Students out at the soon-to-be-opened Syracuse High aren't the only ones headed for new territory this school year.
Football players at Layton are already finding themselves on unfamiliar turf in a sense. No longer are the Lancers considered the doormats of Region 1 football — as was the case for much of the past decade or so. They're now being propped up as a major contender in the northern 5A league. To wit, they were picked to finish second, even nabbing a couple of first-place votes, in a preseason polling of the region's coaches.
Talk about exciting and overwhelming for a program that made the playoffs for the first time in more than 10 years last fall.
"Whenever other coaches start telling you how good you are, you better start wondering if they're sandbagging ya," said Layton coach Jim Batchelor with a smile. "You try to take everything with just a little bit of a dose of reality. It's nice that they think we have some talent, but we have to put it all together. We've got a lot of work yet."
The thing that's got all the other coaches a bit worried is the fact that Layton seemingly has more starters returning than the rest of the region combined. Nine starting position players on each side of the ball are back from the 3-7 squad that lost to Pleasant Grove in the first round of the playoffs.
With that many seasoned — not to mention quick, athletic and talented — players, it's no wonder hopes are high in Layton. Matt Putnam, one of the speediest receivers around, said the Lancers are "optimistic," but they like "to stay humble." Still, he and his teammates would love nothing more than to prove the preseason hype is merited.
"I think that we should be pretty successful with the experience that we (got) from last year," said the 6-foot-3 senior. "Layton hasn't really been on the map lately, but we're looking to change that."
Offensively, the Lancers have a full arsenal of weapons that could blow up the scoreboard at any time. Running backs James Adams and LaVaughn Jackson, a junior who's played since he was a freshman, are a potent 1-2 punch. Gavin Green showed he was one of the top quarterbacks in the area as a junior last season, and he has a great go-to guy in Putnam.
Layton also has a veteran back in the fullback spot in Chad Willson, and linemen Tyler Christensen, Justin Turner and Willie Harris are capable of providing plenty of protection.
Batchelor is just looking for consistency from his seniors, who were thrown right into the varsity mix last year without any JV training after going undefeated as sophomores.
"They were maybe a little shocked at the beginning (of last season)," Batchelor said. "I think hopefully with that experience they know what to expect. They know how fast the game is."
The Lancers start the season tonight at home against Bonneville. Their other two preseason contests are at Jordan and against Timpanogos. And then the fun really begins. Layton's first three Region 1 games are against league-favorite Fremont, powerhouse Davis and rival Northridge.
"Baptism by fire" is how Batchelor describes that unfavorable scheduling stretch. "We better be ready by then."
If they can survive that inferno, they might really be in for a big year. Putnam says he and his lifelong buddies are aiming high. Winning region would be "a pretty big achievement" for them.
"That's the biggest goal," he said. "We all want it so bad."
Layton Lancers 2007 prep football preview
COACH: Jim Batchelor is 6-13 so far at Layton, but he has the Lancers on the right track, it appears. They made the playoffs for the first time in a decade last season and seem to be on the verge of putting together a breakout year.
KEY PLAYERS: Look for big seasons from the Lancer offense, which includes returning starters Gavin Green (QB), James Adams (RB), LaVaughn Jackson (RB), Matt Putnam (WR), Chad Willson (FB), Willie Harris (TE), Tyler Christensen (OG) and Justin Turner (OT).
QUESTION MARK: While Layton has nine starters back on each side of the ball, can the seasoned Lancers improve on their three-win season of a year ago and really make some noise? Can they close out close games better than last year? And how about some consistency? If they can get some of that, watch out.
LAST YEAR: 3-7, lost in first round of playoffs
PREDICTED REGION 1 FINISH: Second.
POSTSEASON POSSIBILITIES: Barring some major injury problems, the Lancers should at least be fighting for a first-round home game. They seem to have the talent and experience to make it to Rice-Eccles Stadium.
2007 SCHEDULE
Aug. 17 — BONNEVILLE, 7 p.m.
Aug. 24 — at Jordan, 7 p.m.
Aug. 31 — TIMPANOGOS, 7 p.m.
Sept. 7 — FREMONT, 7 p.m.
Sept. 14 — at Davis, 7 p.m.
Sept. 21 — at Northridge, 7 p.m.
Sept. 28 — CLEARFIELD, 7 p.m.
Oct. 5 — at Syracuse, 7 p.m.
Oct. 12 — VIEWMONT, 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 — at Weber, 7 p.m.