LAYTON — The Layton Lancers lost a lot of senior leadership from last season's region-winning squad. But don't anyone dare tell them they might suffer this year because of it.
Junior quarterback Derek Thomas and senior running back Adam Bunting led a punishing rushing attack, amassing 296 yards on 28 carries as the Lancers defeated Bonneville 31-13 Friday night at Lancer Stadium.
The Lancers' newest rushing tandem had 193 yards in the first half alone, including an 80-yard touchdown run by Thomas in the second quarter that put Layton up 14-0.
"Our strength is our offensive line," Bunting said. "It worked out good for us."
Layton took an early 7-0 lead on a 12-play 80-yard drive to start the game. The drive, which took up over half of the first quarter, featured nine runs.
"If something works, don't go away from it," coach Jim Batchelor said.
The Lakers missed a 39-yard field goal in the second quarter that would have cut the lead to 7-3. Thomas made them pay, taking the next play 80 yards up
the middle all the way to the end zone. Following a quick three and out, Layton started its next drive on the Bonneville 42. Two rushes were all the Lancers needed before they were back in the end zone, this time on a 6-yard run by Thomas.
After a field goal extended the lead to 24-0, Bonneville finally got on the board just before the end of the first half on a 70-yard TD strike from Manaia Filiaga to Sage Stireman. But any thoughts of a Bonneville come back were erased quickly in the third quarter.
On their first possession of the second half, the Lancers marched 59 yards on four plays, once again all rushes. Bunting's 22-yard touchdown scamper put the Lancers up 31-7 and the game essentially out of reach. While Batchelor was excited about the efficiency of his rushing attack, he was also quick to point out his offense needs to be more balanced. Thomas and senior quarterback Aarron Bunting combined to go 6-for-12 with just 85 yards passing.
"We've got to be more productive in our passing game," Batchelor said.
Bonneville, which exploded at the end of last year to win four in a row, including a 4A first round matchup against Mountain View, never seemed to get comfortable against a ferocious Layton defense that forced two fumbles and an interception. One of the Lakers' fumbles came on the Lancer 3.
"We just got to eliminate the turnovers," Bonneville coach Matt Williams said. "We learned a lot."
And although some might have been skeptical of Layton, Williams wasn't surprised.
Layton and Bonneville have now opened the season against each other three straight seasons, with the Lancers winning all three contests.