Two-a-days: Highland Rams
Team: Highland
Date: July 15
Site: Highland football field
IN THE TRENCHES
Coach Brody Benson is in his third year at the helm of one of Region 6's powerhouse football programs. In Benson's freshman and sophomore campaigns, the Rams won the Region 6 title.
Well, technically.
Highland shared the region crown in both of the last two seasons. This year, Benson and the Rams hope to win it outright. Winning region would go a long way toward rinsing out the sour taste in the Rams' mouths. Last year's postseason did not go according to plan. After entering the state tournament as the top seed (8-3 at the time), Highland committed a mistake that is all too prevalent among No. 1 seeds.
The Rams overlooked their first-round opponent.
''We played very, very poorly and Bonneville played very well and they stuck it to us pretty good,'' Benson.
The Rams saw their dream of playing on the turf at Rice-Eccles Stadium vanish for a whole year. But they didn't sulk for long.
"We got beat the 26th of October,'' Benson said. ''The kids were back the next Monday lifting. They didn't like losing that early.''
In Benson's first season, the Rams made it all the way to the state championship game, where they ran smack-dab into Timpview. Highland lost that game.
Benson won't need to look far for inspiring pre-game pep talks. The last two years have given the team plenty of reasons to want to redeem themselves.
ON OFFENSE
As a cornerback, Nick Orchard has been causing headaches for quarterbacks and receivers for the past couple of years. Now, as a senior, he's switching roles. Slated as the Rams' starting QB for 2008, Orchard will command Highland's option offense.
Orchard didn't see much action under center last year, playing mostly garbage minutes, but Benson thinks the senior is up to the challenge.
''He worked his butt of in the off-season,'' Benson said, adding that Orchard added 10 pounds to his physique. ''He's a physical kid and doesn't shy away from contact.''
Benson noted that Orchard, who used to be quiet and reserved, has developed into a leader. Junior backup QB Mason Keller will put pressure on Orchard to stay on top of his game throughout the season.
Tevita Kinikini, fullback and defensive end, returns after garnering the Region 6 Offensive Player of the Year honor last year. He'll be integral in an attack built around the quarterback and fullback.
Though the Rams play the option, it doesn't hurt to have a strong receiving corps to keep the opponent honest. One of Highland's best receivers is Nate Fakahafua, who is 6-foot-6/185 pounds.
''He's the type of kid you can throw the ball up to. He'll go up and fight for it,'' Mason said.
The Rams also have Zach Baucom and Jordan Crayton, who are both reliable receivers.
ON DEFENSE
Benson believes Highland's offense will be better than it was last year but he's most excited about the team's defense.
''I think our defense is going to open some eyes,'' Benson said. ''A lot of kids love to fly around.''
The best player on the team is defensive lineman Latu Heimuli, who Benson calls ''bar-none, hands-down, the best defensive lineman in the state.'' More on him in a minute.
Sam Nielsen will lead the defense from the middle linebacker spot. Peter Ferrin, who led Highland in sacks last year as a sophomore, is also back. Defensive guard Ono Tafisi, at 6-foot-3, 320 pounds, will also cause problems at the line of scrimmage.
Two-way starting twins Travis and Bridger Walzer should have an impact.
THE VETERAN
Benson has all the praise in the world for the aforementioned ''bar-none, hands-down'' best D-lineman in the state, Heimuli. The senior (6-foot-4, 300 pounds) is a workhorse. A big man who plays both sides of the ball, Heimuli has received offers from an array of Pac-10 schools, as well as Florida, Nebraska, Colorado and local universities.
Benson believes Heimuli will be playing on Sundays someday because of his determination.
''A lot of big kids rely on size and athleticism, and they coast,'' Benson said.
Not Heimuli.
He's started at offensive guard and defensive tackle since 10th grade.
One of seven returning starters on both sides of the ball, ''he's my most experienced,'' Benson said.
THE NEW GUY
Jordan Crayton isn't really a ''new guy,'' per se. He's actually a senior. But Benson believes Crayton is the most exciting newcomer on the team even if he hasn't played football since seventh grade.
So, where has Crayton been all this time?
On the basketball court.
Though he's not especially tall like fellow receiver Fakaful (6-foot-6), Crayton (6-foot-2) has ''clean, crisp hands.''
''He's going to see a lot of time,'' Benson said.
Another key newcomer is Fakahafua, who played minutes as a freshman but will have a much larger impact as a sophomore. Benson reminisced, with a smile, that Fakahafua caught the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds over West last season.
WHAT TO EXPECT
With seven returning starters back from a team that went 8-3 and shared the Region 6 title, the Rams are set for another title chase. But, Benson noted, Region 6 teams must have a very special year if they want even a share of the championship. To win region outright, Benson believes the Rams will have to run the table.
Benson's sees Highland's major competitors as East, Cottonwood, West and Cyprus.
It's not exactly smooth sailing for Highland, though.
There's a pretty big question mark looming around this team. It's the sometimes forgotten position in football: the kicker.
The only two kickers (so far) on the team are a sophomore and freshman -- neither of which has ever kicked in a game.
Neither has secured the starting job.
How concerned is Benson?
''Right now, real concerned,'' said Benson, who is crossing his fingers that the kicking mystery will be solved when the season kicks off in August.
-- Natalie Dicou
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