It feels almost normal. And that’s a very good thing.

Here we are in late August, and Chambersburg and Greencastle-Antrim are gearing up for their annual season-opening football game. Of course, it wasn’t annual last year, when the pandemic wiped this game away. But it’s back, and the crowd will be back, and even though the pandemic is not over yet, at least it’ll feel more like the start of a normal season.

Elijah Britner

The Trojans will be hosted by the Blue Devils at Kaley Field on Friday at 7 p.m.

“I expect a good high school football game to kick off the season,” G-A coach Devin McCauley said. “In the first game, you expect to get everybody’s best game.”

Chambersburg has won the last three meetings between these two rivals with a cumulative score of 132-33. But on paper, this one looks like it’ll be close, and the Blue Devils hold a big advantage in battle-tested veterans.

Trojan coach Mark Luther said, “The key Friday is early, with us being so young. We have to settle in and not make dumb mistakes. We have to keep the football and not make it easy for them, and then maybe hit some big plays.”

Greencastle, with an experienced offensive line, led by 300-pound-plus guards Jake Kumfert (6-5, 315) and Elijah Britner (6-3, 315), and veteran running backs David Niebauer and Tavon Cooper, will hope to control the game on the ground, then give new quarterback Taylor Conrad a chance to connect on some play-action passes.

“Because they have some solid kids up front, their offense is taking you back in time a little, like Chuck (Tinninis) is still coaching,” Luther joked. “But they do throw some spread stuff in there. The quarterback throws the ball well and they have backs who run hard and have decent speed.”

McCauley said, “We have five coaches on the staff who have been together for like 15 years, so there are some plays we know very well. We need to be ourselves and run the ball effectively. Niebauer can run between the tackles and Cooper can hit you outside.”

James Lilley

Chambersburg has two returning starters on defense — linebackers Grant Hopple and James Lilley, and Malachi Scott got some PT at cornerback.

The Trojans do have some returners to the offensive line in Brandon Vaughn, Lucas Lohman, Carter Flory, Avery Kuhns and Patrick Demory, but the skill position players are all new. Jermere Jones and Bryce Folmar should both get time at quarterback, and the task of running the ball will fall mainly to Rashawn Williams and Bryce Flenory.

McCauley said, “They’ve got some athletes on offense, so we’ll have to be sound playing our gaps and then tackle well.”

The top two tacklers for Greencastle last year were the safeties — Lorcan Wright at strong safety (79) and Ethan Shank at free safety (72). Britner, at nose guard, and Brady Diller, at linebacker, are also returning starters.

NOTE: The game will be broadcast via live stream on MidPennBroadcasting.com, TheSportsPage.blog and WRGG.org.