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Layton Christian Academy football players run through practice on July 25, 2023.

Patrick Carr, Standard-Examiner

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Layton Christian Academy football coach Ray Stowers addressed the players after practice on July 25, 2023.

Patrick Carr, Standard-Examiner

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Layton Christian Academy football players run through practice on July 25, 2023.

Patrick Carr, Standard-Examiner

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LAYTON — More than a dozen seniors graduated from last year’s Layton Christian football team that won the 1A state and 1A North region titles. Those seniors are all over, from Pac-12 football to Big Sky track and field to college rugby.

LCA is now in 2A for football, with a smaller and quicker team compared to last year’s group that outsized everyone.

Even the venue for home games is different, with the Eagles calling the Spence Eccles Ogden Community Sports Complex turf field their home this season.

The program still has its typically international-heavy roster and big goals.

“The seniors last year did a great job at setting the bar high for the next group of seniors coming up. Obviously we’re in 2A now, but nothing changes where we’re shooting to go and win 2A now,” LCA head coach Ray Stowers said.

It will be an inexperienced team that opens the year against two-time defending 2A state champion San Juan. Only three defensive starters and two offensive starters return from last year’s 10-3 team that romped to the state championship.

Senior linebacker and tight end Elijah Elliss isn’t worried about inexperience on what appears to be a feisty team.

“That’s no biggie for us; we’ve refilled the spots. The guys are working, we’re figuring it out. I’m not saying we’re all there yet. We’ve still got a few weeks till the first game,” he said.

The offense will be quite different this year, with more fast and skilled players in the mix compared to last year’s bulldozing run team. If LCA’s not entirely pass-heavy, it’ll at least be somewhat balanced on offense.

“We got, I’ll say, a less ‘tanky’ build and more of a speed and athleticism build,” Elliss said.

Senior receiver Max Montgomery and junior lineman Iverson Report are the main returners on offense. LCA added Timmie Olubisi, one of the school’s more athletic basketball players, to the receiving and secondary group.

Farmington transfer Marcus Miles is rotating in at quarterback and likes what he sees about the LCA program.

“Biggest emphasis is probably effort, making sure you know your stuff. If we know our stuff and can execute, that’s all we need,” Miles said.

The defense had the same vibe as the offense last year: physical and imposing. The Eagles will look different there, too, with Report (12 sacks in 2022), Montgomery and Elliss as the main returners, the latter of whom missed half of last season with a broken ankle.

Inexperience abounds and depth is an issue with around 30 players in team camp and a gulf between the first and second team.

The schedule gives and takes. It’s a tough and front-loaded schedule with seven home games out of nine total, but the home games are in Ogden.

According to Stowers, Layton Christian’s scenic grass field needs work done despite a record wet year, and its stadium is small to the point where it has trouble accommodating visiting fan sections.

Stowers also wants the kids on the team to experience Friday football under the lights; LCA’s field doesn’t have lights and home games have typically kicked off at 4 p.m.

Until kickoff, Stowers said discipline and little mistakes are the team’s biggest focus. But he feels the team has inherent motivation.

“You can tell this team’s actually more hungry. I feel like this team — they feel like they’ve got something to prove. Everybody’s overlooking them so they’re in a position where they gotta go prove themselves,” Stowers said.

QUOTABLE

Elijah Elliss made a point about the importance of a team having good depth.

“It does more than just someone goes down in game. It goes into scout team. I mean, those guys don’t get a lot of glory, but that’s how we put it together to get ready for Fridays, scout team giving us the looks and giving us the reps that we need to get better for game day,” he said.

FACTS and FIGURES

2022 season: 10-3, 4-0 1A North. LCA won its first region title in school history and allowed just 7 points in region games. Then, the Eagles sliced through the playoffs and demolished Kanab 55-19 in the 1A state title game for their first state title in school history.

2023 strength of schedule: 60-44 (.577)

Returning starters: 2 offense, 3 defense

Strength/Weakness: Speed and athleticism./Depth and inexperience.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Elijah Elliss, SR., TE/LB: Elliss made 30 tackles in six games last year. He has a scholarship offer to the University of Idaho and has emerged as a team leader, according to Stowers.

Iverson Report, JR., OL/DL: A two-year starter on the defensive line, Report made 12 sacks last year and anchors the trenches on both sides.

Max Montgomery, SR., WR/S: Montgomery had 32 tackles on defense and some time at receiver. He’s the leading returning tackler on defense.

Marcus Miles, SR., QB: Miles transferred from Farmington in May. He completed 6 of 9 passes in a backup role for the Phoenix last season, and Stowers called him a great addition to the team who’s never had a chance to show what he can do.

DID YOU KNOW?

LCA’s two-year record of 18-8 is the best two-year period in school history.

Elijah Elliss is the son of Utah Utes defensive line coach Luther Elliss, who played defensive line at Utah from 1991-94 and was a first-round NFL draft pick in 1995 to Detroit, where he became a two-time Pro Bowl pick (1999, 2000) and played until 2003.

LCA will face Rancho Christian (Calif.), Beaver and Summit Academy for the first time in school history.

LCA’s all-time record against this year’s opponents: 0-1 against San Juan, 0-0 against Rancho Christian, 0-0 against Beaver, 0-3 against West Side (Idaho), 0-3 against South Summit, 2-1 against Judge Memorial, 0-1 against Providence Hall, 4-4 against American Leadership Academy and 0-0 against Summit Academy.

SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN

LCA not only moves from 1A to 2A, but has a front-loaded scheduled that will test an as-of-yet untested team very early.

“Love it, I’m excited. I think it’ll be a great challenge for us and obviously there’s some really good quality teams in 2A. We’ll just have to take them one week at a time,” Stowers said.

LCA opens with San Juan, which has won 25 straight games dating back to Aug. 20, 2021.

In Week 3, the Eagles face traditional powerhouse Beaver (19-7 over two years), then Idaho powerhouse West Side (20-2 over two years), then get a bye week before the region opener and first road game at region favorite South Summit, which has a 22-2 record the last two years.

Overall, LCA has seven “home” games, one bye week and two road games that are each just more than an hour’s drive from campus. The Eagles are technically playing off-campus all nine games, but as far as typical 2A scheduling goes, it’s about as good as one can get.

SCHEDULE

Home games are at the Spence Eccles Ogden Community Sports Complex.

All games 7 p.m.

Aug. 11: San Juan

Aug. 18: Rancho Christian (CA)

Aug. 25: Beaver

Sept. 1: West Side (ID)

Sept. 8: BYE

Sept. 15: at South Summit*

Sept: 22: Judge Memorial*

Sept: 29: Providence Hall*

Oct. 6: at American Leadership Academy*

Oct. 13: Summit Academy*

* — Denotes 2A North region game

Connect with reporter Patrick Carr via email at pcarr@standard.net, Twitter @patrickcarr_ and Instagram @standardexaminersports.