2022 was a breakthrough season for the Elton Indians.

Elton won a game for the first time since 2018, went 5-4 and reached the playoffs after posting a pair of winless seasons (2021, 2019) sandwiched around their 2020 season that was wiped out by Hurricanes Laura and Delta.

But head coach Marcus Lejeune says the Indians’ rise from the cellar is not over yet.

“We are still building and trying to improve our program,” Lejeune said. “We are still not where we want to be.

“We are trying to change our culture. We had a good spring and pretty good summer in the weight room and seven-on-seven.”

Elton lost 10 seniors from last year’s squad but still returns 12 starters, five on offense and seven on defense. Lejeune has players training at multiple positions to lessen the blow of losing any one player.

“We are trying to get two varsity main guys in each position on both sides of the ball to provide us with depth and experience, so we want to have a drop off if somebody has to come out, especially early in the year,” Lejeune said. “We are going to be young on offense, so we are going to have to be patient.

“We have to step up. They know we have to be positive, play for each other and play as one team, play our positions and don’t quit. We have been getting better with that every season.”

Hayden Courville, Jamarques Gross and Maverick Manuel return on the offensive line plus tight end Anthony Gaspard and fullback D.D. Actlis, but the Indians have to replace the offensive production of running back Demarcus Jack, Sherman Bellow and quarterback Jaden Ross, who combined for nearly 2,800 yards and 36 touchdowns. Tristan Leblanc and MaKelin Lemoine will start in the backfield in the Indians’ multiple-I offense.

“Those are two good ones (Leblanc, Lemoine),” Lejeune said. “We need to use those guys because they both play defense. They play everything, you know how it is at small schools. We are trying to raise the bar of our level of play. In order to do that, we have to have good, experienced guys, at least one at every spot.”

Elton will have a seasoned defensive secondary with Bryce Robinson, Derek Ross, Leblanc and Lemoine back. Maverick Manuel and Jeramiah Fontenot return up front, while Gaspard will reprise his role at linebacker.