Mike Marabell thinks that changing Tunkhannock’s record on the football field requires many other changes.
“It’s a culture,” Marabell said prior to a season-opening 53-21 loss at Dallas. “It’s a mental thing. For years, our kids didn’t know how to win. They knew how to lose.
“They accepted losing too easily.”
While there are strategic and style changes to be made, Marabell says his players’ mental approach is vital.
“I need to change that and have them be mentally tough enough that they can change things around when things go down,” Marabell said.
Tunkhannock is coming off a 1-9 season, leaving the Tigers with just nine wins in the last seven years.
Marabell inherits a team that lost more than half its starters, returning five starters on each side of the ball.
He seeks balance in an offense that will be built around a deep group of receivers and a promising young quarterback.
“We’re going to spread the ball around to five or six instead of having one person who we put everything in their hands,” he said.
Garrett Hopkins is back after leading the team with 35 catches and Jake Stephens returns after leading in receiving yards by averaging 19.7 on his 21 catches.
Hopkins could be running the ball more, sharing time at running back with Gavin D’Amato while also still playing some at receiver. Hopkins led the team in rushing, was second in receiving behind Stephens and had an 89-yard kickoff return for the first touchdown of the season Friday.
Stephens is back as one receiver. Troy Simmons also has some limited experience. Marabell said Jake Frisco will be an effective possession receiver. Riley Jones, Nathan Lord and Shane Wood add to the depth.
Jack Chilson, who made some late-season starts as a freshman, is the quarterback. Chilson hit 13 of 22 passes for 104 yards in the opener while running for one touchdown and throwing for another.
Matt Ramey and Alec Seboe are the fullbacks while Zach Rogers and Jhamal Zacharias are the tight ends.
Guard Tyler Peterson and tackle Brett Sickler return to start in the offensive line.
Center Andrew Slusark, guard Zach Fisher and tackle Alex Daily are expected to join them.
The Tigers are experienced up front defensively.
Peterson returns at left tackle, Ramey is back at one end and Zacharias is back as a starter, but moving from tackle to end.
Daily will be at nose guard with Alex Smith at tackle.
Seboe, who saw a lot of playing time, will be at strong-side linebacker while Tyler Chesla, who is coming back from a knee injury, will be on the weak side.
Hopkins will handle the team’s “tiger back” position, a combination of linebacker and defensive back responsibilities.
Stephens, Lord, Jones and Simmons will form the “cornerback by committee.”
Frisco and Rogers are working at safety.
The Tigers play their home opener Friday against Nanticoke.
