File photo by Steve Muscatello Luke Thompson has experience running the offense for the Minnesota Valley Lutheran Chargers.

NEW ULM — Bringing back experience from last season and a good off-season program that most of the Minnesota Valley Lutheran players took part in, Chargers’ head coach Jim Buboltz sees a big improvement in last year’s 2-7 record.

“W e feel that we have a lot of nice positions coming back,” Chargers’ head coach Jim Buboltz said. “I have been really happy. It started in the summer — we had great participation in our summer get together. We had between 40-45 players attending. Last summer we had about 29 players for the entire team.”

And experience is not lacking for MVL this season.

“Offensively we have eight of our 11 starters back and defensively we have seven of 11 back,” Buboltz said.

On offense the Chargers bring back five starters from last year.

“And we have a group of eight or nine guys really pushing each other to get better on the line,” Buboltz said. “We have Carter Sexton, who is moving to running back and he has taken a lot or reps and has done a nice job there.”

Returning at quarterback is Luke Thompson.

“He started a couple of games for us last year so he has a little seasoning under him,” Buboltz said. “He has improved his game and his decision-making. We are excited about the work that he has put in.”

Thompson’s younger brother Cole, a sophomore, is back at wide receiver.

“He [Cole] has played a lot of different positions so we can put him at a running back, slot or wide receiver. He does all of them real well.”

Nick Bleick is at a wide receiver with Cole Thompson along with Kaden Hammerschmidt, Layton Brau and Josh Giefer.

Buboltz said that the Chargers’ offensive line has to be the group that leads MVL this season.

“Especially at the time that we are playing,” Buboltz said. “Very few high school football teams ever get the chance to play in November. To play at that time you need to be playing for a section title or in the state tournament. Field and weather conditions may not allow you to be as wide open as you thin you could be in early fall. You are going to have to have a different style of play.You are going to have to be able to run the ball now.”

On defense, MVL will have to look at replacing Colton Collum, who totaled more than 400 career tackles.

“We are putting in a lot of time there,” Buboltz said. “This group collectively needs to be better.”

Buboltz said that his linebacking corp of Sexton, Cole Thomson, sophomore Landon Merseth, Josh Giefer and Malachi Kohls “really want to get after it. They need to have that mindset all year.”

Buboltz said that many of his players this season Merseth and Kohls have changed.

“Merseth got stronger and Kohls got taller and bigger. They put a lot of time in the weight room.

“Sexton is a kid that people did not hear about last year on offense but I think he is going to have a giant year this season,” Buboltz said.

Buboltz also crystal balls a player like junior wide receiver David Santelman make a big impression.

Buboltz team has depth this season.

“We have 14 or 15 more guys than last year — that is another team,” Buboltz said.