WARMING UP — Senior Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman football players, Owen Wolter (2), Kaden Moon (82), Matt Heckman (62), Cael Jaskulke (12) and Owen Haefner (44) will lead the Jaguars into their season-opener against Southland at 5 p.m. Saturday in Adams. (Photo by Charlie Sorrells)

TRUMAN — Chat with fifth-year Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman head football coach Bennett Senf for only five minutes, and one can tell he’s a glass-half-full kind of person.

“I reminded the guys that our goals are still in place,” said Senf, whose Jaguar gridders kick off the season against Southland at 5 p.m. Saturday in Adams. “Even though we didn’t have the chance to play our first two games against Nicollet and Edgerton due to the pandemic, we still have four left in the regular season.

“If we work hard, we have the chance to do three things we haven’t done since I’ve been here — open the season 1-0, then 2-0, and host a playoff game.”

The Jaguars proved the power of positive thinking in 2019, turning the tables on Edgerton in the Nine-Man Section 3 playoffs. Edgerton defeated GHEC/Truman in a high-scoring shootout, 56-36, during the two teams’ regular-season finale in Week 8 before the Jaguars flip-flopped a 32-28 sectional quarterfinal decision in their direction the following week.

“The bottom line — it all starts in the weight room during the offseason,” said Senf, “and Caleb Benes was a good leader in that aspect. He worked hard everyday and made sure our guys were showing up and lifting.

“I’d say we had the best weight room attendance since I’ve been with the program.”

Benes, who’s started at offensive guard for the Jaguars since he was a freshman, will make the transition to handling the snapping duties under center. The junior blocker also will play linebacker on defense this fall.

Senior Owen Wolter will put the offense in motion from his quarterback position for a fourth consecutive year after earning Sentinel All-Area football accolades in 2019. Wolter threw for 1,353 yards and 13 touchdowns to complement 794 more yards on the ground and eight more scores.

The sure-handed Wolter also will patrol the Jaguars’ defensive secondary after garnering five interceptions, breaking up nine passes and notching 34 tackles from his safety spot.

Matt Heckman, a 6-foot-4 senior, and Adam Heckman, Matt’s 6-7 junior sibling, will make the switch from tight end to offensive guard in order to create running room and pass protection for Wolter and the Jaguars’ offensive unit this fall.

“I look for the Heckmans to come up big for us on both sides of the line of scrimmage,” said Senf. “They’ll be able to use their length and strength to cause problems for our opponents at the nose (guard) and defensive end positions.”

Add 6-5 senior tight end Cael Jaskulke, a two-time All-Area football selection, to the frontline mix with the Heckman brothers, and the Jaguars should create some offensive opportunities throughout the COVID-condensed campaign.

“He (Jaskulke) was our hardest worker in the offseason and has really added muscle to his tall frame,” Senf said in reference to his defensive end who recorded 78 tackles and forced four fumbles in 2019. “He and Owen know how important these four games are since they both want to try to play college football next season.

“Both have really stepped up leadership-wise for us, while Owen fits the definition of a true gamer. He just loves to compete.”

With good size, skill and strength in the trenches, Senf will turn to sophomore Kaiden Musser to help spearhead the Jaguars’ ground game out of the backfield.

“He’s got big shoes to fill in replacing Carter Spear (a 1,000-plus yard rusher last season), but he’s the right guy for the job,” said Senf. “Kaiden will start both ways for us again after playing linebacker and receiver a year ago.”

The Jaguars will play host to Lyle/Austin Pacelli on Friday, Oct. 30, in Truman before playing host to Hills-Beaver Creek on Friday, Nov. 6, in Granada. GHEC/Truman caps the regular season by hitting the road to Madelia on Thursday, Nov. 12.

“I told the guys that we need to appreciate every practice and each game because we know first-hand, at any time, it can all be done in the blink of an eye,” said Senf. “We have to work hard and keep a positive attitude today because we might not get to play this game tomorrow.”