Boys soccer: Layton rekindling ‘passion’ coach Talamantez wants for his program
Coach said attitudes have changed for the better with 1-1 start
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- Layton seniors Rudy Jensen (7), Crew Hawley (10), and Edwin Tamoua (12) celebrate a goal during a non-region match vs. Clearfield on Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Clearfield.
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- Layton head boys soccer coach Rick Talamantez and senior Edwin Tamoua (12) share a moment at halftime during a non-region match vs. Clearfield on Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Clearfield.
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- Layton senior Rudy Jensen (7) fires a penalty kick during a non-region match vs. Clearfield on Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Clearfield.
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- Layton junior Crew Buchanan (2) is jubilant during a non-region match vs. Clearfield on Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Clearfield.
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- Clearfield senior Brock Schreiner (11) pushes past Layton junior Cody Miller (14) during a non-region match on Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Clearfield.
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- Layton seniors Edwin Tamoua (12) and Crew Hawley (10) during a non-region match vs. Clearfield on Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Clearfield.
CLEARFIELD — Turns out a wet preseason can have its side effects.
Seniors Edwin Tamoua and Rudy Jensen are playing with a confidence more than unfamiliar to them just three years ago when first trying out for Layton’s boys soccer team. Two matches into their final run as Lancers, the Davis County pair are giving 28-year coaching veteran Rick Talamantez’s program the enthusiasm it’s been missing in recent seasons.
Layton ripped off five unanswered goals against Clearfield, plowing ahead 5-3 Thursday on the road for their first regular-season win, in bouncing back from a double-overtime loss to Copper Hills on Tuesday. The grind continues Saturday at Northridge as Talamantez and Layton search for their first winning season since 2019.
Before Thursday’s match, Talamantez got a few thoughts off his mind minutes before kickoff.
“It’s been a fantastic change,” Talamantez said. “I pulled them over at the beginning of the game and kind of mentioned to them how the last couple years have been pretty rough on me.
“I’ve found the passion for this game again.”
In the final minutes before kickoff on Thursday, typically reserved for last-minute notes or motivation, Talamantez reassured this particular Lancers (1-1) team of their worth after just a handful of practices.
Jensen got the message, and Layton’s starting striker found the net twice, handing his side an early 1-0 lead and later taking full advantage of a penalty kick making it 5-nil for the Lancers just 12 minutes into the second half.
Tamoua built on a 2-0 halftime lead — Layton’s second goal came from junior Crew Buchanan — outwitting Falcons goalkeeper Bryce Peterson for two goals in as little as seven minutes.
After a heartbreaker at home to begin the season, Layton’s bounceback performance at Clearfield in less-than-desirable conditions, including a brief visit of hail, renewed Jensen’s confidence in the boys around him — a strength he credits Talamantez for.
“He’s taught me how to never give up,” Jensen said. “Even three down against a team, never give up in any regard. We were down, I think it was my sophomore year, and we just didn’t stop trying and we actually got two on them and almost came back.”
But wrinkles were more than apparent in Thursday’s win as Clearfield netted three goals before the end of regulation. The first two goals, in Tamoua’s opinion, were the byproduct of a hot start and lapse in focus when substituting Lancers off the bench.
Falcons senior Brock Schriener, unassisted, and junior Carden Porter, assisted by junior Logan Harestad, made it a 5-2 contest in just over a minute’s time, with 26 minutes left in the second half. Kyson Weaver, unassisted, added a third goal with 34 seconds remaining.
Such mistakes weren’t met with as much patience in recent years, Tamoua said.
“From our first year as freshmen, I know Rudy was there with me, it was just such a negative environment,” Tamoua said. “It does have a big part in our performance. We try our best to make sure everyone has a good time.”
All three — Tamoua, Jensen and Talamantez — carried mutual feelings about their chances now one game into a stretch of five straight on the road. But from the coach’s perspective, the willingness to play his brand of soccer is the welcomed exception for Layton this spring.
“This team has that opportunity to go far,” Talamantez said. “They’re just a fun group that works hard for each other. They have the mentality of making their teammates better, not looking at themselves but at every other player and making them look good.”
Connect with sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.
