Highland senior running back Tevita Kinikini has helped lead the Rams to a 2-1 start, pending the Sept. 12 matchup with East.High school football season is well under way throughout Utah and Sugar House residents have reason to celebrate. Although the Highland football team dropped their first game, a 26-21 battle with Mountain Crest, the Rams have bounced back and proved that they will be a top contender this season.
Head coach Brody Benson’s team has since defeated two 5A powers: the American Fork Cavemen, 33-15, and the Skyline Eagles, in a come-from-behind 13-9 victory, in addition to playing their region opener at East, which was after press time. Senior quarterback Nick Orchard has been the difference maker for the Rams; however, it isn’t just his passing that’s been so valuable for the Highland squad.
In Highland’s first win, over the Cavemen, Orchard rushed for 251 yards, including 70 and 40-yard touchdown runs. A week later, against the Eagles and with his team down 9-0, Orchard constructed two big drives, of 85 and 99 yards, in the last four minutes of the game, both of which ended in touchdowns. After connecting with Nate Fakahafua for a 29-yard touchdown pass, the Rams needed the ball back and needed to score again. That opportunity presented itself when Benson called for an onside kick, the Eagles recovered and the Highland defense forced them to turn the ball back over.
On the second of the two come-back scoring opportunities, “in the last two minutes of the game, [Orchard] had three runs for 79 yards and then ended it with a 5-yard pass to [Fakahafua],” Benson said. The Eagles had 45 seconds to respond, and when the Skyline quarterback threw the ball downfield, Orchard came up with the interception to end the game.
Up next for the Rams is the rest of their region schedule, including games against Granger at home on Sept. 19, at Olympus on Sept. 26, and the highly-anticipated match up with the Cottonwood Colts at home on Oct. 3.
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