6A- Region 1: Layton and Syracuse

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's take a look at Region 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Layton Lancers</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 record: 4-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 Key Games:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday, August 15- Tooele</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday, August 22- at Box Elder</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday, September 5- Copper Hills</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday, October 3- at West Field</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lancers need to win all four games if they want an outside shot at making the postseason, if they stumble in any of these games, the likelihood of them reaching postseason play is slim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 Hardest Games:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday, August 29- at Northridge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday, September 12- American Fork</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday, September 26- at Weber</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thursday, October 9- Davis</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wednesday, October 15- Farmington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These are the toughest games on their schedule, if they can find a way to win one of these games and they take care of their key games, they should make the postseason, if they can't find a win from any of these matchups, they'll need some help.2025 Outlook:The schedule is a mixed bag for them, and they have a shot at postseason play, if they can get out of the gates quickly, they could ride that wave and have luck on their side.Key Players:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1741736"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-688ac33fa9442"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lee is likely to head the RB room and in limited action, showed good patience as a runner and moves well laterally. He found the endzone last year and will look to do so multiple times this season. He has soft hands, and is good out of the backfield to be a safe outlet option. He might be the key to the offense this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1741737"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-688ac3ed01bf3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hughes is a two way player who might be asked to be more of a receiver this year due to Layton losing a lot of vacated targets to graduation and transfer. Hughes, in limited action on offense last year was a dependable chain moving receiver who was used in short area touches. His expanded route tree will give him a better sense of how productive he can be and a full route tree will allow him to be more creative with those short area touches as cornerbacks can't press to focus solely on the short passes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1310322"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-688ac3ed01c66"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Garlick is their unquestioned best player and he'll look to build on a successful 2024 campaign. He is best as a deep safety as he showcases his range and quickness. He is versatile and isn't afraid to come into the box to help in run support. It'll be a big season for him as he looks to be the leader on this Layton defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Syracuse Titans</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 record: 5-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 Key Games:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday, August 15- Woods Cross</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday, August 22- at Roy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday, August 29- at Bountiful</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday, September 19- Layton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Titans don't have an easy game on the schedule, so the August start is important for their season, if they can come away with a couple of wins, they could come away with an outside shot at making the postseason.2025 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hardest Games:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday, September 6- Rigby (ID)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday, September 26- at Davis</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday, October 3- at Weber</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thursday, October 9- Farmington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a tough group of games, if they can somehow come away with an upset in any one of these games, they can potentially sneak into postseason play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 Outlook:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Titans return key players across the board and they'll be tasked to come up huge. If they can rise to the occasion, the Titans could find themselves in a better situation than last year. Let's dig into those key returning players. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Players:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1683630"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-688acaf60b4b0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wight is a dual threat prospect who has a good frame to grow into. He gained valuable experience last year when he was thrown into the deep end. It was sink or swim and he made it through the season. That sets him up for a big year now. He is a quick processor, and makes good intermediate throws. His ball placement is good, and what will help him the most this year is his legs. He is deadly on the ground and opposing defenses will have to implement a spy and they must have gap integrity as any RPO plays where the edge rusher storms downhill and leaves the backside open, Wight is gone. He potentially can go 2000/1000 this year with 20+ touchdowns. Huge year is ahead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1565816"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-688acaf60b513"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Van Komen is a complete, three-down back who was an integral part of the offense last year. As a runner, he showcases good patience, vision behind the line and does well getting slim through the first level and has the lateral quickness to make defenders miss at the second level and can shake loose for home. He blends speed with physicality and is a weapon in the receiving game as a player who can create with the ball in his hands. He's primed for a big season with over 1200 yards in his range of outcomes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1565817"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-688ad0d2e1a3a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Merrill is a boundary receiver whose the top returning target earner. He does a good job of creating late separation, working back to his quarterback, and showing his numbers to his signal caller. He is dependable in moving the chains, is sure-handed, and is someone that is key on those intermediate third down situations. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1565826"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-688ad18aa74f4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Garcia was an effective backer last season and found ways to be impactful. He was an effective on-ball backer who shows good ability to shed his blocks and displays good pursuit. He's a backer who doesn't get lost in coverage and in space, he is primed for a big season on defense for the Titans.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1742773"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-688ad28c1b9fc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hall was an impactful player last year and that experience will help the team this year. He moves well, has good quickness and closes ground well. His lateral movement helps him as a defensive back to stick to receivers and he has good ball-tracking skills and does well making a play on the ball. He could very well be a ball hawk for the team this year</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That was our look at Layton and Syracuse. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->