Mark Luther (photo courtesy Pictures Plus)

Admittedly, the last two years of Chambersburg football have been rocky, to say the least.

The Trojans are mired in a 19-game losing streak after going 0-10 a year ago, and have suffered some serious beatdowns.

The good news is that coach Mark Luther has more talent and athletes to work with this fall. What has to happen for Chambersburg to show marked improvement, however, is for the players to progress on the mental side of the game.

Finding a way to gain confidence is priority No. 1, and that’s not easy to do in the midst of a losing skid and faced with a powerful schedule. The Trojans’ other task is to begin to limit the mental mistakes made on the field and complete their assignments.

Luther said, “The team has a really good attitude this year and I think that will bring a more competitive spirit for our group. People will see that we’re making steps in the right direction.

Tucker Karn (photo courtesy Pictures Plus)

“We have the athletes to make those steps, but so much depends on the mental game. We need to find success on the field, and make some plays. We’ll find out where we are Friday night.”

Chambersburg opens its season Friday at 7 p.m. at Greencastle-Antrim.

The Trojans will once again use a spread offense, with no huddle and the quarterback taking a shotgun snap. One big difference is that this season, Luther intends to get some production out of the tight end position. Terrell Williams (6-foot-1, 225 pounds), Garner Funk (6-3, 225) and Bryce Diller (6-1, 215) all expect to get playing time at tight end.

Luther said, “Having a tight end is new to us, but these kids have developed into tight-end bodies. We hope to utilize them, and that changes our running game and how teams will have to adjust. They all catch the ball well and can be used as a weapon.”

The offensive line returns three starters. Center Tucker Karn (5-11, 265) and right guard Brock Harmon (5-11, 280) started the whole season and left guard Wyatt Hull (6-0, 240) got a lot of time. Jake Corwell (5-9, 200) will start at right tackle and Tucker Eiker (5-9, 220) is the left tackle.

“We’re looking for Karn and Harmon to anchor the line,” Luther said, “and Hull has experience, too. They all have decent size. Corwell is a little smaller, but he’s aggressive and we had to find a way to get him on the field.”

Running behind that line will be returning back Keyshawn Jones, who had a very good sophomore season. He carried the ball 121 times for 693 yards (5.7 avg.) and scored six touchdowns.

“He’s bigger (5-8, 175) and more mature and he’s playing with confidence,” Luther said. “He was physical and had some good blocks in our scrimmage. If he stays healthy, we expect big things from Keyshawn.”

Andrew Shetter (photo courtesy Pictures Plus)

The H-backs in the offense will be Kyere Morton (5-9, 195) and Andrew Shetter (5-9, 210), while the wideouts will include Tyeshawn Worrell (6-2, 150), Kevin Lee (5-4, 140), Tucker Perry (5-10, 170), Alex Lapinski (6-1, 175) and Keaton Morris (5-7, 145).

Morton caught seven balls for 68 yards and a score last year and ran 10 times for 34 yards. Lapinski caught two passes for 14 yards, and Morris caught 7 for 68 yards.

Luther said, “Worrell is a track guy who can really run. Perry played mostly defense last year, but he has much more football sense now. Lee is a transfer from Baltimore who is agile and athletic.”

Running the show at quarterback will be Brady Stumbaugh (6-0, 150). A year ago, Stumbaugh played in seven games, completing 35 of 81 tosses (43%), for 365 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions.

“Brady’s experience with the team has shown in the preseason,” Luther said. “We have some athletes, and we, as a staff, have to do a better job of getting the ball in their hands so they can make plays. Worrell is a top sprinter and we have to get Keyshawn in space and highlight his abilities.”

Chambersburg’s defense will show a 3-3-5 look, with Funk at left end, Hull in the middle and Karn at right end on the line, and linebackers Williams, Shetter and Diller.

Luther said, “You have to evaluate your system based on the people you have, and we’re not deep in linemen.”

The secondary will include Perry and either Lapinski or Morton at strong safety, Lee and Jones at cornerback and Worrell at free safety.

“We need to eliminate all those big plays that hurt us, and be physical and stout on defense,” Luther said. “We’re going to face a lot of spread offenses, so we have to be better.”

Luther’s son Tyler will be handling the punting and placekicking duties, and the returns will be split up between Jones, Lee and Worrell.

The coach mentioned a few other players who could also have an impact on the team this fall:

— Brady Hughes (6-0, 165), a senior quarterback who has not played for several years.

— Jayland Scharein (5-9, 185), who will play special teams and defense.

— Tanner Hunt (6-0, 200), a senior linebacker who came out late.

— DaQuan Rogers (6-2, 175), who plays receiver and in the secondary.

— Tyrion Hodges (5-10, 255), a defensive lineman.

Of the players mentioned for starting roles, only Shetter and Karn are seniors, and the team has only 10 seniors on the roster, including four who came out only in the preseason.

“We are in much better shape numbers-wise this year, even if that number (around 75) does include freshmen,” Luther said. “I feel good about that, and the work ethic and attitude have been awesome.

“In a football sense, we’re still learning and growing. But with that big junior group (26), you can tell they’ve been in our system (for the third year) and they’re getting an understanding of things.”

If the Trojans can find a way to pick up a few wins this year and get out from under the dubious streak they’re on, be more competitive against their typically brutal schedule and pick up some confidence, they could be poised for a big step up next year.

NOTES: The Trojans lost Shippensburg and Cedar Cliff from the schedule, picking up South Western as a non-league game and Altoona as a Mid Penn Commonwealth Division opponent … The Mountain Lions are once again a Mid Penn member for football and several other sports … For the second year in a row in 2017, eight of Chambersburg’s 10 opponents qualified for the playoffs.