing 3-6 last year, the Big Reds is seeking a return to prominence this season. They are now in the MAC Blue Division, but will still face a difficult challenge. That begins immediately in Week 1, when the Big Reds get Detroit Country Day for the season opener for a second consecutive year.

“I’m happy we get a chance to face then,” Port Huron senior quarterback DeAngielo Sanderson Jr. said. “They are a good team but they are beatable. I like that we get to test ourselves right away.”

Northern football ready to keep rising in 2016

The Big Reds will lean on Sanderson and the offensive line for their leadership and experience.

“I think right now our best depth is upfront, which is nice,” coach Mullins said. “We are trying to improve our depth by teaching guys on both sides of the ball. Up front those line guys on both sides are leading the way.”

Jeffrey Segar and Austin Dunn are returning starters on the line and they will be joined with Alex Allen, Jordain Tait and John Krestik.

On defense, Tyler Lee is expected to lead the line, with fellow end Cameron Enright and tackles Donovan Trevino and Dante Hicks.

“We are really happy with them,” coach Mullins said. “They have good size and good speed. They are guys that can play inside or outside. I’m hoping those guys up front can make our back seven better with how they play.”

If the Big Reds can get dominant play upfront on both sides and continue to develop as a team, they will be in prime position to make it back to postseason play.

“I know we are all ready to have a good season,” senior defensive end and tight end Tyler Lee said. “We have been working hard for the season and we are ready to come out and have a good year.”

With a tough schedule right out of the gates, Port Huron will need to be at its best early.

“I think having some early success just to help with our inexperience of our younger kids would help us,” coach Mullins said. “But things don’t change. It comes down to how you play upfront on both sides of the ball.

“No matter what you have at the skill positions, you have to win upfront. That’s an area we have the most depth at the line of scrimmage and hopefully that helps us get off to a good start.”

Contact Joseph Hayes at (810) 989-6268 or at jahayes@gannett.com. Follow him on twitter @Joseph_Hayes11.

2016 Schedule

Aug. 28: Vs. Detroit Country Day

Sept. 1: At Roseville *

Sept. 9: Vs. Mott

Sept. 16: Vs. Grosse Pointe North *

Sept. 23: At Fraser

Sept. 30: Vs. Sterling Heights *

Oct. 7: At L’Anse Creuse *

Oct. 14: Vs. Cousino *

Oct. 21: At Port Huron Northern

* Denotes conference game

PORT HURON BIG REDS

COACH: Ryan Mullins (10th season, 57-43)

2015 RECORD: 3-6

CONFERENCE: Macomb Area Conference Blue Division

OFFENSE: Spread

DEFENSE: 4-3

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2014 (lost to Detroit East English in pre-district)

RETURNING STARTERS: QB DeAngielo Sanderson Jr., TE/DE Tyler Lee,

KEY LOSSES: HB/LB Devon Lynch, HB/DB Jermaine Drake, OL/DL Michael Klebba, WR/DB Jon Miller,

KEY NEWCOMERS: DL/RB Donovan Trevino, WR/DB Jacob Hinajosa,

ROSTER

Curtis Corby	Jr.	DB/QB	1
JaVonte Nichols	Sr.	DB/WR	2
Ahmad Bankston	Sr.	DB/WR	3
Clay Carter	Sr.	LB/TE	4
Cameron Enright	Jr.	DL/TE	5
Kevin Dashner	Jr.	DB/RB	6
DeAngielo Sanderson	Sr.	DB/QB7	7
Tyler Lee	Sr.	DL/TE	8
Josh Alston	Sr.	DL/OL	9
Aaron Smith	So.	DL/TE	10
Brenden Henry	Sr.	DB/TE	12
Daniel Beedon	Jr.	DB/RB	13
Alex Washington	Sr.	LB/RB	14
Zach Harrison	Jr.	DB/WR	15
Dwight Porter	Sr.	DB/WR	16
Nick Fenner	Jr.	DB/WR	17
Joe Holzberger	Sr.	P/K	18
Antonio Kelley	Sr.	LB/RB	19
Donovan Trevino	So.	DL/RB	20
Luke Winkler	Sr.	DB/WR	21
Lionel Wehrwein	Jr.	DL/WR	22
Cameron Hinajosa	Sr.	DB/WR	23
Maurice Powell	So.	DL/TE	25
Shammon Andrews	Jr.	LB/RB	27
Jacob Hinajosa	Jr.	DB/WR	28
Brandon Despain	Sr.	DB/WR	33
Daniel Washington	Jr.	DL/TE	37
Kyle Brockitt	Jr.	LB/RB	39
Marco Bolar	Sr.	DB/RB	41
Reid Kerr	Jr.	LB/TE	42
Jacob LeForce	Jr.	LB/RB	47
Andrew Kennedy	Jr.	DL/OL	50
Seth Kotsko	Sr.	LB/OL	51
Brian Mihai	Jr.	LB/OL	53
Aaron Sloan	Jr.	DL/OL	54
Jordan Tate	Sr.	DL/OL	58
Jeff Segar	Sr.	DL/OL	61
John Krestik	Sr.	DL/OL	62
Austin Dunn	Sr.	DL/OL	63
Justin Sheldon	Jr.	DL/OL	64
Alex Allen	Jr.	DL/OL	66
Logan Bate	Jr.	DL/OL	68
DaMarquan Payne	Sr.	DL/OL	71
Miguel Fulton	Sr.	DL/OL	74
Dante Hicks	Jr.	DL/OL	77
Alex Creager	Jr.	DL/OL	78
Daniel Armstrong	Sr.	DL/OL	79
Isaiah Rousey	Jr.	DL/WR	81
Nate Humphries	Jr.	DB/WR	89

2015 RESULTS

Lost to Detroit Country Day, 36-7

Win against Anchor Bay, 28-26

Lost to Utica Ford, 42-28

Lost to Grosse Pointe South, 32-21

Win against Roseville, 64-43

Lost to Warren Mott 18-13

Lost to Romeo 40-7

Lost to Utica 27-20

Win against Port Huron Northern, 42-0