Over the last few years, the Elton Indians have gone from a winless team to their first winning season since 2017.

In his fourth year at the helm, head coach Marcus Lejeune wants to see his team continue to rise. After reaching the playoffs for the second consecutive season in 2023, the Indians are looking for a postseason win for the first time since 2017.

“Because we are out the first round every year, you want to go past that,” Lejeune said. “You’ve got to raise the bar in all phases of the game and throughout the whole year.

“We’ve been doing that. I think for the most part, we’ve got a lot of lettermen coming back.”

Roster numbers for the Indians are up. Lejeune said they have nearly 40 players compared to around 20 when he first took the job.

“This summer we had the best summer we had,’ Lejeune said. “We had 7-on-7, and we had the new players, more players in the weight room for the right amount of time. For the most part, as a whole, this has been the best turnout we’ve had since we’ve been there.”

They will lean heavily on five seniors in lineman Maverick Manuel (6-5, 285), running back/linebacker Tristan Leblanc (5-9, 175), wide receiver/free safety Bryce Robinson (5-10, 150) and offensive linemen Braxten Williams (6-0, 250) and Bryson Parsley.

Manuel, LeBlanc and Robinson were all first-team all-district selections last year. But despite the lack of seniors, only two of the starting positions will be filled by players who didn’t have varsity experience last year.

“We lost six seniors, and we don’t have many again this year,” Lejeune said. “But we play a lot of young guys, a lot of lettermen are returning, as well as starters.”

LeBlanc led the Indians’ ground game last year with 1,475 yards and 15 touchdowns and will be joined in the backfield by 205-pound junior fullback Keilan Crosby and 5-10, 190-pound sophomore wingback MaKeilan Lemoine to create a powerful run game this season. Sophomore Davin Simon (5-10, 185) returns at quarterback.

“This is the biggest backfield that I’ve had coached in a long time,” Lejeune said. “We got fullback that is 205. He’s a junior. A strong back, wing back, he’s 190 pounds, and he can run. He’s a sophomore.”

Joining Manuel, Williams and Parsley on the offensive line will be juniors Ivan Gutierrez, Sam Uresti and freshman Aaron Gobert.

Elton allowed 20.5 points a game last season, the second-fewest in the district, and returns eight from that group led by a trio of all-district players in defensive lineman Manuel, and Robinson and Lemoine in the secondary.

“We need everybody to step up. We’ve got to raise the bar.”

Other returning starters on the defensive side include defensive end Jaylen Thomas and Crosby, LeBlanc and converted defensive lineman Jeramiah Fontenot at linebacker and Derek Ross at safety.

ELTON

Mascot: Indians.

Home stadium: Cleve Beard Stadium.

District: 4-1A.

Playoff division: Nonselect Division IV.

Head coach: Marcus Lejeune.

Head coach career record: 52-62.

2023 record (Dist.): 6-4 (4-2).

Last time in playoffs (round): 2023 (bi-district)

Returning starters (offense/defense): 5/8

Key players lost: Hayden Courville (OL), Anthony Gaspard (LB), Treylen Ceaser (WR), Jamarques Gross (DL), Danerian Actlis (LB).

Top returners: Tristan Leblanc (RB/LB), Maverick Manuel (OL/DL), Bryce Robinson (WR/DB), Makelin Lemoine (RB/DB).

Schedule

Sept. 6 vs. St. Edmund

Sept. 13 at Northwood-Lena

Sept. 20 at Montgomery

Sept. 27 vs. Gueydan

Oct. 4 vs. Hanson Memorial

Oct. 10 at Oberlin* (Thurs.)

Oct. 18 vs. Hamilton Christian*

Oct. 25 vs. Basile*

Oct. 31 at Grand Lake* (Thurs.)

Nov. 7 at Merryviile* (Thurs.)

*District 4-1A game