BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

SYRACUSE — There’s been somewhat of a mixed feeling around the Syracuse High football team this offseason.

Syracuse won all six Region 1 games last year by an average margin of 36.5 points, got the No. 6 seed in the state playoffs and drew No. 11 Lone Peak from the Utah County powerhouse region.

The Titans had one of their best teams in years and nearly pulled off a major upset against a superior LP team, but lost 22-17 in the end.

The loss stung in the cold moments afterward, and still stung on the hot days of summer conditioning.

“I think the kids that are coming back still have that taste in their mouth, knowing that we felt that we were one of the top probably five or six teams in the state, and so I think that’s kind of helped them in this offseason,” Syracuse head coach Mike Knight said.

Patrick Carr, Standard-Examiner

As with any team, no matter how good or bad, the page turns once the flowers bloom and Syracuse feels its bloom will be colorful and vibrant.

There are around 177 kids in the program and, after huge success on their sub-varsity teams last year, the Titans are eyeing a reload and targeting a repeat Region 1 title. But there are some issues to solve first.

Defense was the team’s strength last season, allowing 13 points per game. Six high-impact starters graduated from that group, which left a gaping void in experience, talent and leadership.

“We gotta step up and we gotta lead, and then the younger guys have been doing a great job, they’ve been working,” senior cornerback Keller Facer said. “A lot of them are looking really good, improving over the offseason. Just gotta bring the energy and do our one-eleventh, and step up and be physical.”

The Titans return cornerbacks Facer and Jayden Perry, plus Ty Tesch and Carter Child, who were regulars at safety. Marriner Richards and Preston Haney are the two main names to know at linebacker. Facer is the top returning tackler with 28, followed by Child (22).

Up front, they return defensive ends Hoyt Pulla and Riggin Hamblin, but have to replace interior tackles Sam Pula and Tyson Sweeten, so they’ve moved Wyatt Pierce from DE to DT.

On offense, Syracuse returns quarterback Jake Hopkins, running back Kobe Bennett and receiver DJ Mayes. Three-year starter Jake Metcalfe transferred to Farmington, and the Titans picked up Lone Peak transfer receiver Shaun Blanton, who has stood out this offseason.

The two inside receivers, Broc Hopkins and kicker Rhett Thompson, will be new starters and Hopkins said the offense has been working on its team chemistry.

“I think this year knowing skill-wise what we have coming back on both sides, it’s gonna be how we handle it up front, both sides of the football,” Knight said.

Ben Acker-Oatis is the only returner on the offensive line; the other four spots have new starters. There’s size and athleticism up front, but also inexperience, which is sort of the same theme with the entire team.

“Our defense is — they’re pretty dang good. It’s been tough for the offense, for us to figure it out, so once we figure it out, we’ll be good to go,” Hopkins said.

Hopkins said the team has focused on finishing games this offseason because that was one issue in their three losses.

The Titans were outscored in the second half in their first two games last year and ultimately lost by one possession. Against Riverton, Syracuse gave up a kickoff return TD and, against Lone Peak, had a punt blocked that resulted in LP’s go-ahead score.

“Like the Lone Peak game obviously, if we would’ve finished, we win that game and move on,” Jake Hopkins said.

Hopkins will be a three-year starter and took a big leap at QB as a junior, improving his completion percentage (from 55.9% to 65.7%) and yards per game (175.1 to 206.7).

“Sophomore year, I was just freaking out. Like I had one dude, Tyson Stapley, he was like the dude, he and Chandler Christensen, like I would either try to throw it to (Stapley) or hit a check-down to Chandler, like those kinds of things. This year and last year, I feel like I can make reads better,” Hopkins said.

The area where Syracuse has the most reason to feel comfortable is special teams. The Titans are the only Region 1 team to bring back their kicker and punter, between kicker Rhett Thompson and punter Tanner Perrone, and they put other starters on special teams instead of primarily putting backups out there.

However the Titans put themselves together this year, they’ll learn very quickly who they are. They could go 4-1 in non-region play or 1-4 and still feel good about where things are before region games start.

QUOTABLE

Syracuse picked up Lone Peak transfer receiver Shaun Blanton. Ironically, Blanton caught two TD passes in last year’s Syracuse-Lone Peak playoff game.

It was a little weird and awkward at first, but apparently, Blanton has fit in well.

“It was interesting to see right after we lost when we heard he might be coming down, I thought it was interesting,” Facer said. “But he’s really cool, he’s a really humble guy, he’s really good and I think he brings a lot to our team … I like having him for that competition. Him and DJ help us as corners get better every practice, they’re really great receivers.”

FACTS and FIGURES

2022 season: 8-3, 6-0 Region 1. Syracuse bagged an absurd 262-43 scoring margin in Region 1 games and then got an unlucky playoff draw, losing 22-17 to No. 11 Lone Peak.

2023 strength of schedule: 64-55 (.538).

Returning starters: 4 offense, 5 defense.

Strength/Weakness: Offense and depth/Inexperience at key defensive spots.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Jake Hopkins, SR., QB: Hopkins is 16-8 in two years as a starter and has typically been more of a game manager type of QB, but he has two big-play threats on the outside to throw to with Mayes and Blanton.

D’Angelo “DJ” Mayes, SR., WR: Mayes is a deep threat, jump-ball threat and more. He had 38 catches for 559 yards and five TDs last year.

Kobe Bennett, SR., RB: Rushed 148 times for 724 yards and 11 TDs, with 10 receptions last year. He’s started for two years, between last season at Syracuse and 2021 at Roy, where tallied 703 yards as a sophomore.

Keller Facer, SR., DB: Facer had two interceptions, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble last year. He’s one of the top defensive returners.

Hoyt Pula, JR., DE: Pula only played seven games last season, but made four sacks with four tackles-for-loss coming off the edge.

Riggin Hamblin, SR., DE: Hamblin made three sacks among 21 total tackles.

Rhett Thompson, SR., K/WR: Thompson was a perfect 50 for 50 on extra points and 13 of 16 on field goals last year, and will also play inside receiver as one of Syracuse’s very few two-way players.

DID YOU KNOW?

Syracuse is the only Region 1 team that returns its kicker and punter, and one of three Region 1 teams returning its leading passer and rusher (along with Fremont and Farmington).

Syracuse has 13 straight wins over Layton since 2010.

Last year’s 8-3 record ensured consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 2017.

The Titans won every Region 1 game by double digits last year, which hadn’t been done by a Region 1 champion since Skyline in 2000.

All-time record against this year’s opponents: 3-1 against Riverton, 1-2 against Brighton, 0-1 against Herriman, 0-0 against Taylorsville, 0-1 against Corner Canyon, 1-3 against Farmington, 9-6 against Weber, 6-9 against Fremont, 13-3 against Layton and 5-12 against Davis.

SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN

Of Syracuse’s five non-region games, the first three (Riverton, Brighton, Herriman) are 50-50 games, while the fourth (Taylorsville) is very winnable and the fifth (Corner Canyon) isn’t.

“I want to be out of that healthy, that’s my big thing going into region play because those teams are physical teams,” Knight said. “But I think we match up well with especially those first three, four really. Corner (Canyon) obviously is in their own category at this point.”

Syracuse could be 4-1 or 1-4 after non-region play, then the frontloaded schedule continues with the region opener at Farmington, who’s no doubt eager for some payback. The Titans will play four games on Thursdays this year, including the final three games.

SCHEDULE

All games 7 p.m.

Aug. 11: Riverton

Thurs., Aug. 17: at Brighton^

Aug. 25: Herriman

Sept. 1: at Taylorsville

Sept. 8: Corner Canyon

Sept. 15: at Farmington*

Sept: 22: Weber*

Thurs., Sept: 28: Fremont*^

Thurs., Oct. 5: Layton*

Thurs., Oct. 12: at Davis*

* — Denotes Region 1 game

^ — Television broadcast on KJZZ

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

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